The Cadet Corps is a youth development organisation with cadet membership reserved for male and female high school students between the ages of 12 and 17.
The programme has full-time staff members but is mostly made up of enthusiastic volunteers from a cross-section of the Caymanian community who serve in the adult officer and Adult NCO ranks.
The cadet programme is based on the British ACF 4-star progressive training system, with the requisite subjects being available at all four-star levels.
A cadet who serves four years in the Corps and completes the entire 4-star programme gains an Army Proficiency Certificate (APC) at each level.
THE PURPOSE OF THE CADET CORPS IN CAYMAN
The Cayman Islands Cadet Corps (CICC) is designed to teach high school students the value of citizenship, leadership, service to the community, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment while instilling in them self-esteem, teamwork, and self-discipline. It prepares them for responsible leadership roles while making them aware of their rights, responsibilities, and privileges as Caymanians.
The program is a stimulus for promoting graduation from high school, and it provides instruction and rewarding opportunities that will benefit the student, community and country.
HISTORY OF THE CADET CORPS IN CAYMAN.
The Cayman Islands Cadet Corps began in August 2001 as an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Human Resources and Culture. Subsequent consultation between the Cayman Islands and Barbados took place regarding establishing a Corps similar in structure to that in Barbados.
However, it was not until March 2002 the First Company of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps, Alpha Company, was formed at the George Hicks High School with over sixty recruits initially signing up.
In 2001, Headquarters (HQ) for the Corps was established in the old AEP Programme building behind the public library on Fort Street in George Town, with its main purpose being to provide administrative and logistical support to the Companies of the Corps through the coordination of developmental programmes and resource distribution.
Initially, it was staffed by 2 full-time staff members. Two of the most notable volunteers at the beginning were Major Anderson White and Captain Dave Thompson.
The First Commandant of the Corps was Colonel Philip Hyre, a former Police Officer who served in that position from March 2001 to February 2008. Since his retirement, his post has been filled by his then Deputy Commandant (Administration)Lieutenant Colonel Bobeth O’Garro.
As a training resource, the Corps uses as a guide the United Kingdom’s Army Cadet Force (ACF) Manual with customizations influenced by regional and local conditions and traditions. Consequently, the Corps’ cadet training programme emphasizes the value of citizenship, leadership, service to the community, personal responsibility, a sense of accomplishment, self-esteem, teamwork, and self-discipline. It is meant to prepare the cadets for responsible leadership roles while making them aware of their rights, responsibilities, and privileges as Caymanians.
As have been proven, the para-military approach, when mutually supported by the school, home and the Corps, has produced more focused students who, with high ideals, strive for excellence. This is true even among those students who are traditionally low-end performers.
BENEFITS OF A CADET PROGRAMME IN THE HIGH SCHOOL
Cadet training includes, but is not limited to:
- Drill
- Dress and Turnout
- Field Craft and Adventure
- Map and Compass
- Music and Band
- Physical training and Sports
- Seamanship (Marine Skills)
- Leadership
- Search and Rescue
- Fire Safety Skills
- First Aid
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
The Charter, The Vision Statement and The Mission Statement of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps (CICC)
The main objectives of the CICC are defined in its Charter, Vision and Mission Statement.
The CHARTER
The Cayman Island Cadet Corps is a National Voluntary Youth organisation.
It is sponsored by the Governor’s office and administered and originally operated by the Ministry of Education, with assistance from the RCIP, and provides challenging military-style, adventurous and community activities. We are currently under the Ministry of Health, Environment, Youth Sports and Culture Affairs.
Vision Statement
The Cayman Islands Cadet Corps (CICC) aims to inspire young people to achieve success in life with a spirit of service to God the Almighty, the Sovereign, the Cayman Islands and their community, and to develop in them the qualities required of a good citizen.
Mission Statement:
To achieve what has been stated in our Vision, the CICC has laid out the following mission statements.
The CICC will:
- Provide progressive cadet training of a challenging and exciting nature to foster confidence, self-reliance, initiative, responsibility, loyalty, self-respect, alertness, physical and mental endurance and camaraderie.
- Encourage the development of personal powers of practical leadership and the ability to work successfully as a member of a team.
- Stimulate cadets using military discipline, skills, achievements and values.
- Encourage cadets to develop their spiritual and moral values.
- The CICC will motivate and encourage our cadets to strongly believe that they can follow any career path they desire; however, training in the Corps will be an asset to those considering a career in the Police, Fire and Prison services or the Immigration Department.