Canadian Cadet Organization

Canadian Cadet Organizations
Organisations de Cadets du Canada
Country	Canada
Type	Youth Organization
Size	52 890 Cadets (as of 4 April 2016)
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier General Kelly Woiden

The Canadian Cadet Organizations, marketed under the name of Cadets Canada, are a youth program known as the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, Royal Canadian Army Cadets, and Royal Canadian Air Cadets. The program is sponsored by the Canadian Armed Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence (DND), with support from civilian groups, namely the Navy League, the Army Cadet League and the Air Cadet League, as well as local community sponsors that include service organizations and parents of cadets.

Cadet corps and squadrons exist in communities large and small from coast to coast to coast. Cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces, nor is the program a prerequisite for military service. Adult leadership is provided primarily by the Cadet Organization Administration and Training Service, a sub-component of the Canadian Forces Reserve. Members of the Cadet Instructors Cadre Branch are assisted by Regular Force, Primary Reserve and retired members of all Branches, as well as Civilian Instructors and volunteers who have gone through a thorough screening process.

All elements of the CCO are under the command of the Commander National Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers Support Group. The Commander is directly responisble to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.

In 1862, five years before Confederation, "drill associations" were set up in Canada as a response to the Fenian Raids and the American Civil War. These early drill associations served to train militia and were open to people over the age of 13.

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Wikipedia