United States Army Cadet Corps

United States Army Cadet Corps Seal

The United States Army Cadet Corps (USAC) was founded under the name "Colonel Cody's Boy Scouts" by Captain James H. C. Smyth on April 10, 1909, at the First Presbyterian Church, Manhattan, New York. Between its founding and the present, it underwent numerous name changes, and settled on its current name in 2007 when the Naval, Marine Corps, and Army Battalions of the American Cadet Alliance (ACA) merged to become the United States Army Cadet Corps. The USAC holds the distinction of being the oldest nationwide cadet program in the United States. Even though the organization has "United States Army" in their title, they are in no way affiliated with the actual United States Army.

The United States Army Cadet Corps (USAC) is a 501(3)(c) Non-profit youth education organizations. Currently the USAC only has Army cadets after phasing out Navy and Marine cadets.

History

The United States Army Cadet Corps was founded as the Colonel Cody’s Boy Scouts by Captain James H. C. Smyth on April 10, 1909, at the First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, New York. Shortly thereafter, the Colonel Cody’s Boy Scouts was reorganized as the American Naval and Marine Scouts. The American Naval and Marine Scouts continued to evolve and on August 16, 1927 the organization was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York as the New York Junior Naval Militia, Inc. Early in 1929, the organization split and its founder, as well as a number of senior officers, incorporated the Junior Naval Reserve, Inc., on February 19, 1929.

Early in 1938, during the heightening of World War II, the War Department instructed the Secretaries of State to require all organizations using the words Naval, Militia and Reserve as a part of their corporate name to rename their organizations so as not to cause public confusion regarding their relationship to the Armed Services. To comply with this request, the Junior Naval Reserve, Inc. reincorporated on June 14, 1938 as the American Nautical Cadets, Inc., and on November 2, 1938, the New York Junior Naval Militia, Inc. changed its name to the Maritime Brigade, Inc.

As a result of reorganization, due in part to a number of mergers with other, smaller, Cadet Organizations, the American Nautical Cadets, Inc., reincorporated on October 3, 1956 as the American Nautical Alliance, Inc. The organization came full circle on September 15, 1960 when the American Nautical Alliance, Inc. and the Maritime Brigade, Inc. merged to become the American Cadet Alliance, Inc.

The USAC (United States Army Cadet Corps) was created in 2000 and it is the fastest growing Brigade in the USAC.

Then in 2007, the decision to phase out all of the brigades except for the Army was made. This decision was made due to the high interest in the Army brigade and lack of interest in the Marine and Naval brigade. Along with the support from the US Army Reserve and Army National Guard. In April 2009 this transition was completed.

Mission, vision and guiding principles

For an organization to prosper and grow, it must have a clear definition of its purpose; be aware of its future objectives and goals; and subscribe to a universal set of guidelines and business practices. The level of commitment by an organization’s leadership to its Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles is often measured by the success of the organization.

Organization

The USAC is headquartered in Millersburg, Kentucky and organized into several districts, each district being made up of several battalions and these battalions being made up of several individual companies. As of mid-2006, the USAC's organizational model is largely nominal and has been established to accommodate an expected upswing in membership and unit activations.

A unit will be given a name reflecting its locality, as well as a unit designation indicating the company, battalion and district. For instance, the designation of the Military Cadets of Selfridge (Michigan) is B Co., 1/9 or Bravo Company, First Battalion, Ninth District.

Most units drill on military installations, military reserve centers or National Guard armories and most receive a great deal of cooperation and support from their host units. Drills are generally on the Guard/Reserve model, with one weekend drill per month.

Cadet membership

Cadets are members who are between the ages of 12 and 18 (although 11 year olds can be accepted after 5th grade). They must be enrolled in school and receiving passing grades, be drug and crime free, must be proportional to his/her height. The applicant can not be overly obese. The prospective Cadet should be able to do basic exercises like push-ups, sit-ups etc., and be able to run. Also the applicant must be able to pass a "Sports type" Physical Exam by a Doctor and can not have any communicable diseases, chronic health problems or severe allergies.

One of the best features of the Cadet application process for the USAC is that the Cadet himself or herself must volunteer and sign for themself. The parents still must sign the appropriate permission forms, but overall the Cadet applicant cannot be forced to sign up. The USAC is not a delinquency program and they are strict about that.

The Cadet rank system in the USAC is the U.S. Army enlisted system. Cadets enter at grade E-1 and work their way up to E-9. The title of each grade is based on the US Army, but all USAC Cadets begin their time in the program as 'recruits'. The new USAC Cadets remain 'recruits' until their first Summer Camp, where they are given the chance to earn the title 'Cadet'. They can promote to E-2 before that first Summer Camp, but that promotion is provisional. Once at Summer Camp, a provisional E-2 will remove his rank and again become an E-1 recruit. Only after graduating from their first Summer Camp can a Cadet be actually called 'Cadet' and be permanently promoted above the rank of E-1.They also hold company positions such as the company first sergeant a platoon sergeant a squad leaders another positions.

Adult membership

Membership in the USAC Officers’ Corps is a privilege reserved for those individuals who desire to promote the objectives and purposes of the USAC and who meet the appropritate eligibility requirements. Leadership and command of the USAC, at all levels, is provided by a dedicated corps of non-paid professional officers, adult noncommissioned officers (NCO) and instructors. Each Officers’ Corps applicant must complete a series of prerequisites and a thorough screening process prior to receiving a commission or appointment as an officer or NCO in the U.S. Army Cadet Corps (USAC).

There are several categories for the Officer Corps which are outlined below;

Instructor

Appointment as an instructor may be granted to individuals who wish to participate in USAC activities in a non-military capacity. Instructors do not wear a Military uniform but are required to dress in appropriate USAC attire. This category of membership is extremely flexible and its requirements are not as high as a uniformed staff member; but a high level of professionalism and moral integrity is always required.

Adult Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO)

An appointment as an Adult Non-Commissioned Officer it open to those individuals who have served honorably in the U.S. Military in grades E-4 through E-9 who prefer to maintain their status as non-commissioned officers rather than to apply for a commission in the USAC Officers' Corps. Those individuals choosing to remain as Non-Commissioned Officers, will be appointed to a grade comparable to the highest enlisted grade held while in the military. Adult NCO are assigned a position within the unit, comparable with their rank and billet while on active duty or in the reserves. Adult NCO are always needed in a training capacity to work directly with the Cadets.

Warrant Officers

A commission as a Warrant Officer is open to those individuals who are specialists in a field of endeavor and who desire to instruct in technical skills, or perform a single function with in the unit, causing them to be best suited to apply for commissioning as a Warrant Officer in the USAC Officer's Corps.

Commissioned Officers

A commission as an USAC Officer is open to those individuals who have the Desire, Self-discipline, Self-confidence, critical judgment, and moral integrity to put on the uniform. We take this uniform seriously and we expect you to as well, for it is an honor to put it on. USAC Officers are always held to a higher standard.

Individual Training Company (ITC) Membership

ITC Cadets are Cadet members of the organization that are not located near a drilling unit. These Cadets and Officer Corps members function largely on their own throughout the year, often coordinating through their local military recruiter for assistance tasks and training. The ITC members go to Annual Training in the summer with the rest of the USAC as a whole. ITC Cadets are invited after going to Military Adventure Camp. The ITC is invitation only.

External links

• United States Army Cadet Corps Homepage