“From day one, cadets was a revelation for me into the world of having adventures and discovering a new, braver side of myself. When I first joined in 2017, I was terrified of any social interactions and really struggled to make friends and have confidence in myself. Since then, thanks to cadets, I am able to communicate successfully, have become confident in my abilities and have made friends for life.
Cadet Sergeant promotion board
“A highlight from my time as a cadet would be the weekend that I sat before the national cadet sergeant promotion board in 2023. This was one of the most physically and mentally challenging things I have ever done, not only in cadets but in my entire life. I was assessed on my own abilities to do set tasks that initially frightened me, as I was reliant on myself to know what to do. It also meant that it pushed me to find a resilient part of myself and tested all the knowledge of my previous six years in cadets.
“However, it also made me aware of the amount of support I receive from my unit, staff members, and other cadets. Throughout the preparation in the lead up to the board, my unit constantly offered advice, help and support with the revision needed and made sure I could safely get to the venue. I passed the board and my unit were the first people I told that about my success.
“All the cadets going for promotion during the same weekend worked as a tight team to ensure that we all had the best chance of succeeding and two of them are now my best friends.
Lord-Lieutenant Cadet
“In 2023 I was appointed His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant Cadet of North Yorkshire, one of the highest honours a cadet can achieve. This was a proud moment for me, I was so honoured to be nominated and it perfectly rounds up my cadet journey.
“One of the stand out events I have attended is Scarborough Remembrance Day parade in 2023. I was overjoyed to be given the opportunity to lead the parade as the drum major of the Scarborough sea cadet band. This was a huge responsibility and terrifying as I was so scared I was going to make a mistake. I need not have worried, with all the practice and support from the cadets and staff behind me, this was impossible!
Safe space
“Cadets has always been a safe space for me where I can be the person I want to be. Being a cadet at Scarborough sea cadets for nearly seven years has taught me that it’s alright to have a bad day, as long as you always bounce back. The support from the staff that all the cadets receive is tremendous; it allows us to have a chance to talk about things that are bothering us and helps us resolve big emotions or situations that we aren’t comfortable with.
Amazing experience
“For any young person considering joining cadets, my advice would be to jump right in! Reach out to your local unit and sign up, and then take advantage of everything cadets has to offer. You will travel all over the country doing things you would never imagine yourself doing – all under expert supervision! You may also get the opportunity to teach younger, less experienced cadet’s skills that you have already mastered, which is an amazing experience.
“Overall, cadets will give you real life experience, a view from all perspectives and help you develop yourself as a person for the better.”