Experiences with Army Cadets

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

My daughter has just joined the Army Cadets. So far, after one session, she loves it. Her little sister is furious with her, because she thinks the Cadets is all about learning to kill, maim and destroy. My friend thinks pretty much the same, though in more grown-up language. I think my daughter is doing it for the fun, and adventure, but I don’t know really. Army Cadets is not something I would do myself in a million years.

So what say you, Dopers? Anyone been in cadets, or known someone who was? What was it like? Good points, bad points?

2

Canada here

Mostly experience with people who were air cadets and maybe a sea cadet.

For the most part it was about leadership and camaraderie, learning to wear a uniform and keeping it clean and taking pride in appearances and so on. Probably not all that different from scouts.

I’d say that it was an introduction to a regimented way of life and focused more on giving them a sense of pride in something bigger than what schools could with athletics.

There was range time with weapons that were converted to fire .22 cal, but I don’t recall anything beyond formation, that would equate with advanced infantry training.

Decline

3

I take it we’re not talking about West Point attendees, are we?

4

Canada here as well. I can’t speak for what it’s like now, but I was a sea cadet 20 years ago and I enjoyed it greatly.

Declan has it pretty spot on. In sea cadets there was a lot of focus on nautical things (duh), and a lot of drill, band practice, and some .22 range practice. The time I did see of Army cadets there was more of a military feel to them but nothing combat oriented. Army cadets were more into survival camps, radio practice, maps and orienteering, etc.

The 6 week co-ed summer camps were also a learning experience as well ;). Seriously though, it was my first time away from home for that long and being in charge of your own kit and bunk, passing daily inspections, and the daily classes and PT made me a more mature and independent young man.

I would recommend it for any young man or woman looking for a challenge or a new direction.

5

My husband was an Air Cadet in Canada as well, and it was as described by previous posters. He ended up staying until he was kicked out due to age and moved up the ranks while he was there. It taught him a LOT about responsibility, pride, a sense of accomplishment and discipline. Hearing about his experiences and seeing what type of man he has grown in to make me want our kids to do the same if and when we have any.

6

Actually - currently the Cadet program in Canada is undergoing a big change - they are no longer allowed to align themselves with the military (even though - DUH!), so it’s even less about the military training than it used to be!

7

I was all about to tell the tale of the neat guy (West Point cadet) who we met on the plane back from Italy in December.

Or the less than great stories of ROTC cadets I’ve known.

8

I was a cadet at school for three years in Australia in the late 1970s. I thought the whole experience was a huge waste of time and only the fact that it was compulsory kept me doing it. At that point the formal links to the army had been reduced to almost zero and the only ‘military’ feature that occurred was lots of marching and drill. I did handle a gun - once - during one of the annual camps, held in the middle of the winter school holidays. But basically it was just ‘scouts in khaki’.

9

My WAG. She joined cause of boys. Lots of boys, cute boys. Then found she enjoyed the experience cause the boys treated her with respect (they have to military rules of behavior, no sexual harrassment). This can be a great experience for her expecially learning to treat men in a normally thought of “man’s world”.

10

I may be a tad off track in voicing my opinion, but I was a cadet. US Army ROTC in college.

I joined ROTC in college after my initial enlistment was completed in the US Army. I was a private who earned an Army scholarship to go to college. One of the conditions was that I would join ROTC, which is designed to groom cadets (the college rank) into US Army officers, with the full intention of becoming an Army officer. It was full of what I like to call “finishing school” courses, including learning how to act at formal functions like catillions, balls, and dining functions, as well as learning how to wear a uniform, follow instructions and other military skills. Drills, following orders, military history and what not. Oh, and physical training. I didn’t think it was a big deal, especially after basic training, but I saw how it really did benefit many civilian students to grow up (or mature, whichever word you prefer) and learn some social skills that regular college kids and underclassmen didn’t have. Courtesy, politeness, conversational skills and teaching respect to superiors. Also respect for yourself. One had to learn how to wear the uniform correctly, and this translated to a lot of students learning how to dress correctly in civilian clothes (read: no droopy pants showing underwear and other stuff). Even with the students I saw who didn’t pursue a military career, I saw many of them shape up pretty quickly if they chose to stick with the program, while those who chose not to remained in the droopy pants type of people. It helped to mold kids by teaching (what I thought was the purpose of college) kids to become responsible adults. Some got it, some didn’t.

My sister, earlier in life, joined the Air Force Junior ROTC in high school, and for the brief time she was enrolled, it started to shape her up, but she didn’t complete the training. And it showed. People can’t believe we’re related, based upon how differently we act.

But then again, I’m pretty much a by-the-rules type of person, where she’s still a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants person. So take that for what it’s worth.

No shooting or weapons involved. Lots of team building exercises. Lots of getting dirty. Oh, and great stories. Like the time we found Harry passed out drunk on the PT field, and the time the twins stole the army van to go to a strip club. Yeah, fun times.

11

Sexual harrasment, is my main concern, actually, especially when they go away on camps.

12

I think for the most part they are segragated, most of the ones that I see now are at Airshows and they tend to be camped out in tents, but there was a definite male only and female only sections. I would drop in and talk to the CO or who ever does the Public affairs, and ask, if nothing else , to put your mind at ease.
Declan

13

I agree with the boys bit (that’s why the girls I know joined, along with the exercise) but think this idea that male cadets are respectful towards women is a bit of an idealized view, at least in the regiments my friends were in. They had some fun, but there were a few incidents with creepy old vets and higher ranked guys abusing their authority. Nothing horrific but it was still a boys’ club, even though there were quite a few girls in each of their groups. On the other hand, from the sound of things one word would have gotten any teenager kicked out, since it would look bad for recruiting – and they were always recruiting.