The New Zealand Cadet Corps (also known as Army Cadets and NZCC) is one of the three corps in the New Zealand Cadet Forces, the other two being the Air Training Corps, and Sea Cadet Corps. There is no reference to the Army within the official title of the NZCC, but an army theme is used for the NZCC. All of its members, from the cadets themselves to the officers and the support committees are civilian volunteers. Members have no obligation to head into the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF); however, some do choose to join the NZDF.
The modern New Zealand Cadet Forces has seen the former School Cadets transform into the "New Zealand Cadet Corps" and integrated with the New Zealand Air Training Corps and New Zealand Sea Cadet Corps. The New Zealand Cadet Corps has strengthened its ties with the New Zealand Army, with units of the New Zealand Army directly sponsoring and supporting individual Cadet Corps units.
Organisation
National The NZCC is managed at a national level by the commandant (usually a regular force lieutenant-colonel/wing commander/commander), and their staff based out of Trentham Army Camp. It is supported by the Cadet Corps Association of New Zealand.
Area The country is divided into 3 areas, Northern (Northern half of the North Island), Central (Southern half of the North Island) and Southern (entire South Island). Each area has a NZCF Training and Support Unit (CFTSU), commanded by NZDF Senior Non-commissioned Officer or Commissioned Officer. Area Coordinator, with advisors for Cadet Corps units.
Unit
Each unit is led and managed by the Cadet Unit Commander, and their officers and staff.
A typical unit has between one and four officers filling various roles. The Cadet Unit Commander appoints all personnel in the unit to their positions. Each unit has an Adjutant, Training Officer, and Stores Officer. These positions are usually filled by a commissioned officer (officers can hold multiple positions if necessary). One or more of the positions may have assistants, the assistants are often junior officers or Senior NCOs.
Each unit also has a cadet NCO holding the position of Company Sergeant Major (holding the rank of Warrant Officer Class Two). If the unit is large enough, each platoon of cadets may have a Staff Sergeant. The Company Sergeant Major (CSM) is normally responsible for supervising the NCOs in their various tasks, as a result, the Company Sergeant Major can skip the normal chain of command, enabling them to liaise directly with the Unit Commander. Some Cadet Corps units also permit and hold a drill cane for the Company Sergeant Major to use, or the unit Staff Sergeant.
Some Cadet Corps units also utilise the position of 'Drill Sergeant'. Typically holding either the rank of either Sergeant or Staff Sergeant. The role of a Drill Sergeant is to ensure discipline of personnel while undertaking drill. This frees up the Sergeant Major to oversee other unit matters.
Uniform and Insignia Insignia and Badges The working uniform worn by NZCC members is the now retired New Zealand Army Uniform (NZDPM), the ranks are the same as the New Zealand Army, however, lettering on the bottom of the rank insignia shoulder boards reads "CADET FORCES" rather than "NEW ZEALAND" to differentiate NZCC personnel from New Zealand Army personnel. Furthermore, NZCC rank insignia are red, a colour no longer used by the New Zealand Army for rank insignia. Officer service dress uniforms have a shoulder flash reading "NEW ZEALAND CADET FORCES", rather than "NEW ZEALAND" for the same reason. The cadets wear the New Zealand Cadet Corps badge on their beret and if their unit has a colour patch this is worn behind the badge.
Cadets wear a shoulder brassard on their right arm to display their individual achievements and to further distinguish them from NZ Army personnel. Cadet achievements include Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Cadet Corps Skills badge, marksman badge and training level badges, as well as the name of the unit they parade with.
Commissioned Officers, Officer Cadets', National and Area Warrant Officers do not wear brassards to distinguish themselves from unit level Warrant Officers.
Uniforms The New Zealand Cadet Corps follows the New Zealand Army with regards to uniform standards and clothing items, with all mandatory clothing being issued by the NZ Army. In the past the system used was that a unit would be graded 1-5 based on the quantity of personnel that attended a units parade night. Based on that grading the unit would then be issued an annual allowance for the unit to order new uniform as replacements or to provide to new cadets. The New Zealand Cadet Corps currently operate the following uniforms; +Dress CodeExampleNotesDress 1B Service Dress – FormalCommissioned Officers onlyDress 1C Service Dress All Ranks - FormalDefined as informal dress, due to no jacket. Long sleeve and tie are the only differences. Only worn by SNCO's and Officers.Dress 1D Service Dress – CasualDefined as Casual Dress, due to no tie or jacket.Dress 3A Parades and CeremonialNew Zealand Disruptive Pattern Material NZCC Officers and Cadets. Worn for ceremonial activities, formal parades and as directed for representative duties; prioritises symbolism; sleeves up, shirt worn in and wearing Corps belt.Dress 3B Unit Operations/ ActivitiesNew Zealand Disruptive Pattern Material NZCC Officers and Cadets. Worn during normal Unit parade nights; prioritises functionality; sleeves up, shirt worn out and beret.Dress 3C Field and TrainingNew Zealand Disruptive Pattern Material NZCC Officers and Cadets. Worn for training requirements and individual safety; prioritises multi-function and safety; is scalable to the training situation, the task, and environment.
Ranks All actively serving personnel within the New Zealand Cadet Corps have the opportunity to advance through the ranks while in the organisation.
Non-Commissioned Officer Ranks Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer ranks are based on the ranks of the New Zealand Army, and are; RankAbbreviationBasic Requirements to be AwardedDesignationCadet Under TrainingCDTUT Enrol into a New Zealand Cadet Corps unit.Cadet 0CadetCDT Complete the initial six month 'probationary' period.Cadet 1Lance CorporalCDTLCPL Completed Regimental training as per the NZCF 170c. No disciplinary or performance issues.Cadet 2CorporalCDTCPL Successfully completed the NZCF Junior Non-Commissioned Officer Course. Completed Corps training as per the NZCF 170c. No disciplinary or performance issues.Cadet 3SergeantCDTSGT Successfully completed the NZCF Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Course. No disciplinary or performance issues.Cadet 4Staff Sergeant CDTSSGT Completed a minimum of six months serving in the rank of Sergeant. No disciplinary or performance issues.Cadet 5Warrant Officer Class TwoCDTWOII Must be in line for the position of Sergeant Major. Complete a minimum of six months serving in the rank of Staff Sergeant. No disciplinary or performance issues.Cadet 6Warrant Officer Class OneCDTWOI Appointees to Area Warrant Officers or Warrant Officer Cadet Forces positions only. Approved by Commandant NZCF.Cadet 7 The CDT prefix/suffix is used to distinguish regular force personnel from those of the cadet forces.
However, whilst not all cadets become NCOs, all get the chance to train and progress through the different levels of training, Basic, Regimental, Corps, and Advanced levels, by demonstrating knowledge and skills in subjects including cadet forces knowledge, general service knowledge, leadership, firearms safety.
The New Zealand Cadet Corps are the only branch of the New Zealand Cadet Forces that operate the Cadet 6 rank, Cadet Warrant Officer Class Two. Since personnel holding this rank hold the position of Sergeant Major, functionally they are treated the same as a Warrant Officer of the Sea Cadet Corps or Air Training Corps.
Historically personnel holding the rank of Warrant Officer Class Two and the position of Sergeant Major wore blank Cadet 1 rank slides and a wristband while wielding a pace stick signifying their rank and position. From 2014 onwards Cadet Warrant Officer Class Two rank slides were introduced and propagated to entirely replace the wristband, however in keeping with traditions some units still maintain the passage of this wristband from the preceding Sergeant Major to the incoming individual.
Commissioned Officer Ranks The Cadet Corps Commissioned Officer Ranks are based on the New Zealand Army, and are;
Note: All instances of Lieutenant are pronounced "Leftenant" in line with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence pronunciation. +RankAbbreviationGeneral Requirements to be awardedDesignationOfficer CadetOFFCDTTwo entry paths;
Serving cadet, upon turning 19 decide to commission upon which the rank will be awarded before the individuals next birthday. Alternatively the direct entry option sees a civilian adult member decide they wish to commission, they will need to serve 6 months as 'supplementary staff' at the unit to establish whether the professional relationship is sustainable for both the unit and the individual, after 6 months and upon completion of the relevant online learning modules HQNZCF may award the rank of Officer Cadet. Note: this rank replaces Under Officer as of 2020. Historically this rank was only awarded for students attending NZCF Officer Commissioning courses.OFF 1 Second Lieutenant2LT Be assessed by the Cadet Unit Commander as suitable and recommended for appointment to a confirmed commissioned. Recommended by the Cadet Unit Commander and the Area Coordinator of the relevant Cadet Forces Training and Support Unit.OFF 2LieutenantLT Have completed two years efficient service in the substantive rank of 2LT. Successfully completed the Instructional and Training Management course Recommended by Cadet Unit Commander and the Area Coordinator of the relevant Cadet Forces Training and Support Unit.OFF 3CaptainCAPT Have completed four years efficient service in the substantive rank of LT. Recommended by Cadet Unit Commander and the Area Coordinator of the relevant Cadet Force Training and Support Unit.OFF 4MajorMAJ Have completed five years efficient service in the substantive rank of CAPT. Successfully completed the NZCF Command Course and intend to serve either as a Cadet Unit Commander or Area Support Officer. Recommended by Cadet Unit Commander and the Area Coordinator of the relevant Cadet Force Training and Support Unit.OFF 5Lieutenant colonelLTCOL Only the Assistant Commandant holds this rank.OFF 6 + Officer Ranks and Insignia in the NZCC While New Zealand Cadet Forces Officers hold commissions on behalf the New Zealand Parliament, via the Minister of Defence. They are not entitled to be saluted by New Zealand Defence Force personnel. Due to the rank emblems being identical other than the "New Zealand" and "Cadet Forces" identifier, occasionally Cadet Force Officers are saluted by NZDF personnel, if this happens Cadet Force Officers are encouraged to return the salute to be polite.
New Zealand Cadet Forces Officers and/or Cadets do not hold precedence of rank over NZDF personnel e.g. a Cadet Force Major has no authority to issue orders to a NZDF Second Lieutenant or Non-Commissioned Officers.
Membership Cadet members Interested personnel can join between the ages of 13 and 15 (or if attending the first year of high school) and can stay on without being promoted to the age of 18. Non-Commissioned Officers may serve until their 20th birthday. The exception is the sole school-based unit, as opposed to city or regional based units. Hamilton's Fraser High School Cadet Unit permits all students enrolled at the school to enroll in the unit.
Other than black lace up shoes, all uniform is provided upon enrolment into a unit and completion of a training camp where wearing of the uniform is taught. Bonds are sometimes held to ensure that they are returned.
Fees