31-03 Annex A - Sea Cadet Corps Program

Cadet Administrative and Training Orders (CATOs)

General

1. The Corps Program is central to the overall foundation that Sea cadets require to undertake the other components of the program. It focuses on giving all Sea cadets, instruction and opportunities to develop knowledge and skills in a variety of subject areas while also introducing them to specialized activities.

Sea Cadet Corps Program

2. The Sea cadet Corps Program is primarily focused on maritime activities derived from the Canadian Navy and the civilian maritime community. It is comprised of the following established Sea cadet activities as well as activities common to the Sea, Army and Air cadet programs:

1. Sea cadet activities:
   (1) seamanship/rope work,
   (2) sailing,
   (3) small craft operations,
   (4) ship’s operations, and
   (5) Canadian Navy and civilian maritime community familiarization; and
2. common cadet activities:
   (1) general cadet knowledge,
   (2) drill and ceremonial,
   (3) leadership,
   (4) instructional techniques,
   (5) community service,
   (6) cultural education/travel,
   (7) citizenship,
   (8) personal fitness and healthy living,
   (9) recreational sports,
   (10) air rifle marksmanship,
   (11) summer and winter biathlon,
   (12) music – military band and pipe band,
   (13) Positive Social Relations for Youth, and
   (14) first aid.

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Sub-Programs

3. The Sea cadet Corps Program is comprised of the following two sub-programs:

1. phase training; and
2. optional activities.

4. The phase training is further comprised of two compulsory components:

1. mandatory activities; and
2. complementary activities.

5. The phase training program is a directed program carried out at the cadet corps that teaches and practices the minimum knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to the achievement of the cadet program participant outcomes. The phase training program is conducted between 1 September and 30 June of each training year through a combination of training sessions and training days / weekends delivered by authorized training establishments that include:

1. Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC); and
2. technical training establishments, such as:
   (1) Regional Cadet Sailing Schools (Sail Centres), and
   (2) other zone, detachment or regional training establishments as authorized by the RCSU CO.

​Phase Training

6. The phase training program is divided into five phases. Normally a cadet will only attempt one phase training level in a given training year:

1. Phase One;
2. Phase Two;
3. Phase Three;
4. Phase Four; and
5. Phase Five.

7. Each phase training level is divided into two compulsory components that must be completed by all cadets. The two components are mandatory activities and complementary activities. Refer to CATO 11-04 for for additional amplification on the definition and relationship of mandatory and complementary activities.

Optional Activities

8. Optional activities may be conducted outside the allocated phase training. The use of optional activities augments the phase training program, both to maintain cadets’ interest and to allow corps Commanding Officers to tailor the overall cadet program to meet the corps’ and cadets interests and the circumstances of the community, based on resources available at the local level. Refer to CATO 11-04, Annex A for additional amplification of optional activities.

9. Local sponsoring Branch of the Navy League of Canada supports the Sea cadet Corps Program, in particular the optional activities sub-program, which is not funded by DND.

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Publications

10. The Sea cadet Corps Program is outlined and described in a series of official publications available through the Department of National Defence distribution system.​

11. Each phase training level is comprised of performance objectives (PO) subdivided into enabling objectives (EO), which are promulgated in the qualification standard and plan (QSP).

12. Each QSP is supported by an Instructional Guides (IG), which provides instructors with the base means from which to deliver training.

​13. The QSP are the primary authority governing the implementation, conduct and evaluation of the phase qualification training conducted by Sea cadet corps. The QSP is also the primary reference to be used for evaluation and validation of qualification.

14. Any significant deviation from QSP due to training limitations must be approved by D Cdts 4.

15. In addition to the QSP and IG several other publications are used as reference manuals and distributed as needed.

16. All publications required to implement and support the Corps Program, and the distribution process, are described at Appendix 1 to this Annex.

Resource Requirements​

17. The Sea cadet Corps Program QSP contain details of the resources, equipment and training, and learning aids necessary to conduct the phase training.​

18. SSO Sea Cdts is responsible at the national level for ensuring resources are aligned to satisfy the Sea cadet program requirements.

19. The RCSU CO is responsible at the regional level for ensuring that required resources are available locally to corps.

20. In accordance with CATO 11-04, from a resource management perspective, RCSU CO have the discretion to determine which complementary activities will be conducted by corps when taking into account local circumstances and resource availability within the region.

21. A suggested support table for mandatory and complementary (day and/or weekend training activities is outlined at Appendix 2 to this annex.

References

• CATO 11-04, Cadet Program Outline​ ​ ​- superseded
• CATO 11-04, Annex A, Corps/Squadron Program​ ​- superseded

Appendix

Appendix 1

Publications Sea Cadet Corps Program

Appendix 2

Suggested Support for the Combination of Training Days and Weekends for Mandatory and Complementary Activities

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