Who makes a good Sea Cadet?
The ideal Sea Cadet recruit is a young man or woman who wants to learn about the military in general and about the Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Merchant Marine in particular. Cadets must be US Citizens or Permanent Residents. If a young person is considering a future in the military, the Sea Cadets is a great place to explore that option without incurring a service obligation. Even if a young person does not want to serve in the military upon high school graduation, they can have many great learning experiences and a lot of fun as a Sea Cadet.
Are you a “troubled youth” program?
No. Our program is designed around motivated cadets. We expect cadets to be in good academic standing, and adhere to the Sea Cadet Code of Conduct. Section 5.01 of the Sea Cadet Regulations requires cadets to affirm that they reject the use of alcohol and illegal drugs, are not part of a street gang, have no pattern of unfavorable interactions with the police, and more. Cadets who haze, bully, harass, or otherwise interfere with the orderly operation of the battalion will be dis-enrolled. The development of self-discipline is a side-effect of the program and helps cadets in their day-to-day lives, but we are not in the business of “straightening out” troubled teens.
What about boot camp?
The Alamo Battalion’s Seaman Recruits (E-1s) and Seaman Apprentice — Temporaries (E-2Ts) are eligible to attend recruit training (RT), the Sea Cadet’s Navy-style boot camp. RT is conducted at multiple locations throughout the U.S., primarily in the summer. To attend RT, you must:
- Be a fully-registered Sea Cadet for at least six weeks, according to the regulations. Registration is done on the national computer system and this deadline will not bend. Three months is usually required for cadets to successfully prepare for RT. Doing it faster is possible, but it requires harder work by the cadet and parents.
- Be at least thirteen years old at the start of RT.
- Pass the Polaris Advancement Class for E-1 — another reason to join sooner, not later. Cadets cannot start the class until they are registered.
- Have a passing Physical Readiness Test on file. If you haven’t been running, doing push-ups and staying in shape, it may take you some time to get ready. We cannot register you for RT until you pass.
- Have all of your membership paperwork on file, including medical and vaccination records. Some of these require a doctor visit, which is yet another reason to join sooner, not later.
- Get your gear together. Besides the uniforms that we provide, you need to provide sheets, towels, boots, dress shoes, t-shirts, PT uniforms, and more. Shopping for the right items takes time. Delay leads to failure.
What is the time commitment?
Members of the Alamo Battalion are expected to attend monthly drills. We excuse absences for school activities, extra-curricular activities and family travel, but Cadets with excessive unexcused absences will be dis-enrolled from the program.
Sea Cadets are expected to attend annual trainings. Some of the most fun in the Sea Cadet program is in the various advanced trainings that the national organization coordinates. All Cadets must attend Recruit Training (RT) in order to receive their first permanent promotion. After RT, cadets may register for a variety of fun and challenging trainings across the country. Training is usually one to two-weeks long. Cadets and their families are responsible for travel to and from the training locations.
Sea Cadets are expected to complete Polaris Advancement Courses (PACs) between drill in order to advance. These courses can take 10 or more hours depending upon the course, and are broken down into manageable assignments that can be completed between drills.
Am I too old or too young?
Ideally, a new Cadet should be between age 12 and age 16. For more details, read on.
Boys and girls as young as ten years old can be members of the League Cadet Corps, although that seems to work best when a parent is a volunteer or where there are older siblings who are already Sea Cadets. Many ten-year-old children can be overwhelmed by Sea Cadet activities. If you have a ten or eleven-year-old, please contact us to discuss whether your child is mature enough to benefit from participation. By ages twelve and thirteen many children are mature enough to participate productively in our activities.
Many cadets join at the ages of thirteen or fourteen. To avoid disappointment at not being able to attend summer Recruit Training, we recommend that cadets join in February or March before the summer that they wish to attend training. Cadets cannot just sign up and go to RT the next month. Cadets must prepare for RT over several months as members of the Alamo Battalion before reporting for RT. They must complete a Polaris Advancement Course, pass a Physical Readiness Test, earn their uniforms (and have them properly fitted, patches sewn and inspected), break in their boots, and satisfy other requirements in our regulations. Parents find the time between joining and RT to be very busy with all of the tasks required for a cadet to get ready. Leave adequate time for preparation.
Prospective Cadets aged 16 or more should consider whether it is too late to join. High school seniors can be in the Sea Cadets, but senior year is far too late to start. To see the benefit of the program and to advance to E-3 in the Sea Cadets requires graduating from NSCC Recruit Training and at least one summer Advanced Training; those typically happen over two summers. Advancing to a leadership position and becoming a Petty Officer often requires between 18 months and three years depending upon what time of year a cadet joins, availability of training opportunities, and the cadet’s dedication to advancement. The latest that a cadet could join with a reasonable chance of having leadership experience is mid-sophomore year of high school.
What are the costs?
The Alamo Battalion provides uniforms (NWUs, whites, blues, belts and covers). Families are expected to provide some items (nametapes, sewing patches, boots, dress shoes, t-shirts, etc.). Other costs include annual dues ($150 the first year, $100 thereafter), drill fees (typically around $30 per drill), and training expenses (fees to the training contingent and travel). The file linked below will provide more details.
Cost Overview
There are many benefits to the nation, to the sea services, and to the Cadets themselves. Not only do young people learn to take responsibility for themselves, work as a team, and take pride in hard-won accomplishment, but they open new doors to their futures. About ten percent of the entering class at the Naval Academy have been Sea Cadet graduates, and Sea Cadets who enlist can do so at E-3 in the Navy and E-2 in other services. Many Sea Cadets win NROTC, and other ROTC scholarships. The self-discipline, teamwork and time management skills that our cadets learn are equally valuable whether they go off to college or begin a civilian career.
To get started, go to our “How to Join” page. Download the form and fill out the first four pages. Scan and send those pages via email with your request to visit, and we will send you the information you need.
Carefully review the Prospective Cadet Visit Guide below, and contact the Alamo Battalion at least a week before drill so that we know you are coming. Because we drill on a military base, unless your driver has DoD CAC, we will need to pre-clear your visit.
Once you’ve visited and decided to join, you can make your dues payment and fill out the remaining applicable pages of the application.
First, carefully follow the directions given above. In Sea Cadets, you will learn to follow directions precisely.
Second, get in shape. Do push-ups, sit-ups and run.
Third — this is for the parents — we will need (1) up to date vaccination records and (2) the equivalent of a sports physical (like you get every year before your child’s season starts). We can accept the vaccination records on any reasonable form, but the physical must be on our form signed by your child’s health-care provider. You can save yourself a trip to the doctor by having our-form (pages 5 & 6) with you when you get your annual checkup/sports physical. If you have to take prescription medication there are more pages and signatures required on the same form — just bring the form and follow the directions.
We have the Parent’s Handbook. Enjoy.