Harley Sailor said:
My Daughter did 4 years in Navy League and then moved up to Naval Cadets. In her third year she could have moved up to cadets but was convinced that it was in her best interest to do her last year in Navy League so she could become a CPO1. She was told that it would not hurt her because as a chief in Navy League she could join cadets and be able to write her test for her Able Seamens right away. This would have put her back with the people who moved up the year before.
A couple of flags pop up for me. First of all, there is no test for advancement at AB (and there wasn't last year, before the rank structure was revised to match that of the CF). Some local units may have a test and use it to advance former Navy League cadets but there's nothing in the QSP to permit this. Second, I wonder who told her it was better to stay in NL Cdts that last year: the sea cadet staff, or the Navy League cadet staff? My guess is the latter, and if that's so then they have nothing to say about what goes on in a sea cadet corps. I'm the CO of a sea cadet corps and you will never catch me encouraging anyone to stay in NL cadets one day past his or her 12th birthday -- I want them in my corps as soon as I can get them!
What we can do with a former NL cadet (or anyone else) who joins at the age of 14 is to arrange their training in such a way that they complete Phase 1 and Phase 2 in the same year, ending the year in the same place they would be in had they joined a year earlier.
Well she did stay and was pormoted to CPO1. When she got to naval cadets she was told that she would not be advanced. We have been trying to find out why not and have not been told anything. Last week we were told that the rules have been changed and that is why she could not be advanced.
There hasn't been a change in national policy on this any time recently. Do you mind me asking what unit we're talking about? (By PM if you wish.)
My questions are "Was she told the truth last year about staying back not hurting her? When did they change the rules? Who can I contact other then her local unit, to find out what can be done about her lost year?"
In all honesty, the harm to her cadet career won't be irreparable even if nothing is done. She will still have time to make it to the top if she stays in until she ages out. If she is a year older than most of the other cadets in her phase it is very likely that she will be recognized for her relative maturity and will be more likely to get the jammier positions in the unit as she reaches the PO level. I've seen more than one situation in which a switched-on PO2 was in a more responsible position than a mediocre PO1.
One of the big concerns cadets have is how soon they can get their trade qualifications done and start being employed as staff cadets at the summer training centres. For a cadet who stays an extra year in NL cadets it's quite likely that the sea cadet unit would send her on her Trade Group 1 course her first summer (rather than the General Training course that cadets usually start with), so in terms of her summer training she would not necessarily lose anything.
However, I can understand that it would be a very frustrating situation for her. As a parent you are within your rights to speak to the detachment or the RCSU HQ itself. If they can't do anything for you then it may be best to let her career take its course, with the knowledge that she is likely to stand above her peers and have a very good six years in the cadet programme.
startbutton said:
Our kids were in Navy League, My son will be turning 12 in January and joining Army Cadets rather then finishing his last year with NLCC. The reason- we were told that NLCC isnt exactly related to Actual Cadets, even tho the NLCC corps here parades with the Navy Cadets; so we dont want our son wasting a year that is better spent in actual Cadets. We were told History with NLCC doesnt get them thru Cadets faster, you still start from scratch when you join Cadets, you just have a leg up on Drill and caring for your uniform compared to someone who didnt do NLCC. Its just like how one still has to do BMQ if they decide to join the forces after being in Cadets.
What you say is essentially correct: Navy League cadets are run entirely by the Navy League, with no formal involvement by DND. There is often a lot of informal connection between a NL Cdt corps and a Sea Cadet corps when they parade in the same place, but none the less they are two very separate entities. NL cadets have a leg up on sea cadet training beyond drill and uniforms, as much of their elemental training is similar to the earliest levels of sea cadet training.
