Barbados Cadet Corps
The Barbados Cadet Corps is a national youth organisation, based in the School system and affiliated to the Barbados Defence Force. Membership is open to all school children between the ages of 11 and 20 in Barbados. The Barbados Cadet Corps is one of the oldest youth organisations in the region. It was legislated into the Laws of Barbados in 1904 with the establishment of Companies at Harrison College (No 1 Coy), The Lodge School (No 2 Coy) and Combermere School (No 3 Coy). The first company was formed at Lodge School. In 1912, these three companies became affiliated to the Barbados Volunteer Force.
The principle aim of the Barbados Cadet Corps is to compliment the academic curriculum of our schools through the use of discipline, challenging activities and national duty in the building of self respect, self-confidence and the formation of character in as many of our youth as possible. Alertness, punctuality, a sense of duty, patriotism, respect for authority, physical and mental endurance and camaraderie are some of the virtues that those who administer the companies seek to instill in our youth.
The Corps is established by the Laws of Barbados Cap 159 part X1 under the Ministry of Defence and Security and administered by a Cadet Advisory Committee through the Cadet Headquarters. This Headquarters comprises the Cadet Commandant, Deputy Cadet Commandant , Group /Battalion Commanders and operates the assistance of an administrative and support staff provided through the Barbados Defence Force.
The Cadet Advisory Committee is made up of representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Education, ministry responsible for youth and community development, principals of Government and private secondary schools, Duke of Edinburgh’s award Scheme, and from the regular and reserve elements of the Force.
Provision is made for the establishment of units at all Government Secondary Schools, and there is an independent Unit which caters to students at Government approved Private Secondary schools. Units are organized into a number of Companies– typically with each Company comprising three (3) units. Three special Companies have been approved and established. These are the Sea Cadet Coy, The Cadet Band and the Cadet Medical Coy. Companies are finally divided in to four Battalions, from Battalion 1 to 4.
After a full strategic organizational review in 2000, the stakeholders of the BCC revised its mission statement to read as follows:
- The Barbados Cadet Corps shall be a formal, well- regulated and highly disciplined organisation operating within all sectors of the school and youth communities, colleges and polytechnics in the island.
- It shall attract to its ranks significant numbers of young people between the ages of ten (10) and twenty one (21) and shall seek by all means to instil in them spiritual, moral, national and human values of honesty, justice, discipline and social responsibility.
- It shall establish the highest possible standards in all areas of operation, and shall seek to maximize levels of self-respect, self-confidence and self-discipline into a critical mass of Barbadian young persons.
Uniforms and equipment are on loan to cadets. Each cadet is to be issued with uniform and is responsible for keeping it in good condition. Neatness and tidiness are most important and the cadet should wear his/her uniform with PRIDE and DIGNITY at all times. Under the Laws of Barbados, Parents of cadets assume full responsibility for all uniform and equipment issued to their children.
The routine program of training for cadets follow a 4– Star schedule with cadets advancing from recruit status to star 1, etc until star 4 level is achieved. Star 4 represents the successful completion of the cadet training program. This applies to all programs including Band, Sea Cadet, Shooting etc...
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