Australian Navy Cadets

There are currently 9 Flotillas in the Australian Navy Cadets. Each Flotilla has a Flotilla Commander (FLOTCOM) in charge who is the rank of Lieutenant Commander, ANC.

Ranks of the Australian Navy Cadets are divided into staff ranks and cadets ranks. Volunteers do not become staff until appointed by the ANC.

From December 2021, all staff members hold Officer of Cadets (OOC) ranks, with Instructor of Cadets (IOC) ranks becoming inactive.

Officer of Cadets (OOC) Ranks

Insignia
Rank	Captain ANC	Commander ANC	Lieutenant Commander ANC	Lieutenant ANC	Sub Lieutenant ANC	Midshipman ANC
Abbreviation	CAPT, ANC	CMDR, ANC	LCDR, ANC	LEUT, ANC	SBLT, ANC	MIDN, ANC

Example of Use (officer); LCDR Joe Blogg, ANC

ADFC Cadets	CDT 9 (Special Grade)		CDT 8	CDT 7		CDT 6		CDT 5	CDT 4	CDT 3	CDT 2	CDT 1	CDT (R)
Australian Navy Cadets[4]	No equivalent									No equivalent			No Insignia
				Cadet Warrant Officer		Cadet Chief Petty Officer		Cadet Petty Officer	Cadet Leading Seaman		Cadet Able Seaman	Cadet Seaman	Cadet Recruit
				CDTWO		CDTCPO		CDTPO	CDTLS		CDTAB	CDTSMN	CDTRCT

[5]

Example of Use; CDTPO Joe Bloggs

• Defence Approved Helper – DAH

Example of Use; Mr Joe Bloggs – DAH

The basic naval reserve cadet (NRC) command structure prior to 2001 was:

Director of Naval Reserves and Cadets (DNRC) was a RANR Officer in Canberra who had overall authority of the Naval Reserve Cadets. Each state had a Senior Officer Naval Reserve Cadets (SONRC) who answered to the LNA or Local Naval Authority usually the Commanding Officer (CO) of the establishment on which the NRCHQ of that state resided. A Cadet Liaison Officer (CLO), usually a RANR Officer, was situated in HMAS Cairns, HMAS Moreton, HMAS Watson, HMAS Lonsdale, HMAS Encounter, HMAS Huon and HMAS Leeuwin (all shore bases at the time). The CLO had responsibility for the liaising between the NRC and RAN in their state. There was no national HQ or national staff until the ANC was established in 2001.

Prior to 2001 the ANC did not have the title or position 'Director General ANC', instead the overall Commander's position was called 'Director of Reserves Navy' which was a RAN – RANR position.

Cadets learn teamwork and leadership skills, and put these into practice at regular weekly parades. Cadets also have the opportunity to attend training camps for the purpose of promotion in rank, standard training, or to gain additional qualifications.

TS Hobart, a dedicated band unit, also offers musical activities as well as the normal cadet curriculum.

All ANC units can participate in sea rides on Royal Australian Navy ships, an initiative to provide a link between ANC units and RAN ships.[6]

In January 2019, 30 cadets from NSW experienced a sea ride aboard the MV Sycamore for 6 days, in which they became familiar with life on board. They experienced the different sections of the ship, from getting hands-on doing scullery in the galley to coiling lines with the bosuns to visiting engineering and getting a tour of the engine room . They all experienced standing 1-2 two hour watches per day, with each cadet having the opportunity to do lookout duty and take the helm of the vessel, learning hands-on how to control a ship.

As the ANC is part of the International Sea Cadet Association, the opportunity is present for members to go on exchange programs with overseas cadet groups.

The ANC/Young Endeavour Voyage Scheme is a sailing program for Australian Navy Cadets aged 16 and over, focused on building leadership, teamwork and communication skills through sail training. This scheme is being sponsored by the RAN and extends to 24 Australian Navy Cadets and three ANC staff members the chance to participate in two dedicated voyages on STS Young Endeavour. Sponsorship covers all voyage fees, airfares and accommodation. Nominations are sought from cadets over the age of 16 years and placement is offered to the top 24 cadets who can demonstrate outstanding personal and leadership qualities and who have made a valuable contribution to their local community during the past 12 months.

Over the course of the voyage, 24 Navy Cadets and three ANC staff members learn aspects of sailing a 44-metre, square rigged tall ship on the open sea including climbing the two 30 metre masts, setting sails, navigating, keeping watch, taking the helm and helping in the galley. ANC crew are trained by a professional Royal Australian Navy crew who are there to ensure the highest standards of safety and care.

The YEYS staff lead and run the Ship's usual training, games/sport and activity programs, with all ANC staff and cadets coming under the direction and supervision of the Ship's crew. This is not a military program. ANC staff do not have a leadership role while embarked in STS Young Endeavour and fully participate in the ship's youth development program on an equal footing with the cadets whom they would usually lead. The focus of the voyage is on self-development, the atmosphere is informal and all ship's company and youth crew are addressed on a first name basis.

When Cadets complete their basic training, and reach the required rank, they have the opportunity to go and do a specialisation course. Having a specialisation is not necessary to get promoted, but some flotillas will require Able Seamen to do a Leadership And Management course before they can be promoted. Cadets are allowed to have more than one specialisation or category but each cadet will have a primary specialisation. Specialist courses are run on ACTs (as well as GT) which usually happens twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter. The awarding of categories mirrors that of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) even though sailors in the RAN can only gain one rate at any one time. The specialisations are available to cadets from any rank.

The specialisations available in the Australian Navy Cadets are:

• Seamanship Development Course (SMNS)
• Marine Technician (MT)
• Ceremonial and weapons safety (CWS)
• Cook (CK)
• Communications (COM)
• Musician (MUSN)
• Stores (STR)
• Hydrographic Surveyor (HS)
• Writer (WTR)

Promotional Specialisations:

• Leadership and Management (L&M, required to become a Leading Seaman)
• Seamanship Development Course (not required to become a Seaman)
• General Training Instructor/Petty Officer Qualifications (PO Quals, required to become a Petty Officer)
• Whole Ships Coordinator/Chief Petty Officer Qualifications (CPO Quals, required to become a Chief Petty Officer)

Former specialisations:

• Physical Training Instructor (PTI)
• Cadet Safety Representative (CSR)
• Naval Airman (NA)

Cadets can also attend an advanced course on most of the above specialisations.

Cuff Rates:

CSA (Cadet Special Award) are completed at cadets, camps and ACT (Annual Continuous Training). Cuff rates is a badge you get after completing the course and it is worn on ceremonial uniforms, with a maximum of three to be worn. Cuff rate include:

• Sailing
• Power boating
• Canoeing
• Pulling
• Sailboarding
• Drum Corp
• Bugle Corp
• Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Adventurous Training
• Diving
• Weapons Safety
• Marksmanship
• Parachutist
• First Aid
• Solo Flight

the Adventurous Training Award is run by the Australian Army Cadets and is worn above the readiness badge.

Cadets also have the opportunity to attend Weekend Postings (WEP's), which occur over a period of Friday night to Sunday afternoon. WEP's are opportunities to get extra time to get activities done, and can be useful to run shortened versions of some ACT courses, some of which require to be conducted over two or more WEP's. However, they are most frequently used as opportunities to get on the water in the ANC's watercraft, and can take the form of sailing, powerboating, paddleboarding/canoeing/kayaking.

WEP's are normally conducted with multiple units, with one unit hosting and the others travelling to that unit. Usually, one senior cadet from the host unit is chosen to be the Whole Ships Coordinator (WSC) and they will coordinate the staff and cadets of other units, and are often involved in the planning and preparation stages of the WEP. However, a senior cadet from another unit may sometimes be the WSC, normally if the host unit is lacking senior cadets.

Cadets are sometimes given a chance to visit Australian or other friendly naval vessels depending on location of the unit and where the ship is stationed or moored.[1] Whilst on board, cadets will learn about the systems and operation of the vessel.[3]

The age period of membership as a cadet is twelve and a half, turning thirteen on the year of entry, to 31 December in the year the cadet turns eighteen. There is no specific recruitment time, applicants are encouraged to join at any time.

At most Training Ships, a trial period of four weeks is employed. During this trial period, a cadet (ranked as a recruit) is either not issued uniforms, or issued old working rig. They are free to leave at any point of the day but cannot participate in trans-unit activities such as WEP's or ACT's. At the end of this period they are officially appointed as cadets and are issued their correct uniforms.

Navy Cadet Instructors are volunteers and are drawn from our local communities. Unlike other youth development organisations, the ANC provides some compensation for Officers of Cadets (OOC) via a claimable (taxable) Cadet Volunteer Payment (CVP). Navy Cadet Instructors involved in the organisation come from a variety of backgrounds and professions including:

• Teachers
• Members of community organisations
• Ex-cadets
• Parents and community members
• Ex-servicemen and women
• Occupational health and safety consultants
• Specialist personnel such as HR, change or occupational health and safety managers, administrators or finance officers
• People who provide support on a continuing or as required basis[7]

The current National Command Authority are;

• Commodore D. Greaves, RAN – Director General ANC
• Captain Peter Alderson, ANC – National Commander
• Commander Raelene Stephensen, ANC – Director Flotillas
• Commander Richard Morgan, ANC – Director Business
• Commander Chris Bastian, ANC – Director Learning and Development
• Commander Zara Ali, ANC – Director Professional Standards
• Commander Lisa Foley, ANC – Director Safety, Environment & Wellbeing
• Commander Christopher Holcroft, ANC – Director Communications & Media