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The 'Australian Navy Cadets (ANC)' is a voluntary youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Australian Navy.

Contents

Organisation

Activities

Ranks of the ANC

Staff Ranks

Officers of Cadets (OOC)

Instructors of Cadets (IOC)

Cadet Ranks

Specializations

Criticisms

Membership

Cadet

Staff

See also

Other naval cadet organisations

Other Australian cadet organisations

External references

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 [CDTLS] 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

Specializations

Upon attaining the rank of Able Seaman, Cadets are able to undertake a specialist course and thus receive a specialization. This mirrors the Royal Australian Navy practice. The specializations available in the Australian Navy Cadets are;

★ Musician (MUSN)

★ Marine Technician (MT)

★ Seamanship (SMNS)

★ Hydrographic Surveyor (HS)

★ Personal Training Instructor (PTI)

★ Cook (CK)

★ Writer (WTR)

★ Stores (STR)

★ Communications (COM)

★ Boatswain's Mate (BM)

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 effecting 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.
This could be a 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.

Membership

Cadet

Membership of the ANC is open to all young people aged 12.5 to 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

★ International Sea Cadet Association

★ Other Sea Cadet organisations

Other Australian cadet organisations

★ Australian Army Cadets

★ Australian Air Force Cadets

External references

★ International Sea Cadet Association

★ Navy League of Australia Federal Council report