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| ==Criticisms== | |||
| Due to increasing bureaucratic red tape many cadet units are unable to perform core activities. One such example of this is the regulation that Australian Navy Cadet vessels be towed with an Australian Defence Force vehicle. This is particularly affecting units in country areas and other regions that do not have access to a Defence vehicle. Without the vehicle the cadets cannot perform waterborne activities. | |||
| To compound this many have felt that the cretin element in upper command echelons have lost touch with the primal concepts that draw young people to the cadets. The perceived need to "bubble wrap cadets" has meant a loss of the adventure that set cadets apart from other youth groups such as the scouts. | |||
| This could be an aggravating factor in the decreasing membership of Australian Navy Cadet Training Ships, with only 2000 cadets across Australia. This compares to an approximate combined total of 20,000 cadets in the other two services. | |||
| In NSW units all waterborne activities have been curtailed (many units have not participated in these activities in more than a year) due to a lack of qualified staff to supervise these activities, yet some staff have been with the organisation for many years and have failed to gain these qualifications. Even staff with registered qualifications have to be re-tested every 4-6 months, with watercraft activities suspended until an examiner turns up. A large number of staff have little or no military experience and are frequently shown up for their lack of ability, this contrasts with the Australian Army Cadets with many of their staff being ex-Army or serving Army Reservists. The ANC in NSW some years ago enjoyed the services of many former RAN or Merchant Navy professional seaman as staff members however over time these members have become disaffected with the "professional cadet" element amongst the senior staff that now predominates. Numbers of ANC staff are also declining, with many headquarters staff required to fill two or three positions | |||
| Although the ANC has been going for over a century they have failed to gain the title of "Royal" in their name, it should be called the "Royal Australian Navy Cadtes, RANC" by this time. | |||
| ==Membership== | ==Membership== | ||
Revision as of 02:27, 11 January 2008
The Australian Navy Cadets (ANC) is a voluntary youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Australian Navy.
Organisation
There are approximately 91 units (Training Ships) across Australia, with a total membership of approximately 2000 cadets and officers. The ANC adheres to a rank structure identical to the Royal Australian Navy, with cadets having the opportunity to progress from the rank of Cadet Recruit to Cadet Midshipman. Each unit has a quota of persons allowed at each rank (Leading Seaman and above), training camps and examinations are held for promotion in rank. The structure and organisation of the Australian Navy Cadets is based on that of the Royal Australian Navy.
Activities
Cadets learn skills in sailing, powerboating, first aid and shooting. Cadets also learn seamanship and leadership skills. Cadets also undertake parades and attend training camps for the purpose of promotion in rank, standard training, or to gain qualifications.
Ranks of the ANC
Ranks of the Australian Navy Cadets are divided into staff and cadet ranks.
Staff Ranks
Officers of Cadets (OOC)
- Captain (ANC) - CAPT(ANC)
- Commander (ANC) - CMDR(ANC)
- Lieutenant Commander - LCDR(ANC)
- Lieutenant (ANC) - LEUT(ANC)
- Sub Lieutenant (ANC) - SBLT(ANC)
Instructors of Cadets (IOC)
- Chief Petty Officer (ANC) - CPO(ANC)
- Petty Officer (ANC) - PO(ANC)
- Unit Support Volunteer (ANC) - USV(ANC)
Cadet Ranks
- Cadet Midshipman - MIDN(ANC)
- Cadet Warrant Officer - C/WO
- Cadet Chief Petty Officer - C/CPO
- Cadet Petty Officer - C/PO
- Cadet Leading Seaman - C/LS
- Cadet Able Seaman - C/AB
- Cadet Seaman - C/SMN
- Cadet Recruit - C/RCT
Specialisations
When Cadets complete the Initial General Training Course (GT), they have the opportunity to go and do a specialisation course. Having a specialisation is not necessary to get promoted to Leading Seamen but having done at least one Annual Continuous Training (ACT) is. Cadets are allowed to have more than one specialisation or category but each cadet will have a primary specialisation. Specialist courses are run on ACTs (as well as GT) which usually happen twice a year. The awarding of categorys mirrors that of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) even though sailors in the RAN can only gain one rate at any one time. The specialisations available in the Australian Navy Cadets are;
- Musician (MUSN)
- Advanced Marine Technician (AMT)
- Marine Technician (MT)
- Seamanship (SMNS)
- Hydrographic Surveyor (HS)
- Physical Training Instructor (PTI)
- Advanced Cook (ACK)
- Cook (CK)
- Writer (WTR)
- Stores (STR)
- Advanced Communications (ACOM)
- Communications (COM)
- Advanced Ceremonial Weapons and Safety (ACWS)
- Ceremonial and Weapons Safety (CWS)
- Naval Airman (NA)
- Cadet Safety Representative (CSR)
Membership
Cadet
Membership of the ANC is open to all young people aged 12.5 to 18 to join with an age limit for all cadets of 20. There is no specific recruitment time; cadets can join or leave at any time. All cadets and instructors in the ANC are civilians and are not required to undertake military service.
Staff
All cadet units are staffed by paid officers and instructors, although some units may also have volunteer instructors
See also
Other naval cadet organisations
Other Australian cadet organisations
External references
| Naval Cadet organizations | |
|---|---|
 International | |
 Australia | |
 Belgium | |
 Bermuda | |
 Canada | |
 Hong Kong | |
 The Netherlands | |
 New Zealand | |
 Russia | |
 Sweden |
|
 United Kingdom | |
 United States of America | |