Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps (BSCC) |
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The badge of the Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps
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| Founded | 1966 |
| Country | Bermuda (UK) |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Type | Volunteer Youth Organisation |
| Size | 3 Training Ships (shore stations) |
| Headquarters Unit | TS Bermuda |
| Motto(s) | Ready Aye Ready |
| Website | TS Bermuda TS Admiral Somers TS Venture |
| Commanders | |
| Lieutenant Commander, Royal Naval Reserve (Sea Cadet Corps) | Lieutenant Commander Michael Frith, RNR (SCC) |
| Notable commanders |
Commander A.J. Boyd, RN ; Lieutenant Commander J. Derek Taylor, RNR (SCC); Lieutenant Commander William Anthony Lightbourne, RNR (SCC); Lieutenant Commander Dwayne Trott, RNR (SCC). |
The Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps is a youth group that teaches young people about naval traditions and skills. It was officially started in 1966. The group was registered as a charity in 1968 under a special law. However, the very first unit actually began two years earlier, in 1964.
Contents
How the Sea Cadets Started in Bermuda
Bermuda has a long and important history with the sea. It was a key location for ships sailing back to Europe. In the 1600s, it was even used as a base for privateers. These were ships that attacked enemy vessels. Bermuda also served as a naval base and dockyard for many years.
Even with this strong sea history, Bermuda did not have Sea Cadet units for a long time. Other youth groups, like the Army Cadets, started much earlier. The Air Training Corps also began during the Second World War.
The Royal Naval Association Bermuda Branch wanted to change this. This group included people who were serving or had served in the Royal Navy. They started planning a local Sea Cadet unit in 1964.
The Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps is part of the UK Sea Cadet Corps. But it is managed locally by its own special group called the Executive Council.
Training Ships: Where Cadets Learn
The Corps soon had three main training locations. These are called Training Ships (TS), even though they are on land. All of them are located on old naval properties.
- TS Bermuda was the first unit. It started on January 12, 1966. It is located at the former Admiralty House. This is in Spanish Point, near the capital city of Hamilton.
- TS Admiral Somers is named after Sir George Somers. He was the founder of Bermuda. This unit is at Convict Bay in St. George's. This area was once a naval base. It was also used by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War.
- TS Venture is on Ireland Island. This island was the main area for the Royal Navy in Bermuda. It was also home to the Royal Naval Dockyard.
The first official inspection of the cadets happened on April 7, 1967. Commander A. J. Boyd, who was in charge of HMS Malabar, inspected the cadets of TS Bermuda.
How the Corps is Organized and What Cadets Learn
The Executive Council is in charge of the whole Corps. They handle funding, support, and overall management. The members of this Council do not wear uniforms. However, many have been retired naval officers.
TS Bermuda is considered the main headquarters unit. Each of the three units has its own committee. This committee helps raise money for the unit's daily needs.
All officers in the Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps are part of the Royal Naval Reserve. Their rank is followed by "RNR (SCC)". This means Royal Naval Reserve (Sea Cadet Corps). The rank stripes on their uniforms are wavy, not straight. This is like the old Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Each unit is led by a Commander or a Lieutenant-Commander. Below them are junior officers, Warrant Officers, and Cadet Instructors. Cadets also hold ranks like Cadet Petty Officers and other cadet ratings.
Training and Opportunities
Before the Royal Navy base, HMS Malabar, closed in 1995, the Corps worked closely with it. The base's commanding officer would inspect the units every year.
Sea Cadets often get to go on Royal Navy ships for sea experience. They also train on the UK Sea Cadet Corps' tall ship, TS Royalist. This is a large sailing ship used for training.
The Corps has also been very involved in building Bermuda's own tall ship. This ship is called the Spirit of Bermuda. It is used to train young people. Commander Anthony Lightbourne, an officer in the Sea Cadets, is a director for the foundation that built and runs this ship.
For a long time, girls in the Sea Cadets were technically part of a separate group. This group was called the Girls Nautical Training Corps (GNTC). But in 1992, the GNTC officially joined the Sea Cadet Corps. Now, all cadets are part of the same organization.
What Cadets Wear: The Uniform
The Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps wears the Royal Navy's "cold water" ceremonial uniform. This uniform includes navy blue trousers and jerseys. They have "Sea Cadet Corp" shoulder titles above their rank badges. They also wear a white shirt and a white cap with a crown. This cap was once part of the tropical uniform.
The Royal Navy staff at HMS Malabar used to wear a tropical uniform in summer. This included white shorts. But the Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps wears the "cold water" uniform, sometimes with just a shirt.
For everyday work, cadets wear the No. 8 Dress. This is a blue shirt and darker blue trousers. They also wear a navy blue sweater and a navy blue beret. The beret has a "Sea Cadet Corps" badge. Rank badges are red and worn on dark blue slides on the shoulders. These slides also say "SCC".
For special parades, cadets wear whitened belts. These belts have shiny brass parts and anklets.
Cadet Rating Badges
 Sea Cadets Corps |
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No insignia | |||||
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| Petty Officer Cadet |
Leading Cadet |
Able Cadet | Ordinary Cadet | Cadet 1st Class |
Cadet | New Entry | ||||||
| POC | LC | AC | OC | CFC | CDT | NE
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Royal Marines Cadets (Part of the SCC) |
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No insignia | No insignia | |||||||
| Cadet Sergeant |
Cadet Corporal |
Cadet Lance Corporal |
Marine Cadet | Recruit | ||||||||
| CDT SGT | CDT CPL | CDT LCPL | MC | RCT | ||||||||
Junior Sea Cadets Corps |
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| Leading Junior Cadet |
Able Junior Cadet |
Junior Cadet First Class |
Junior Cadet |
| LJC | AJC | JCFC | JC |
Adult Officers Rank Badges
| Sea Cadet Corps officers | Captain (SCC) RNR | Commander (SCC) RNR | Lieutenant Commander (SCC) RNR | Lieutenant (SCC) RNR | Sub-Lieutenant (SCC) RNR | Midshipman (SCC) RNR |
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| Insignia |  |
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| Sea Cadet Unit Officers (NCOs) | Warrant Officer 1 (SCC) RNR | Warrant Officer 2 (SCC) RNR | Chief Petty Officer | Petty Officer | Probationary Petty Officer | Civilian Instructor |
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| Rank Slide |  |
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Weapons for Drills and Ceremonies
Each Sea Cadet unit has Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifles. These rifles are made safe for drill purpose only. This means they are used for training in marching and handling weapons, but they cannot fire. If cadets need to practice shooting, they use rifles borrowed from the Royal Bermuda Regiment.
For ceremonial duties, officers use special swords and dirks. These are small daggers. Bayonets, which are knives attached to rifles, are also used with the No. 4 rifle for ceremonies.
Gallery
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TS Venture, on Ireland Island
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TS Bermuda at Admiralty House
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TS Admiral Somers at Convict Bay
