Royal Belgian Sea Cadet Corps

The Royal Belgian Sea Cadet Corps (Koninklijk Koninklijk Marine Kadettenkorps, Corps Corps Royal des Cadets de Marine) is a Belgian non-profit youth organisation which purpose it is to stimulate teamwork and discipline in individuals from the age of 12 and teaches other important skills and values such as first aid, navigation and linguistic skills, operating a vessel, military drill and much more. The organization receives support from the Belgian Ministry of Defense.

Royal Belgian Sea Cadet Corps
French: Corps Royal des Cadets de Marine Dutch: Koninklijk Marine Kadettenkorps German: Königliche Marine Kadettenkorps
Founded	1922 (1922)
Country	Kingdom of Belgium
Size	9 divisions and between 350 to 400 members (50-100 officers and about 300 cadets)
Garrison/HQ	Peutie, Flanders, Belgium
Motto(s)	(different for each division)
Colors	navy blue, white
Website	http://www.cadets-de-marine-kadetten.be/Nederlands/Welkom.htm

Cadets are introduced to aspects of the nautical world and the military. The cadets are under the supervision of adult volunteers who usually organize activities, exercises and trainings and are also in charge of the administrative work within the Cadet Corps. Divisions meet every week, usually on Sunday, providing training and educational opportunities for cadets. The organization is nautically-based but is both active on water and land.

The Belgian Sea Cadet Corps operates a fleet of about a dozen small vessels, including a sailing yacht and several motor vessels. These are used for training at sea or on lakes and canals. A few times a year, longer cruises are organised either within Belgium or neighbouring countries, such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

Two annual nationwide training camps are organised:

• Camp ORKA: This camp held annually, usually in August, at the Belgian coast. The cadets stay on an army or naval base near the coastline for about seven to ten days. The activities include sailing, kayaking, marching, medical training, physical training and marches per squad, squad-based training and activities involving teamwork, powerboating and using RHIBs, and much more.

• Camp Leopoldsburg: This camp held annually, usually during the winter, on the Camp Leopoldsburg Army Base. Until recently, it used to take place in the Belgian Ardennes region and was considered to be the toughest camp of all. Activities include much marching and military drill, navigational and survival training, physical training, bivouac, medical drills, much squad-based teamwork activities, and much more.

• (Camp Mol): This camp is rather new and isn't held annually. This camp is at a lake in the Antwerp province of Belgium. The activities are mostly water-based and recreational. Activities include; kayaking, RHIBs, swimming and waterborne rescue techniques.

During these camps, cadets will be put in multilingual squads of five to ten cadets and a Cadet First Class or Quartermaster will be appointed as a squad leader. The squad is given tasks and is supposed to do everything as a team and not as individuals. These squads get their own rooms or tents assigned and have to work and act as one.

During Camp ORKA, and especially Camp Leopoldsburg, divisions will try to get the annual division cup, called "the Challenge". This event is normally held during one of the last days and is completely different from the rest of the camp. Divisions will temporarily disband the established squads and will make their own with cadets from their division only. They will then complete a written exam per rank and will march a route, where they will get inspected at random locations, until they reach the base again. The points are tallied up the next day and the division that wins gets to keep "the Challenge" cup for a year. Some divisions will train their cadets from months in advance in the hopes to win.

No members of the Cadet Corps are required to join the Belgian military, nor is it required for the cadre to have a military background. Many cadets however, do join the military, law enforcement or are interested in jobs in the maritime sector. A remarkable number of the cadre are or have had a job in the military, law enforcement, maritime sector and medical or technical fields.

Although Cadet Corps in most other countries in a way part of their national military, the Royal Belgian Sea Cadet Corps is not. Despite this fact, the Belgian Defense Ministry frequently allows the Cadet Corps to use its bases, vehicles and equipment. During some national camps of the Cadet Corps, the Defense Ministry helps in organizing activities that are more military-oriented such as letting the cadets join in patrolling the Belgian coast with a patrol vessel of the Belgian Navy, physical training and obstacle courses, and ceremonial events such as the annual national military parade in Brussels on July 21st.

The Belgian Sea Cadet Corps is also a member of the International Sea Cadet Association and often participates in international exchange programs.