California Cadet Corps
Encyclopedia
The California Cadet Corps (CACC) is a paramilitary
youth organization in California
open for students in the college
, high school
, middle school
and elementary school
grades.
meaning "Let us try."
The Brigade Advisors, Commandants and other personnel alike strive to make a positive influence in the lives of the cadets, which includes instilling leadership, citizenship, patriotism, encouraging strong academic excellence, teaching basic military knowledge, and encouraging healthy lifestyles.
The CACC's primary goal is not to send all of our cadets to the military. A greater number of the CACC's cadets have become Astronauts, Chemists, Doctors and other professions of the sort than the number of the cadets who have joined the military.
The CACC's primary goal was originally to prepare young men to be officers in the United States Military. After Brigadier General Edwin A. Forbes saw that the Germans already had such programs before World War I. However the program has since shifted its goal, not only do they prepare young men and women for the service, but also the business world where communication and leadership skills are essential. Cadets are taught to always be positive and respectful.
Edwin Alexander Forbes
. At that time every California high school was required to have a California Cadet Corps unit if there were at least thirty-two students interested in the program.
The California Cadet Corps was originally called the California High School Cadets, created by an act of the Legislature on 5 April 1911. The California High School Cadets was designed to prepare young men for service in the California National Guard
. In 1935, the Legislature changed the organization's name to the California Cadet Corps.
The program flourished all through both of the World Wars and beyond, until the start of the Vietnam War. At that time there was criticism of the military and CACC's funding was cut by the state of California. The program was basically "dead" all through that time period. The CACC regained its funding in 1999. Since 1999 The Cadet Corps has begun a slow rise back up and as of 2007 there were 8,000 cadets in the state.
. Oversight of the Corps on the state level is provided by the Headquarters Staff, led by the Executive Officer
of the California Cadet Corps, which is currently Colonel
(CACC) David B. Werner. Officers of the California Cadet Corps are commissioned as officers in the inactive or active militia under the auspices of the Military Department, State of California.
by the Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools
, which in their mission statement writes that they are "…working to eliminate the Junior Reserves Officer Training Corp in our High Schools and the California Cadets in our Middle Schools, along with the school community.
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
youth organization in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
open for students in the college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
, high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
and elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
grades.
Role and purpose
The six objectives of the California Cadet Corps are to develop leadership, citizenship, patriotism, academic excellence, basic military knowledge, and health, wellness, and fitness. The Cadet Corps motto is "Essayons," a word of the French languageFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
meaning "Let us try."
The Brigade Advisors, Commandants and other personnel alike strive to make a positive influence in the lives of the cadets, which includes instilling leadership, citizenship, patriotism, encouraging strong academic excellence, teaching basic military knowledge, and encouraging healthy lifestyles.
The CACC's primary goal is not to send all of our cadets to the military. A greater number of the CACC's cadets have become Astronauts, Chemists, Doctors and other professions of the sort than the number of the cadets who have joined the military.
The CACC's primary goal was originally to prepare young men to be officers in the United States Military. After Brigadier General Edwin A. Forbes saw that the Germans already had such programs before World War I. However the program has since shifted its goal, not only do they prepare young men and women for the service, but also the business world where communication and leadership skills are essential. Cadets are taught to always be positive and respectful.
History of the California Cadet Corps
The CACC was originally founded on 5 April 1911 by Brigadier GeneralBrigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Edwin Alexander Forbes
Edwin Alexander Forbes
Brigadier General Edwin Alexander Forbes, who served as the Adjutant General of California from 4 January 1911 to 18 June 1915, is known as the Father of the California Cadet Corps....
. At that time every California high school was required to have a California Cadet Corps unit if there were at least thirty-two students interested in the program.
The California Cadet Corps was originally called the California High School Cadets, created by an act of the Legislature on 5 April 1911. The California High School Cadets was designed to prepare young men for service in the California National Guard
California National Guard
The California National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of California. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components and is the largest national guard force in the United States with a total authorized strength of 22,900 soldiers and airmen...
. In 1935, the Legislature changed the organization's name to the California Cadet Corps.
The program flourished all through both of the World Wars and beyond, until the start of the Vietnam War. At that time there was criticism of the military and CACC's funding was cut by the state of California. The program was basically "dead" all through that time period. The CACC regained its funding in 1999. Since 1999 The Cadet Corps has begun a slow rise back up and as of 2007 there were 8,000 cadets in the state.
Authorization
The California Cadet Corps is referenced under sections 500 through 520.1 of the California Military and Veterans Code (M&VC). All colleges, community colleges and high schools are required by law to form companies of cadets on their campuses whenever at least 100 students voluntarily enroll in the program (M&VC 500-500.1). The California Adjutant General may organize those cadet companies into battalions and regiments at his or her discretion (M&VC 505). California boards of education, school principals and college presidents are required by law to cooperate with the Adjutant General to implement California Cadet Corps programs (M&VC 517). Those public college and school districts that are not in compliance are denied additional funding and supplies for failing to implement California Cadet Corps programs (M&VC 510, 511, 511.5, & 512).Organization
The California Cadet Corps is the flagship youth program of the California National GuardCalifornia National Guard
The California National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of California. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components and is the largest national guard force in the United States with a total authorized strength of 22,900 soldiers and airmen...
. Oversight of the Corps on the state level is provided by the Headquarters Staff, led by the Executive Officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
of the California Cadet Corps, which is currently Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
(CACC) David B. Werner. Officers of the California Cadet Corps are commissioned as officers in the inactive or active militia under the auspices of the Military Department, State of California.
Headquarters Staff
| Executive Officer | COL Colonel Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures... (CACC) David B. Werner |
|---|---|
| Assistant Executive Officer | LTC Lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence... (CA California State Military Reserve The California State Military Reserve is the state defense force of California. The military reserve was formed to provide California a trained and organized military force in the event of a state security emergency when the National Guard is deployed... ) Mark P. Ryan, Ph.D. Ph.D. A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer... |
| Personnel and Administration Officer (S-1) | MAJ Major Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ... (CACC) Laura A. Lagge |
| Assistant S-1/Adjutant | CPT (CACC) Willard A. Hughes Jr. |
| Safety and Security Officer (S-2) | MAJ (CACC) Kristopher Knutson |
| Assistant S-2 | CPT (CACC) Michael A. Ingrodi |
| Training and Operations Officer (S-3) | COL (CACC) Larry K. Morden |
| Assistant S-3 | MAJ (CACC) Omar Solache |
| MAJ (CACC) Yolanda Jimenez | |
| Supply and Logistics Officer (S-4) | LTC (CACC) Denver Tate |
| Assistant S-4 | LTC (CACC) Shelley L. VanRavenswaay |
| MAJ (CA) Martin Jimenez | |
| Civic, Public and Military Affairs Officer (S-5) | MAJ (CA) Matthew L.M. Kus |
| IT/Communications and Computers Officer (S-6) | |
| Assistant S-5/S-6 | 1LT (CACC) Kenneth M. Cook-Askins, Jr. |
| Assistant S-6 | 2LT (CACC) David M. Dewbre |
Opposition
The California Cadet Corps is explicitly opposed in Los Angeles Unified School DistrictLos Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
by the Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools
Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools
The Coalition Against Militarism In Our Schools , now called the Coalition For Alternatives to Militarism in Our Schools) is a non-profit group of educators, students, parents and community activists working against increased militarism in America's public schools, formed in 2004 by some 50 of the...
, which in their mission statement writes that they are "…working to eliminate the Junior Reserves Officer Training Corp in our High Schools and the California Cadets in our Middle Schools, along with the school community.