The Organisation & Structure of HM Royal Marines Cadets
His Majesty's Royal Marines Cadets were created in 1955 on the command of the Captain General Royal Marines and the Commandant General Royal Marines to be a branch of the Sea Cadet Corps, similar to the structure of the regular Royal Marines as part of the Royal Navy. The exception is Chatham Royal Marines Cadet Unit which was established in 1903. The first Marine Cadet Detachment was opened at the Bristol Adventure Unit. Royal Marines Cadets were formed for "sturdy, adventurous boys".
Sea Cadet Units may open a Royal Marines Cadets Detachment, who will use the same facilities, parade alongside Sea Cadets and fall under the command of the unit CO. Royal Marines Cadets wear the uniform of the Royal Marines with the exception of Commando qualification badges, and wear cadet specific insignia. We follow a much more land-based training programme, with emphasis on subjects such as Weapons Handling, Military Map Reading, Fieldcraft and basic level Military Tactics, strongly encouraged to train in the principles of Seamanship.
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Although we are an integral part of the Sea Cadet Corps, we look to the regular Corps of Royal Marines for our styles and standards of dress, drill and training. As such, we form a large part of the wider Royal Marines family.
His Majesty King Charles III, Captain General Royal Marines.
Cadets and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) wear the Royal Marines blue beret, with red tombstone patch behind the cap badge. RMC CFAVs who have completed either Royal Marines Commando training or the All Arms Commando Course at CTCRM Lympstone, are entitled to wear the Commando Green Beret, subject to written permission from the SRMO. Few Detachments are Male only due to staffing limitations, however, the majority also take female Royal Marines Cadets who make up 30% of the total complement of numbers. As of 6 July 2014, following a tri-partite RMC parade at Buckingham Palace in the presence of the late Duke of Edinburgh, in his capacity as Captain General Royal Marines, and in celebration of the 350th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Marines, all RM Cadets from the SCC, CCF and VCC shall be entitled to be known as His Majesty's Royal Marines Cadets.
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The Royal Marines Cadets of the SCC, CCF and VCC are overseen by the Royal Marines Cadet Council which meet every six months. The RMC Council is led by the Colonel Commandant Royal Marines Cadets. All the 'flavours' of RM Cadets (SCC/CCF/VCC) are represented along with the RM Corps Secretariat, RM Corps Colonel, RMA, RMBS, Corps RSM, RMR RSM and the CGRM.
It is the greatest possible pleasure to assume the role of your Captain General. I am exceptionally proud to follow in the footsteps of so many members of my family over the last three and a half centuries, all of whom held the role with a deep sense of admiration.
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The Royal Marines have a distinguished and unparalleled history, both on land and at sea. I draw immense inspiration from your courage, determination, self-discipline and a remarkable capacity to endure in the most extreme environments.
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I feel greatly honoured to become part of the Corps Family and very much look forward to meeting many of you in the near future. In the meantime, this comes with my heartfelt and special wishes for a very happy 358th birthday.
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Per Mare, Per Terram.
Royal Marines Cadets are organised Nationally, by Region, and Locally. At National HQ Level, the operational head of the Royal Marines Cadets (SCC) is the Royal Marines Cadets Senior Staff Officer (RMCSSO) who is aided by Support Company Royal Marines Cadets and the Staff Royal Marines Officer (SRMO), who is a serving regular Royal Marines Warrant Officer or Colour Sergeant on secondment to the SCC as a Training Support Adviser. They are all responsible for overseeing the running of the RMC and reporting to the CSC.
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At Regional Level, Royal Marines Cadets are formed into Companies. These cover the same area as the Sea Cadet "Areas" and, with the exception of Support Company, each is identified by a letter from the phonetic alphabet.
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ALPHA Company – South West Area
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BRAVO Company – North West Area
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LIMA Company – London Area
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X-RAY Company – Eastern Area
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YANKEE Company – Northern Area
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ZULU Company – Southern Area
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Support Company – National
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Each company has a Company Commander,
usually a Major (SCC) RMR, who leads a Coy
HQ which is structured as follows:
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Company Second in Command (2IC)
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Company Sergeant Major (CSM)
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Troop Commanders (Trp Cdrs)
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Company Training Officer (CTO)
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Company Drill Leader (1st Drill)
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Company Medical Orderly (CMO)
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Company Training Safety Adviser (CTSA) - A full-time role responsible for ensuring the safety of all training events
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Company Quartermaster (CQM) – The CQM organises Company Stores, Victualling, Accomodation and Logistics.
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Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) – The CQMS assists with carrying out the duties of the Quartermaster.
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At Local Level, Royal Marines Cadets are formed up in Troops made up of Detachments. Since not every SCC Unit has a Royal Marines Cadet Detachment, using Sea Cadet Districts could result in Troops formed of one Detachment or none. As such, Troop borders are independent and cross SCC District boundaries. There are several Troops in a Company and are numbered 1 Troop, 2 Troop etc. Each Troop has a Troop Commander (usually a Captain (SCC) RMR and a Troop Sergeant. The Troop Commander and Troop Sergeant organise Troop level training and are primarily responsible for the maintenance of the very high standards expected of the Detachments in their designated area.
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Detachments are part of a local Sea Cadet Unit and usually consist of a minimum of eight cadets, making up a Rifle Section. A Detachment can have as many Rifle Sections as there are sufficient CFAVs to facilitate the training. These are numbered No.1 Section, No.2 Section, and so on. A Detachment is Commanded by a Detachment Commander (Det Cdr), and Rifle Sections are usually run by Cadet Junior NCOs supervised by the Detachment Commander*
*Royal Marines Cadets Cambridge Detachment is part of 7 Troop, which itself is part of X-Ray Company. Our Troop and Detachment Commanders are both Commando Trained CFAVs, with many years of military experience. The Detachment is privileged to operate from TS Ganges, one of the finest cadet training establishments in the region.
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Gibraltar Cup Competition
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The Gibraltar Cup was presented by then Commandant General Royal Marines General Sir Campbell Richard Hardy, KCB, CBE, DSO & Bar. and named from the Battle Honour of that Corps. It is awarded annually to the Royal Marines Cadet Detachment (RMCD) of the SCC which is considered to have attained the highest standard of all-round merit in the previous year.
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The aim of the Gibraltar Cup Competition is for the best detachment in each Company to compete for the top award for the Royal Marines Cadets of the Sea Cadet Corps. It is held in March (annually) at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), Lympstone, Devon.
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Awards & Qualifications Offered
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The Royal Marines Cadets are authorised trainers for awards and qualifications issued by the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards Scheme, the Royal Yachting Association, BTEC (Marine Engineering), and the British Canoeing Union. Click on the logos below to find out more information about these organisations and the awards and qualifications offered.
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MOD Indemnity
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Provided Sea Cadet Headquarters has approved the formation of a Royal Marines Cadet Detachment, they will be included in the MOD Indemnity, meaning that the unit is able to use Ministry of Defence (MOD) training areas, property and equipment; including boats, for RMC when compliant with Sea Cadet Regulations, policies and procedures, and Field Training Planning Procedures, including Training Afloat Regulations and Safety (TARS) and Inshore Boating Operating Standards (IBOS).
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