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Military Cadet Thread Extension

As I'd mentioned the US Navy Sea Cadet Corps has a high powered PR operation that produces a lot of videos. Hence during this time of Covid when cadet group activities of all services are few and far between, any such event is a rare find. Sometimes going back in time brings out a good video. Once in a while a video taken since Covid is available.


US Navy Sea Cadets

Inspired me to join the military | And make it a career | I joined the Marines

This is my cadet story in a nutshell





A former USN Sea Cadet turned career Marine after age graduating Sea Cadet Corps narrates his journey through the SCC from age 12. Once we get past his birth photos ha we see his training programs progression until his age 18 graduation year.

Interesting methinks to see his certificates of completion of one program after another through his years as a USN Sea Cadet, ultimately to his honorable discharge document after completing his age 18 year. In his final year some cadets from USNA Annapolis were included in the training program which is how serious it was. His first training was with the Coast Guard which with USN sponsors the Sea Cadet Corps program. Very interesting video, or so I'd suggest.












US Navy | Sea Cadet Corps | Admiral Spruance Division | Mini Boot Camp​

14,737 views




United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Spruance Division Mini Boot Camp.

This one is very much running 'em around and busting 'em on PT but not only PT. An action video if there ever was one. A lotta hollering besides ha. After all, they've got a huge name to live up to, and to whom much is given, much is required. Then comes the reward: Graduation with your parents in attendance to cheer your accomplishments.
 
These are stories from the Russian illegal seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

The focus is on the Ukraine Naval Academy prep school cadets who needed to transfer from Sevastopol to Odesa on the mainland.

The most painful part of which was that each cadet had to chose either Russian nationality, ie, remain in Crimea, or Ukraine nationality, which meant leaving family and home in Crimea for Odesa on the mainland.

This was 2014 of course which means the vast majority of the cadets we see here are presently either Naval Ensign officers in the current war or Army Second Lieutenants, with perhaps a few being a rank higher respectively, ie, Lieutenant Junior Grade or First Lieutenant. It's highly likely the great number of these cadets remain in Odesa in the present war in which the city is now coming under increasingly focus Russian Barbarian bombardment. We wish them safe keeping and success.


Crimea Ukraine Naval Academy Cadets Are Forced To Choose Their Nationality

Russian Seizure of Crimea in 2014 Required Ukraine Prep School Naval Cadets To

Choose To Stay and Become Russian | Or Remain Ukrainian But On The Mainland

Mar 23, 2014​






Naval cadets at Sevastopol's prep school to the Ukraine Naval Academy were forced to decide whether they wanted to join the Russians or leave Crimea. They faced the decision following Russia's annexation of the region. In this 2014 video the gate at the grade 7-12 Naval Academy prep school still bears the Ukrainian emblem, but the cadets knew that this would soon change. Al Jazeera's Jennifer Glasse reports from Sevastopol in English.










Nearly 200 cadets from the Ukraine's Nakhimov Black Sea Naval Training Academy in Sevastopol have said goodbye to their fellow students. The cadets were forced to choose between leaving the school, or become traitors and join the Russian military, after a decree from the Russian fascist autocrat Vladimir Putin.








In Photos:

Ukraine Cadets & Instructors From the Nakhimov Naval Academy Prep School In Crimea Transfer to Odesa


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The Nakhimov Naval Academy prep school switched to Russian military
control on March 20, 2014. However, after the Russian flag was raised over
the institution, a group of cadets famously sang the national anthem of
Ukraine, gave a salute, and left. A video posted by users on the Internet
shows one of the cadets taking down the Ukrainian Navy banner with
tears in his eyes.






nakhimov-7.jpg

Cadets of the Ukraine Naval Academy prep school in Sevastopol Crimea march on their
2014 arrival at the Odesa Army Academy prep school where they continued their officer
education, training, preparation. The Army cadets presented accolades to welcome
the Crimean reinforcement: an orchestra, bread and salt, even balloons.






Naval Academy prep school cadet Yevheniy and Army Academy prep school cadet Shrhiy
who met in Odesa in second grade exchanged caps for this photo to signify their bond
as forever loyal Ukraine patriots.
nakhimov-5.jpg

The future of Ukraine’s fleet includes guys from all over Ukraine, including from Odesa and Crimea. According to Yevheniy, “Of course, the Crimeans mostly stayed behind – although some remained faithful to their country ‘til the end, leaving their parents behind and moving to Odesa. But Sevastopol is no longer our city, the people there support the Russians, and this is the truth.” In all, a total of 103 cadets and 167 instructors, including officers and the Academy’s commanders, have transferred to the Odesa Army Military Academy. Yevheniy and Serhiy exchanged their caps: the sailor wore a green beret, while his friend Serhiy, a future artillery and missile arms specialist, put on a white-topped cap.
 
This can be interesting for sure as we see Japanese civilian high school grads who are accepted to the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (Navy) Aviation Training Center at Atsugi Japan.

They sure as shootin get what they signed up for ha which is a lot of hollering by MSDF training cadre and being run around. One cadre sent 'em back up to bed to start the day over again ha.

Then LMAO as one inspecting cadre removed the door from a cadet's locker so his roommates and other cadets could see the supposed mess inside his neat and clean, orderly locker. Never heard of that before myself ha. So the hapless cadet who was left with a face full of pain had to figure how to get his locker door back.

Not to be a spoiler I have to note that the spanking new cadet we see at the opening of the video and who gives us the V sign comes to us again, this time at the end of the video and well into the training cycle ha. The video is popular to say the least with just shy of 2 million hits by viewers globally.





Japan Sea Self-Defense Force | Cadet Aviation Training

Center for Naval Aviation | Technical Training Detachment

Maritime Self Defense Force | Naval Air Facility | Atsugi Japan





1,942,125 views




Very interesting is that while training is done by Japanese Naval cadre of Japanese cadets only the program is run jointly by the US Navy. We see here the gal who is officer in charge of the thingy at the JMSDF Atsugi Naval Base right there in Japan, 30 miles outside of Tokyo and that is operated jointly by the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and the USN.

U.S. Naval Education and Training Command | Pensacola FL
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CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 5 | TONI S. RAND

Officer in Charge | Center for Japan Naval Aviation | Technical Training Detachment | Atsugi Japan Naval Air Station​


Chief Warrant Officer 5 Toni S. Rand, a native of San Diego, California, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1990. After boot camp, she became an aviation electronics technician. She is a Kansas State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Apparel and Textile Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science. She earned her Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 2010. She commissioned through the Limited Duty Officer/Chief Warrant Officer program in 2008.










US, Japan militaries launch Keen Sword 21 exercise​

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U.S. Indo-Pacific Command forces teamed up with units from the Japan Self-Defense Force and launched exercise Keen Sword 21 — bringing together approximately 9,000 service members from the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army and Marine Corps.

The exercise, conducted in Japan, Okinawa prefecture, and surrounding waters, includes ships from the Reagan Carrier Strike Group, more than 100 aircraft and ground forces, and comprises maritime, ground and air events. Additionally, the exercise will require U.S. and Japanese forces to train as part of a “comprehensive scenario” to employ capabilities needed to defend Japan or respond to a crisis in INDOPACOM’s area of operations.

In July, the U.S. authorized Japan to purchase 105 F-35 aircraft as part of a roughly $23 billion sale — paving the way for Japan to obtain a total of 147 F-35s.


Indeed the Japan Self Defense Force is interoperable with the USA armed forces. JSDF is also interoperable with NATO, to include its officers and SNCO being fluent in English reading, writing, listening, speaking.

The text includes mention of the Reagan Carrier Strike Group that is forward deployed to its home port, the USN Yokosuka Naval Base in Tokyo Bay. The USN Yokosuka base is the largest USN base outside the United States.
 
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Trafalgar Day each 21st of October is a greatly major event on the calendar of the Sea Cadet Corps, as it is for the Royal Navy itself.

Trafalgar Day is the celebration of the victory won by the Royal Navy, commanded by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, over the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Now every year the RN Sea Cadet Corps lead the Trafalgar Day Parade through Trafalgar Square and past Buckingham Palace in London. The cadets have the honour of flying the Naval flag at this commemorative ceremony. The selected cadet guard company has the honour of passing in review to the official march of the Royal Navy, "Heart of Oak."

On 21 October each year the commissioned officers of the Royal Navy celebrate the victory at the Battle of Trafalgar by holding a Trafalgar Night dinner in the Officer's Mess.

At a Trafalgar Night banquet or dinner, a speech is usually made by a guest of honour who ends it with a toast. On 21 October 2005, the 200th anniversary, at such a dinner the traditional toast was given by Queen Elizabeth II.

"The Immortal Memory of Lord Nelson and those who fell with him"

Such dinners also occur each year on or around 21 October in locations other than Royal Navy ships.

The Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth holds a "Trafalgar Night Dinner" each year on a date close to 21 October.

The British ambassador in Washington hosts such a dinner at which the guest of honour may be a senior officer in the United States Navy.



Cadet Platoons of Each District | UK Royal Navy | Sea Cadet Corps | Cadet Royal Marines

Pass in Review in Trafalgar Square | Trafalgar Day | Coinciding With 150th Anniversary UK Sea Cadet Corps

Additional Cadet Force Units Invited | Army | RAF | SCC Physical Training Demonstration Team | Pass in Review




Pass in Review Sequence & Music:
48th Cadet Guards, Northern and Northwest Areas........Heart of Oak
SCC "White Ensign" Framed Restored Card #1 of Original Membership
#1 SCC PTN, Eastern Area......On the Quarterdeck (for all SCC PNs)
#2 PTN, London Area
#3 PN, Southern Area
#4 PN, SW Area
#5 PN, Cadets of Royal Marines, NW Area......My Sarie Marai
#6 PN, Cadet RM, London Area
#7 PN, Cadets of Army Force, Hampshire Honours Black Detachment.......British Grenadiers
#8 PN, Cadets of RAF, Brighton Squadron, Suffolk Wing.......RAF Pass in Review March
SCC National Marching Band.......Ready Aye Ready, official march of UK & Commonwealth SCC

Reviewing Officer: Vice Admiral Charles Richardson, Chief of RN Personnel
Escort Officer: Philip Russell RN, Captain of the Sea Cadets
Accompanying: Senior Ranking Sea Cadet of UK, Philip Ashton
 
This one has more happy stuff as the Sea Cadet National Marching Band leads the combined services representative cadet units in the Royal Salute taken by HRH The Prince of Wales. Joining the Prince is the Admiral First Sea Lord and the Commandant General Royal Marines.



Combined Force Cadets of Trafalgar Day Commemoration | March Down The Mall | From Horse Guards Gate

Royal Salute Taken by HRH The Prince of Wales | Outside Clarence House | With Admiral First Sea Lord RN

SCC National Marching Band | "Ready Aye Ready" | Official March & Motto UK SCC

Flyover Salute by RAF | Streaming Red White Blue



The National Marching Band of the Sea Cadet Corps leads a parade of representative bands and contingents from all the UK cadet forces down The Mall in London. Taking the salute outside Clarence House at the Mall is HRH The Prince of Wales.




Accompanying the Prince of Wales taking the Royal Salute from all representing units of UK Cadet Force is the Admiral RN First Sea Lord and the Commandant General of Royal Marines. These distinguished commanders are joined by their equally distinguished colleagues of the Combined Staff Chiefs, of Army and RAF.

The traditional post Royal Salute march selection by the Sea Cadet Marching Band is Figaro. It's indisputable: The UK Sea Cadet Marching Band is the best cadet military band of the world. There's just no question about it.

While as we saw immediately above, 8 platoons perform the Commemorative Ceremony in Trafalgar Square, the mass of all service cadets in attendance for each Trafalgar Day Commemoration begin their march to the Royal Salute to the Prince of Wales from Horse Guards Parade (grounds) behind Trafalgar Square. The Sea Cadet band steps off to lead the parade march to the Royal Salute by sounding off their official theme march and motto: Ready Aye Ready. It's the tune of course the band plays for its Royal Eyes Right Salute to HRH The Prince of Wales.



UK Sea Cadet Flagship TS Royalist moored in Canning Dock, Liverpool, during the Three Festivals Tall Ship Regatta 2018.
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"Hurry up and wait'

UK Army Cadets of Southern Area line up for slop food during field training exercises
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RAF Cadet Fieldcraft: Rescuing a downed pilot

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Tuesday 6th July, 2010 cadets and adult volunteers from around the UK and from the MOD's sponsored cadet forces took part in the Cadet 150 Royal Review at Buckingham Palace.

Almost 1700 individuals from the MOD's 4 cadet forces, the Combined Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps converged in the early afternoon at Horse Guards Parade and set off for Wellington Barracks via The Mall.

Each cadet force was led by its own band and were followed up by a combined Pipe band. HRH Prince Charles took the salute outside Clarence House. On arrival at Wellington Barracks the cadets were marshalled by Garrison Sergeant Major Billy Mott ready for the march to Buckingham Palace where all the cadets had been invited to attend a Royal Garden Party hosted by the Princess Royal Anne.




Trafalgar Day Combined Cadet Legion

March From Horse Guards Parade Grounds


Wellington Barracks | On Palace Grounds

Royal Garden Party | Palace Lawn | Hosted by Princess Royal Anne





This video has a bit more of the actual Royal Salute taken by The Prince of Wales, this time focused on the Highland Cadets Pipes & Drums strutting past in its always highly impressive manner. Kilt color indicates cadets of: Red/Army; Solid Blue/Navy; Light Blue/RAF.

While the video does not include the Royal Garden Party on the lawn of Buckingham Palace, hosted by the Princess Royal Anne, it does show the massed units of the combined cadet force legion marching to the Palace lawn from Wellington Barracks on the Palace grounds, to the Palace lawn itself. In fact (and for obvious reasons), the Princess Royal Anne has since this Trafalgar commemoration year succeeded Prince Andrew as Admiral of the Sea Cadets.

We also have a band I missed identifying, the redcoat marching band of the Horse Guards that for the Trafalgar commemoration -- and in order to participate in it actually -- includes some selected cadets. There is btw a lone redcoat (Army) troop on the far side of the road who also appears later. He is Sargent Major of Wellington Barracks Billy Mott. Ha, inside the barracks we see the SGM barking on the spot instructions and directions to the combined cadre to integrate each massed marching unit to the Palace grounds with cadets from each service, Army, Navy, RAF.

RAF cadets btw swarm this video for a reason: RAF singularly has the largest number of cadets. RAF has 45,000 cadets which is the combined total of Army Force cadets and Sea Cadets added together. RAF cadets are shown marching stridently to the greatly popular and celebratory RAF march tune, Aces High, written after the RAF scrappingly successful Battle of Britain in WW II.
 
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Alas this video shows yet again that it is indisputable, ie, the UK Sea Cadet Corps National Marching Band is the best and most outstanding cadet military marching band in the world.

It's the Birmingham Military Tattoo that includes regular forces bands from several NATO countries in the Birmingham Arena and UK Birmingham cadets of each military service, highlighted by the performance of the Sea Cadet National Band.

The second half of the video is the Grand Finale to include all bands and units, regular and cadets, in a mass formation and the singing to the music of "Land of Hope and Glory." There is some of the march off before the video concludes. The tattoo was sponsored by the RAF to include a brief appearance by the Birmingham RAF Guard of Honour for the Salute to the Colonel Officiating.


UK Sea Cadets | National Marching Band | Birmingham Military Tattoo

Regular Force Marching Bands | Certain NATO Member States | Seen in Finale

Opera Singers Perform | Land of Hope and Glory | Music of the Massed Bands




Music in this video:
March On Fanfare
Royal Salute Slow March
Trafalgar Victory Parade (March)
March Off SCC Official March and Motto: "Ready Aye Ready"
Sea Cadet Corps Director of Music Program & Bandmaster National Band: LCR Pattie Bowen-Davies SCC


Cadets in the Finale are the Sea Cadet National Band divided into two subunits at the center flanks of the massed Finale formation of all bands and units.

First cadet units to join the massed formation are cadets of Army Force who march in from opposite ends of the arena rear, to include some on each side pulling a small cannon.

Sea Cadets and RAF cadets march from the center rear entrance to the outside flanks of the formation, Sea Cadets to our left, RAF cadets to our right.




UK Sea Cadet Districts Participated in Diamond Jubilee Pageant
th










Going To Sea
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Sea Cadets take positions on the masts of the SCC Flagship TS Royalist
as they prepare to set sail for open waters.







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The Sea Cadet Corps provides courses and training experience in naval shore establishments and opportunities on ships at sea. The Corps owns and operates several offshore training vessels including the Flagship Brig T.S. Royalist (pictured) and T.S. Jack Petchey. Here Sea Cadets participate in a Tall Ships Regatta in the London Outer Habour.
 
This vid premiered 14 hours ago from Japan Ground Self Defense Force (Army).

It's the 77th anniversary review of the 7th Armored Division, Northern Corps (against Russia).

It's not cadets but it's former cadets and what they do once they become who and what you are on active duty. It has nearly 2000 hits already as the families, guests and public were not authorized to attend due to the pandemic.

Japan SDF overall has the Global Fire Power Rank of 5.


Japan Ground Self Defense Force | 77th Anniversary Review | 7th Armored Division

GSDF Northern Corps | Type 10 Main Battle Tank | Type 90 MBT | Higashi Chitose Garrison

Ground SDF | 1004 Tanks | 5500 Armored Vehicles | 214 Self Propelled Artillery | 480 Towed Artillery






The Northern Army (北部方面隊, Hokubu Hōmentai) is one of five active Armies of the Japan Ground SDF. It is headquartered at Camp Sapporo in Sapporo, Hokkaidō responsible for the defense of the island of Hokkaidō. It is the largest Army of the JGSDF as on Hokkaidō open areas are plentiful. Most of JGSDF's modern Type 90 tank squadrons are in the Northern Army prepared to engage enemy MBT in the field.

One of the primary purposes of Type 10 is to be able to deploy anywhere in Japan. Size and weight reductions have made the Type 10 six tonnes lighter than the Type 90, weighing only 44 tonnes. Eighty-four percent of Japan's 17,920 bridges are passable for the Type 10, compared to only 65% for the Type 90 and 40% for mainstream main battle tanks.

The Type 10 tank is equipped with a C4I system (command, control, communication, computer & intelligence) called "10NW". This system can be incorporated into the JGSDF network to enable sharing of information among tanks in real-time conjunction with "Field Communication System" (FiCS),[4] as well as connected to the infantry's outdoor computer network "Regiment Command Control System" (ReCS) to facilitate integrated military operations with the infantry troops.

Currently, the Type 10 tank is the only MBT equipped with the FCP (Fire Control Picture)-level C4I.

The Type 10 can be seen as a medium tank rather than a true main battle tank. It was designed for both urban and mountain warfare. It lacks thick armor, which is present on modern main battle tanks such as the T-90. Its main role is defense, ie, to support infantry with its firepower rather than to combat enemy tanks as it is unlikely a force attempting to invade would be equipped with a significant number of MBT, presuming it can land tanks which is also highly unlikely. Type 90 MBT is designed to engage enemy MBT in the field.

A great emphasis of the Type 10 was placed on protection against various anti-tank rockets, such as RPG-type. Vehicle has a sloped modular ceramic composite armor similar to the Leopard 2A5. Its side profile is similar to the Leclerc. Damaged armor modules can be easily replaced in field conditions. Add-on armor can also be removed to reduce combat weight to 40 t for ease of transportation.

T-10 is also completed with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems. Its smoke grenade launchers are coupled to laser warning receivers. These are automatically triggered when the tank is illuminated by a laser beam. Such passive protection system allows to reduce chances of being hit by anti-tank guided missiles with semi-automatic laser guidance. The Type 10 has a crew of three, including commander, ԍuɴner and driver. The tank has an automatic ammunition loading system, so there is no need for the loader.

The Type 10 tank is armed with a 120 mm smoothbore gun, developed by Japan Steel Works. This company also license-produces the Rheinmetall 120 mm/L44 gun for the Type 90 MBT which is designed to engage enemy MBT. Type 90 autoloader is located in the turret bustle. The Type 10 fires newly developed armor-piercing ammunition. It is compatible with all standard 120 mm NATO tank ammunition.



Type 10 Medium Tank JGSDF
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Japan Ground SDF Type 90 Main Battle Tank
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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley delivers the commencement speech at the U.S. Military Academy’s graduation ceremony at West Point, NY May 21st.

Cadet to Officer Candidate to Commissioned Officer. That is, first two years you're a cadet; second two years you're an officer candidate to finally become a commissioned officer.
Second Lieutenant.
Take the oath to the Constitution on the West Point Plain.
To begin a career path where no military force has gone before.

Milley speaks of China and Russisa. The Infantry 4-star and Special Ops commander knocks 'em down and drags 'em out. Milley sounds like he always sounds, ie, he wants to strangle bad guys and break their necks. Milley left a trail of enemy broken necks wherever he went.






Milley did three things in his address:
He presented the Butcher's Bill of "Great Power War." In the summer of 1944, over 8 weeks, Milley noted 58,000 Americans died in combat from Normandy to Paris, and in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Over the three decades of 1914-1945 and Great Power Industrial War, at least 150 million people were killed in the most violent three decades of history.

Milley discussed current trends in Great Power War of a massive technological shift over the next 25 years of profound and radical changes to the manner of Great Power military challenges. The battlefield now is urban, not rural (as we experienced in Iraq and now in Ukraine). He noted the American qualities of innovation, resourcefulness and inventiveness as our foundation going forward too.

And Milley discussed the sacred oath to preserve the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. This point is indeed and always Milley's finest moments anywhere, anytime.



Milley graduated Army ROTC at Princeton in 1980. The Boston native was elected captain of the hockey team or else ha. He put in for armor but the Army put him in Infantry (probably because of his potential expertise of breaking enemy necks ha). Milley tweaked the WP grads in his speech because only 136 had signed up for Infantry. He has a master's degree from the Naval War College where global strategy is the forte, and a master's degree in International Relations from Columbia.


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Gen. Milley visits Army ROTC cadets at his alma mater Princeton University. Next to Milley is the Army LTC Officer in Charge of the program (OIC). First two years during which you can withdraw you're a cadet; second two years they''ve got you because you are an Officer Candidate on full scholarship. 🤷‍♂️








Gen. Milley visits Princeton Army ROTC cadet/officer candidates during summer vaca field training exercises at Ft. Knox KY. He listens to a squad leader
of the day state what he just did with his the Army's squad, how and why. Milley was chief of staff of the Army at this time, 2017. Platoon leader of the
day (PL) stands at our far right.
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Next to Gen. Milley is the commanding general of Army Cadet Command MJG John Evans Jr, who is also CG of Ft. Knox.

Princeton has yet another chairman of the JCS, the retired Adm. Mike Mullen who is global strategy professor at the Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs.
 

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Military Comments, Observations and Experiences concerning military cadets.

Enlisted NCOs and officers across the services offer their impressions of cadets across the spectrum of military experiences. Active duty, reservists, retired, veterans and so forth.

The cadets are Junior ROTC in high school; senior ROTC cadets in university/college; Military Academy cadets of all services and assignments land, sea, air. And whatnot.


For instance....

"Their profession will be serving our country. And some of them will be the greatest military minds our world has ever seen."

"You did WHAT?!"




As a veteran, I had very little interaction with JROTC (the high-school level cadets). I would say most of us are generally indifferent to them. Granted, these kids have at least some interest in the military so I do have to respect that. Many ROTC students (college level programs) have made a commitment to serve after graduation. So sure, we can respect that. But still, they haven't yet served. They haven't earned the respect of their troops. Again, we show no disrespect to these folks. Some of them will eventually wear the uniform every day. Their profession will be serving our country. And some of them will be the greatest military minds our world has ever seen.



While a person is still a cadet I've generally seen them treated either with respect, as this might be a future military brother/sister, or with the same treatment they give new recruits, that is you are treated like trash until you earn your place.



The mission of JROTC is to help students become productive citizens, not to recruit for the military. In ROTC, at the college level, serious military students are commissioned and do well. Clueless ones who manage to get a commission have a steep learning curve. Either way, cadets learn the basic military division of labor. Officers don’t seek to supervise soldiers, as that’s the mission of the NCO Corps. Their responsibility is to ensure that anything and everything needed for their platoon to accomplish its mission is provided as best can be provided. Smart new officers find it easier to work WITH the NCO corps, rather than play the rank game.



I’m a LCDR in the US Navy Reserve, having spent nine years on active duty. I got my initial exposure to the military through four years of Navy JROTC in high school. I got a lot of leadership exposure and many opportunities to make mistakes and mature in my JROTC time. Plus I had a salty Master Chief that mentored me so I was ready to have productive relationships with my junior and senior enlisted Sailors when I commissioned. As an officer now, when I see JROTC cadets I see an opportunity to mentor, and influence the next generation, whether or not they serve in the military.



I’ve been there, both in AFROTC Summer Camp (Vandenberg AFB) and Army Jump School (Ft. Benning). At Summer Camp, well, we didn’t mix with the enlisted & officers on base except for the training staff & others detailed to work with us. At Jump School, there were 600+ students in our class. About 500 enlisted, 120 cadets, and 10+ officers. Nobody gave us any special grief. It was an equal opportunity deal (except for the Marine LtC).


Honestly, it depends on the kid. Some JROTC kids are the salt of the earth , sincerely interested, and are doing JROTC because they aren't old enough to actually enlist yet. When old enough they will make a fantastic addition to the military. Others are complete ****ups who have been sent to JROTC by their guidance counselor or parents in hopes that the discipline will fix them. The ones that bug me are the ones who join JROTC because the Hitler Youth isn't available. Some JROTC kids are like hall monitors on afterburner. God help society if any of these third type of kids ever get any kind of uniform or authority - these are the kids who will grow up to be mall guards who taser, beat, handcuff, pepper spray, and conduct cavity searches on nuns they see pocketing a pack of ketchup in the food court.



Depends on the ROTC cadet. We were on an Indian Ocean deployment with a couple of [Annapolis] midshipmen and a couple of ROTC cadets. The midshipmen and one of the ROTC cadets did nothing of consequence. They came and went without leaving a trace. The other ROTC cadet, from the University of Southern California, stayed on beyond the normal six week tour, earned his dolphins (Yes, you read that right — he EARNED his dolphins), and qualified as a sonar watch stander. He was liked and respected by everyone onboard.



To be continued.....
 
Military Comments, Observations and Experiences concerning military cadets.

Enlisted NCOs and officers across the services offer their impressions of cadets across the spectrum of military experiences. Active duty, reservists, retired, veterans and so forth.

The cadets are Junior ROTC in high school; senior ROTC cadets in university/college; Military Academy cadets of all services and assignments land, sea, air. And whatnot.

For instance....

"Their profession will be serving our country. And some of them will be the greatest military minds our world has ever seen."

"You did WHAT?!"


As a veteran, I had very little interaction with JROTC (the high-school level cadets). I would say most of us are generally indifferent to them. Granted, these kids have at least some interest in the military so I do have to respect that. Many ROTC students (college level programs) have made a commitment to serve after graduation. So sure, we can respect that. But still, they haven't yet served. They haven't earned the respect of their troops. Again, we show no disrespect to these folks. Some of them will eventually wear the uniform every day. Their profession will be serving our country. And some of them will be the greatest military minds our world has ever seen.

While a person is still a cadet I've generally seen them treated either with respect, as this might be a future military brother/sister, or with the same treatment they give new recruits, that is you are treated like trash until you earn your place.

The mission of JROTC is to help students become productive citizens, not to recruit for the military. In ROTC, at the college level, serious military students are commissioned and do well. Clueless ones who manage to get a commission have a steep learning curve. Either way, cadets learn the basic military division of labor. Officers don’t seek to supervise soldiers, as that’s the mission of the NCO Corps. Their responsibility is to ensure that anything and everything needed for their platoon to accomplish its mission is provided as best can be provided. Smart new officers find it easier to work WITH the NCO corps, rather than play the rank game.

I’m a LCDR in the US Navy Reserve, having spent nine years on active duty. I got my initial exposure to the military through four years of Navy JROTC in high school. I got a lot of leadership exposure and many opportunities to make mistakes and mature in my JROTC time. Plus I had a salty Master Chief that mentored me so I was ready to have productive relationships with my junior and senior enlisted Sailors when I commissioned. As an officer now, when I see JROTC cadets I see an opportunity to mentor, and influence the next generation, whether or not they serve in the military.

I’ve been there, both in AFROTC Summer Camp (Vandenberg AFB) and Army Jump School (Ft. Benning). At Summer Camp, well, we didn’t mix with the enlisted & officers on base except for the training staff & others detailed to work with us. At Jump School, there were 600+ students in our class. About 500 enlisted, 120 cadets, and 10+ officers. Nobody gave us any special grief. It was an equal opportunity deal (except for the Marine LtC).

Honestly, it depends on the kid. Some JROTC kids are the salt of the earth , sincerely interested, and are doing JROTC because they aren't old enough to actually enlist yet. When old enough they will make a fantastic addition to the military. Others are complete ****ups who have been sent to JROTC by their guidance counselor or parents in hopes that the discipline will fix them. The ones that bug me are the ones who join JROTC because the Hitler Youth isn't available. Some JROTC kids are like hall monitors on afterburner. God help society if any of these third type of kids ever get any kind of uniform or authority - these are the kids who will grow up to be mall guards who taser, beat, handcuff, pepper spray, and conduct cavity searches on nuns they see pocketing a pack of ketchup in the food court.

Depends on the ROTC cadet. We were on an Indian Ocean deployment with a couple of [Annapolis] midshipmen and a couple of ROTC cadets. The midshipmen and one of the ROTC cadets did nothing of consequence. They came and went without leaving a trace. The other ROTC cadet, from the University of Southern California, stayed on beyond the normal six week tour, earned his dolphins (Yes, you read that right — he EARNED his dolphins), and qualified as a sonar watch stander. He was liked and respected by everyone onboard.



To be continued.....

Why?
 
Here's a big thing I've been meaning to get to except for one thingy or another.

It's the pass in review of the Japan Ground SDF 7th Armored Division seen in a video in scrolling, on the 77th anniversary celebration of its founding in 1952.

We recall 7th Armored Division of JGSDF is assigned to the Northern Army on Hokkaido island northernmost in Japan, across from Russia.

7th AD is one of the Northern Army's two divisions and five standing brigades. The accompanying division is of Infantry.





The Flags: virtually all military forces have flags dating back through a zillion years of war.
Likeness of Rising Sun Flag is the Ground SDF Battle Flag. The Battle Flag accompanies the commander of the force, in the vehicle.
Other solid color flags with horizontal bar(s) across the center length is a Regiment, Battalion, Company, varying with the colors and unit function.


Order of Pass in Review March:
Division Commander 2-star and HQ units.
Intelligence & Radars (SIR = Surveillance, Intelligence, Recon)
Combat Engineers & Mechanized Infantry support moving in low to the ground Armored Personnel Carriers
Medical Corps
Utility helos overhead supported by a Cobra attack helo escort (Japanese love the Cobra)
Infantry Fighting Vehicles (in advance of infantry) with a platoon of T-90 MBT and a representation of the Fast Attack Infantry Motorcycle Corps (also Recon)
Anti-Aircraft Regiment & Radars
Self Propelled Artillery
Infantry Armored Personnel Carriers (low to the ground w/machine gun only)
Missiles and support entrenchment equipment
Infantry Brigade of APCs supported by T-10 medium battle tanks and equipment
Brigade of T-10 Medium Battle Tanks (for urban and mountain warfare)
Brigade of T-10 Medium Tanks
Brigade of T-90 MBT
Brigade of T-90 MBT.
Division Command Tank (only) of 2-star.

NOTE for convenience: The T-10 has the smaller turret and no (external) support connector on the gun barrel. Although the T-90 has the larger turret and a V marker, which V was very visible in the video in scrolling, the V is on the opposite side only of the tank from the camera position in this video. So we are unable to see the V of the T-90 in this video. It anyway is the obviously bigger and heavier tank than the T-10 and it has the external support connector halfway along the mightier barrel. Other T-90s have a horse insignia on each side of the turret to indicate Armored Cavalry (in the American style ha).

What cadets are and do when they finish growing up and are fully mature.
 
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Almost 50% of Army officers are accessed through ROTC and 14% through the US Military Academy at West Point. The rest come from OCS, direct commission, etc. The other services have similar numbers. Without ROTC, the US Military would not have a sufficient number of officers to operate.

As I'd noted in scrolling concerning the views of active duty armed forces personnel toward college ROTC cadets of all services....

"Their profession will be serving our country. And some of them will be the greatest military minds our world has ever seen."

"You did WHAT?!"



This is the "You did WHAT?!" account of a Navy submarine chief....


I never interacted with JROTC. ROTC is different.

In the Navy, the people from the Academy who are called Midshipmen all make two summer visits to the fleet, to learn a little bit about the real world, and about the various branches (Aviation, Submarines, etc.) by actually LIVING it. During their tours, each one is assigned a “sea daddy” to take care of them (actually, to keep them from getting into bad situations). They’re dangerous and are NEVER supposed to be alone.

On the first summer tour, they’re treated like enlisted. They wear an enlisted uniform, sleep and eat with the crew, and the sea daddy is an experienced middle-level petty officer (E-5). On submarines, they’re given the same qual cards as the regular, non-qualified crew. But the study schedule is doubled (they have no work assignments. “Study” is their work). On the second summer tour, they’re treated like officers. They wear an officer’s uniform, sleep in a stateroom, and eat in the Wardroom, with the Captain and officers. The sea daddy is a middle-level officer, either a J.G. (O-2) or full Lieutenant (O-3). When they arrive, they are given Officer’s qual cards. Their job is ALSO to study.

I said they can be dangerous?

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When the boat is Rigged For Dive, two qualified enlisted follow the checklist. When done, they go to the Control Room and sign the correct spot in the Ship’s Dive Book, listing any discrepancy (such as the hatch to the bridge is still open). When they’re done, two qualified officers follow the same procedure, called “checking the rig”. That shows how deadly important it is. When a submarine dives, it opens vents in the top of the ballast tanks to flood the tanks. Then it’s heavy enough to dive. If you’ve seen a video of a diving submarine, what looks like smoke is water vapor as the air escapes from the tank through those valves.

Now, the midshipman.

He was following the rigging party, and they were explaining everything (never waste a training opportunity!). One of them allowed the midshipman to unlock and remove one of the padlocks. No problem, right? He said, now, the vent could be operated manually, see? The midshipman said “You mean, like this?” AND HE OPENED THE VALVE! (We were underway, in the channel.) Instant panic on the Bridge! The Captain was there. “SHUT THE VENTS! SHUT THE VENTS! SHUT THE VENTS!” The PO had already shut them, of course. Then he ran to the Control Room to explain what had happened. Later, the midshipman had a good long talk with the Captain.

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With another midshipman, the sonar equipment is digital, using enormous mainframe computers and a large room full of equipment cabinets. If you open a cabinet, an interlock turns the cabinets off, to keep anyone from getting an electrical shock. If something goes wrong, and our display screens freeze or go blank, I (the Sonar Supervisor) send one of my detail down to the equipment space to fix what broke, and I report to the Officer Of the Deck (OOD) that sonar is off-line, we’re working on it.


....continued....
 
The midshipman (you’re gonna love this!) apparently was left on his own, and he was very curious. He wandered into the sonar equipment space, and wondered what the inside of the cabinet looked like. So, he opened one. The interlock opened, and the cooling fan stopped blowing. Then he closed the cabinet, and headed to sonar to ask me a question. As he was heading up, he was almost bowled-over by my guy running down the ladder to fix the problem (When he got there, the problem was gone, and he was totally confused. He didn’t know what the midshipman had done.)

The midshipman came into sonar (which is next to the Control Room), and said, “Chief, I was down in Sonar Equipment Space, and when I opened a cabinet, the lights went off on all of the cabinets, and the fans quit running. When I shut it, they came back on. Why did that happen?” I said “You did WHAT?” He repeated himself. I said, “Sir, I think you should go to the Control Room, and ask the OOD that question, exactly like you asked me.” I have no idea why I was so calm.

He went to the Control Room, and I left the door open, so I could listen. I heard the OOD, “You did WHAT?” Then, I heard, on the 1MC (ship-wide intercom) “Lieutenant XXX report to the Control Room immediately!” (The LT sea-daddy). About five minutes later, I heard the LT say “You did WHAT?” Then, “Come with me.” The two of them went by, and down the ladder to Officer’s Country. The Captains stateroom was at the bottom of the ladder, within listening distance. I heard a knock on the door, and the Captain, “You did WHAT?” I heard the Captain’s door slam, and unintelligible hollering. By this time, I was rolling on the floor, and my guys wanted to know what the hell was so funny! Nothing bad happened, and the midshipman learned a valuable lesson.

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BTW, I learned exactly the same lesson, in almost the same way, 10 years earlier on my first ship. Even the Captain was involved, because the equipment I accidentally shut-down was next to the Captain’s Chair, on the Bridge (a frigate, not a submarine), and he called Sonar, wanting to know what happened to the equipment. Nobody in Sonar had a clue, of course. My Chief was really pissed at me, for putting him in that situation. I also never did that again. It was my first week at sea, ever, and MY sea-daddy left ME alone to think about it!
 
Cadets of UK Combined Cadet Force | March With UK Armed Forces & Veterans

Armed Forces Day | June 25th, 2022 | Scarboro By The Sea | View From the Review Platform

Sea Cadets | RAF Cadets | Royal Marines Cadets | Army Force Cadets | Air Training Cadets





The brief video concludes with a flyover by RAF jets streaming red white blue.

Led by a British Army Band of Redcoats, a company of Scarboro military veterans march with the flag of the regiment in which they served. Included are two large companies of Old Timers who march well passing in review. Some veterans have their grandson or granddaughter cadet marching beside 'em. The veterans formation is followed up by the four units of cadets of the UK Combined Cadet Force that, nationally, totals some 70,000 strong. Air Training Cadets btw are older than the RAF Cadet Force and are in active flight training with the RAF. Cadets of RAF are in the grey while Air Training Cadets wear the white shirts (at the rear).
 
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Cadets of Japan Ground Self Defense Force | Prep Academy | Of the National Defense Academy

Precision Drill Team | With Percussion Unit | Perform at Half Time

Public High School Basketball Tournament | Academy Community Service Outreach





47,469 views | May 19, 2022


Yeah, I've mentioned in scrolling I did the precision drill team thingy in high school Junior ROTC and in uni ROTC, two years each time, which in USA is the typical time period of it. You really don't want any more than that ha, what with all the practice, practice, practice, all of it after school. Second year one team member becomes leader and another becomes assistant. Each time I was assistant drill team leader, focused on minute details while the leader looked after the whole of it. Although we designed the drill together as each year the standard drill needs new components.

Yet while I was all in on ROTC each time, I was less into the drill team. I did it to get noticed and I succeeded ha. And because the new buds I was making for a lifetime as it turned out did it so we went into it together. It paid off for most of us when it came to being a cadet officer and commander of something for the senior year. In high school I became BN XO (#3) and the drill team leader DCO (#2). Another became staff officer S-3 while another became company commander (Charlie cpy). In uni ROTC I became brigade commander, ie, chief cadet. And back then it was a brigade in contrast to the current smaller ROTC battalions of the AVF.

Not knowing who's in the running in this, my money is all the same on this drill team leader to be a battalion commander next year, his senior year. He's good. A leader indeed. Drill team leader of your graduating year usually has a leg up on chief cadet of brigade. This one is too friendly though. Chief cadet in almost any cadet corps anywhere needs to be a prick. I learned that in high school ROTC, which was just too later however. Cause there I was as #3, which while it was damn good, it left me, well, wanting.
 
The cadet experience is unique.

Indeed, it derives from the French word "cadet" which referred to the younger son of a noble family.

Only some of us have the experience voluntarily and in the modern military equivalent of it. Which is what makes it a curiosity and that makes it appealing. Indeed, a cadet is not a PFC who is to be treated as such by sergeants with a high school education and who spent the 20 year major aspect of their life bossing PFCs. The central thingy about cadets is that they graduate into active duty in the real armed forces. And we serve honorably as nobility does do.

That is why we were called cadets. As cadets continue to be called.
 
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