Reconstitution

[quadrapiper]

There is also the intangible of the NEP. Young people get life experiences, learn to do tasks, self-discipline, etc. Plus another person who knows something about the military.

Which highlights an issue with the cadet programs: why does the RCN need to stand up the NEP when there's an enormous organization theoretically meant to deliver exactly those intangibles, and develop an interest in and awareness of the CAF/RCN/CA/RCAF?

Apparently the notion of the Commanders RCN, CA, and RCAF taking some greater degree of ownership of "their" respective cadet organizations was shopped around a few years ago, with no interest (or perhaps no interest on the part of one or two of the three). I know I've mentioned this before, maybe in this thread, but from the snake's belly any increased top-level parent-service interest and direction would be an improvement.

The NEP is a different beast from what's possible with cadets, but the latter should be able to provide as much value as the former in getting Canadians informed about and interested in a naval career.

These NEP sailors who stay will have more training and experience, than the majority of Officers and Ratings when they sailed to protect convoy's in WWII. You need to give a program like this a good 5 years to see if it makes a difference.
As for the ones using it end run around the bottlenecks, they should congratulated for their ingenuity and determination to join despite the efforts of CAF bureaucracy to stymie them.

Wonder if something NEP-like should be looked at as a standard means of training incoming sailors.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Literarily some of those ships sailed on convoy duty with only 1-2 people that had been to sea before. It is utterly amazing how well they did in spite of the lack of training and equipment.

That doesn't even bring into the conversation life at sea. Living in a constantly moving tin can has its challenges.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Which highlights an issue with the cadet programs: why does the RCN need to stand up the NEP when there's an enormous organization theoretically meant to deliver exactly those intangibles, and develop an interest in and awareness of the CAF/RCN/CA/RCAF?

 

[Remius]

Something something Cadets are not officially a recruiting pool/organisation for the CAF.

 

[quadrapiper]

Something something Cadets are not officially a recruiting pool/organisation for the CAF.

Take seven years to show off the best bits of the CAF to thousands of 12-18 year olds, and you don't have to do any recruiting of that population.

Equally, the NEP is a really cool way to spend a year getting paid, fed, learning some stuff, with nothing but a hope that participants will join the RCN.

 

[Kilted]

Something something Cadets are not officially a recruiting pool/organisation for the CAF.

I think there are a lot of people who forget that that is the real reason to have the cadets. If we aren't actively trying to recruit them, why are spending so much money on the program. It would be interesting to know what actual percentage of cadets move on to serve in the CAf (excluding the CIC).

 

[Halifax Tar]

Which highlights an issue with the cadet programs: why does the RCN need to stand up the NEP when there's an enormous organization theoretically meant to deliver exactly those intangibles, and develop an interest in and awareness of the CAF/RCN/CA/RCAF?

I would say that pathway isn't working anymore. Or not producing like it once did.

Also there is nothing wrong with diversifying the our entry methods.

NEP makes sense for the Navy. We work in an environment that very very few people have any exposure to until they join the Navy. We should introduce people at the very beginning stages to that so we don't waste time and resources on people who just cant do it.

 

[captloadie]

The cadets program is a children's program meant to provide activities for children (you can replace children with minors if that makes it clearer). There is a very sound legal reason it is kept at an arms length from the Reg/Res Force. We can't be seen to be training child soldiers. If there was a direct link between the cadet program and the recruiting program or enrolment, we would be called out by every third world dictator.

The other benefit over hockey, gymnastics, and the Scout program is its mostly free to parents. By being arms length, parents who may not have strong support for the military might still allow their children to attend, as long as they are not seen as being indoctrinated by the baby eaters. As the children reach the latter years of the program, and are at the stage to make adult decisions, they can then perhaps decide to go the CAF route.

 

[GK .Dundas]

I think there are a lot of people who forget that that is the real reason to have the cadets. If we aren't actively trying to recruit them, why are spending so much money on the program. It would be interesting to know what actual percentage of cadets move on to serve in the CAf (excluding the CIC).

I honestly think that we've actually forgotten why we have a Cadet programme.

 

[daftandbarmy]

The cadets program is a children's program meant to provide activities for children (you can replace children with minors if that makes it clearer). There is a very sound legal reason it is kept at an arms length from the Reg/Res Force. We can't be seen to be training child soldiers. If there was a direct link between the cadet program and the recruiting program or enrolment, we would be called out by every third world dictator.

The other benefit over hockey, gymnastics, and the Scout program is its mostly free to parents. By being arms length, parents who may not have strong support for the military might still allow their children to attend, as long as they are not seen as being indoctrinated by the baby eaters. As the children reach the latter years of the program, and are at the stage to make adult decisions, they can then perhaps decide to go the CAF route.

In the UK the cadet programs suffer from similar issues to ours. However I spent awhile training Junior Soldiers, 16 year old school leavers who would spend about a year with us then join regular soldier training at age 17. It's an excellent program that blends military skills training and sports with educational upgrading and adventure training/ character development.

Pass rates were always quite high and it produced some of the finest, longest serving SNCOs in the regiment.

Since then, the program's been centralized at the Army Foundation College I think.

A much bigger investment than NEP, of course, but a way to access younger folks on a more reliable basis than the cadet program.

Army Foundation College at 100% capacity as newest recruits arrive for basic training

It's good news for the junior soldiers at AFC Harrogate as they will be earning £1,800 per month following the Army's latest pay increase.

www.forcesnews.com

 

[Edward Campbell]

Our, Canadian Army, soldier apprentice programme which ran in the 1950s and '60s, was great: 16 year old school leavers spent two years in a mix of trade and academic training in, as I recall Arty, Engrs, Sigs and RCEME; it produced a lot of excellent NCOs and a few generals, too.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Our, Canadian Army, soldier apprentice programme which ran in the 1950s and '60s, was great: 16 year old school leavers spent two years in a mix of trade and academic training in, as I recall Arty, Engrs, Sigs and RCEME; it produced a lot of excellent NCOs and a few generals, too.

As did Navies.

Boy seaman - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Canada's Boy Seamen - CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum

navalandmilitarymuseum.org

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Just talking to my Staff Cadet last night who is also the Sea Cadet Coxswain. He is applying to the MP's (sigh, LARPing as a cop) Apparently his recruiter said that a lot of the recruits are ex-Cadets. Personally I think we need to reconnect that role of Cadets being a useful pipeline to serve your country. I know 6th Fd just had an exercise with a bunch of their Cadets attending. The sea phase for Sea Cadets whether with CCG or the RCN is highly sought after. I don't know what the RCAF does with Cadets, but hopefully something. If you want Canadians to support the CAF, you need to educate the kids. That is how the progressives stay alive, by taking over the education system and trying to indoctrinate our kids. We need to get in their unapologetically and show that this is a honourable career and trade. Yes people will say how terrible we are and we need to say "BS, we are working to better and to protect the country, while making exemplary citizens".

 

[Halifax Tar]

Just talking to my Staff Cadet last night who is also the Sea Cadet Coxswain. He is applying to the MP's (sigh, LARPing as a cop) Apparently his recruiter said that a lot of the recruits are ex-Cadets. Personally I think we need to reconnect that role of Cadets being a useful pipeline to serve your country. I know 6th Fd just had an exercise with a bunch of their Cadets attending. The sea phase for Sea Cadets whether with CCG or the RCN is highly sought after. I don't know what the RCAF does with Cadets, but hopefully something. If you want Canadians to support the CAF, you need to educate the kids. That is how the progressives stay alive, by taking over the education system and trying to indoctrinate our kids. We need to get in their unapologetically and show that this is a honourable career and trade. Yes people will say how terrible we are and we need to say "BS, we are working to better and to protect the country, while making exemplary citizens".

I don't think we take Cadets to sea anymore. At least not without their parents, on something like a tiger cruise.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I don't think we take Cadets to sea anymore. At least not without their parents, on something like a tiger cruise.

That's where vessels like the Kingstons come in handy, the next step up from the Orca's.

 

[kratz]

Just talking to my Staff Cadet last night who is also the Sea Cadet Coxswain. He is applying to the MP's (sigh, LARPing as a cop) Apparently his recruiter said that a lot of the recruits are ex-Cadets. Personally I think we need to reconnect that role of Cadets being a useful pipeline to serve your country. I know 6th Fd just had an exercise with a bunch of their Cadets attending. The sea phase for Sea Cadets whether with CCG or the RCN is highly sought after. I don't know what the RCAF does with Cadets, but hopefully something. If you want Canadians to support the CAF, you need to educate the kids. That is how the progressives stay alive, by taking over the education system and trying to indoctrinate our kids. We need to get in their unapologetically and show that this is a honourable career and trade. Yes people will say how terrible we are and we need to say "BS, we are working to better and to protect the country, while making exemplary citizens".

Air cadets can earn their glider or small aircraft pilots wings. Most regions have a spring/fall glider familiarisation program. Depending on how close you are to an airfield, some cadet units have arranged famil flights as well.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Air cadets can earn their glider or small aircraft pilots wings. Most regions have a spring/fall glider familiarisation program. Depending on how close you are to an airfield, some cadet units have arranged famil flights as well.

I knew that, but there is pretty much zero connection in the glider program to the RCAF.

 

[OldSolduer]

I don't think we take Cadets to sea anymore. At least not without their parents, on something like a tiger cruise.

I almost misread that as a cougar cruise...

mic drop

 

[quadrapiper]

I don't think we take Cadets to sea anymore. At least not without their parents, on something like a tiger cruise.

Don't recall anything on frigates, AOPS, or MCDVs since the pandemic, but it was definitely a possibility up until then, though opportunities were spotty. Haven't seen anything to suggest it's not still possible.

Still a reasonable number of PCT opportunities, especially considering how in-demand those vessels are.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

I don't think we take Cadets to sea anymore. At least not without their parents, on something like a tiger cruise.

Army Cadets can earn their jump wings and go to the Airborne School in Trenton to get them where they get trained by the Senior NCOs there. Many of those hard charging kids ended up liking it and going on to careers in the Infantry.

Some of the most hard charging NCOs I met in the Infantry got their starts as Army Cadets.