History of the CIC    

The History of the Cadet Instructors Cadre dates from well before the establishment of the Cadet Instructor Cadre in 1968. The Canadian Forces Cadet Instructor Cadre turned 100 on May 1, 2009.

Before the existence of the Cadet Instructor Cadre

Sea Cadets

In 1902 the Navy League of Canada, whose main purpose was encouraging the development of the Canadian Navy, founded the Boy’s Naval Brigade. In the beginning, it directed the brigades itself, with its own resources, leadership and funding. Members served as instructors of the brigades until in 1922 when they became Sea Cadets. The instructors of the Boy’s Naval Brigade were volunteers, unlike the officers of the army cadets. They wore a uniform similar to officers of the Royal Canadian Navy, but they did not receive any military training and did not hold a commission from the King. Then in 1941, The Royal Canadian Sea Cadets was established, and became associated with the Royal Canadian Navy. From that time on, the Sea Cadets operated under the authority of the Department of National Defence, in co-operation with the Navy League of Canada. From then on, the officers received a salary and had access to some training, but promotion was not always tied to this. In fact, to grant a promotion, only age and length of service was taken into consideration. Even by the end of the 1960s, sea cadet officers did not always have military status.

Army Cadets

The army cadet organization was born in 1879, when authorization was given to form Associations for Drill in Educational Institutions, for boys over 14 years of age. The years passed, the movement evolved, and more detailed regulations were established to ensure uniformity. Thus, the Department of Militia provided the services of an instructor. Subsequently, starting in 1898, at least in Ontario, cadet corps instructors were to be school teachers of the school, rather than a temporary instructor detached from one of the Militia units. In 1909, The Right Honourable Donald Alexander Smith, the Lord Strathcona, Canadian High Commissioner in Great Britain, became interested in the training of cadets in Canadian schools. The Strathcona Foundation was soon founded and quickly started playing an important role in the development of the army cadet organization. One of the changes instituted was the authorization of the "Corps of School Cadet Instructors on May 1, 1909. The Corps was disbanded and reorganized on May 1, 1921. On Jan. 1, 1924 the designation was changed to the Cadet Services of Canada (Non-Permanent).This corps of instructors became the fifth component of the Canadian Army and, under the National Defence Act, its members were part of the reserves. In 1928, it was defined as follows: “corps of the Non-Permanent Active Militia, consisting of male school teachers”. Training of an officer of the Cadet Services of Canada, compulsory for promotion, was thus similar to that of other Non-Permanent Active Militia officers. The situation remained about the same until the end of the 1960s: army cadet officers received sound training, but without any direct connection to their work with young people. By this time, however, the members of the Cadet Services of Canada came from many different backgrounds including veterans of WW II and Korea and were no longer all teachers.

Air Cadets

It was not until the start of the Second World War that the air cadet organization started. The Air Cadet League of Canada was founded in 1940, followed in 1941 by the first air cadet units. All commissioned officers of the air cadets and all warrant officers were adults enrolled by the league. These men were volunteers, but the local committee was allowed to pay them. They wore uniforms very similar to those of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Contrary to the RCAF officers, who held a commission from the King, the air cadet officers held a commission from the Air Cadet League of Canada, which also granted the promotions. Not much is known about any training of air cadet officers, but it is believed that it was nearly nonexistent. After the war, changes were made. An article published in 1953 mentions that air cadet officers were now granted commissions, and were part of a special component of the RCAF reserve and wore the same uniform as the members of the regular force.

Creation of the Cadet Instructor Cadre

On February 1, 1968, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Army were unified into a single entity the Canadian Armed Forces. Unification also brought the consolidation of cadet instructors into the Cadet Instructor List (CIL). The officers, who are responsible for Royal Canadian Sea, Army, and Air Cadets now had a single structure and designated as a component of the Reserve Force. They are commissioned officers, just as any other officer in the Canadian Forces (CF). They are enrolled for the primary purpose of administration and supervision of the cadet organization. Previously, only Army Cadet officers held a Queen's commission. The officers of the Sea Cadets underwent a major change: for the first time in their history, they were military members in their own right. In July 1994 to facilitate a bilingual branch identifier in the name was changed to Cadet Instructor Cadre (CIC).

Transition and upheaval in the Canadian Forces

The integration of the Canadian Forces in 1968 brought confusion and upheaval to the Reserve Force. From 1968 until the mid 1970's, Cadet Instructors were caught in a transitory world. It was not long before the country’s military was wearing the new green uniform of the Canadian Forces. Along with all members of the CF Reserve, CIC officers continued to wear their former service uniform or acquire the CF green uniform from surplus. Unfortunately, they were not always wearing it properly. As narrow trousers were the fashion of the day, they asked the tailor to make narrow trousers! Unable to find black shoes? Brown shoes will do fine! Sea cadets wore the new badge of the Naval Operations branch, while Air Cadet Officers wore either the previous Royal Canadian Air Force (Officers') hat badge or the new Air Operations branch badge. Many army cadet officers wore the badge of the former Cadet Services of Canada or the army unit with which their Cadet Corps was affiliated. A new Cadet Instructors List Cap Badge was created in 1977. Originally issued as a tri-service style hat badge it was later restyled to be element specific (sea, land or air). In an environment where appearance and uniformity are of primary importance, dress was less than "uniform". It was not until 1975, more than seven years after unification, that reserve members of the forces were issued the new rifle green CF uniform. Formal training for Cadet Officers fell by the wayside during this period, leading to an ad hoc series of courses that were not compulsory. This affected the standard of military dress and deportment. Until a new training regime was instituted it was relatively easy to be promoted. As was the policy for all reserve force members, former cadets and university graduates could, for example, be directly commissioned to the rank of second lieutenant (2Lt). A former ranking cadet and graduate of an advanced 6 week cadet course could be directly commissioned as a Lieutenant (Lt). Occasionally, because of lack of personnel, an Officer-Cadet who was about to become a commanding officer would be promoted to acting captain. After one year, his rank would become substantive. Lack of resources undermined the credibility of Cadet Instructor Officers for several years. Today, CIC Officers are accepted and recognized for their unique and special roll in the Canadian Forces.

Changing Society and the Cadet Organization

For several years after the Canadian Forces integrated in 1968, cadet instructors were predominantly school teachers and veterans. As the veterans of the Second World War and Korea were reaching retirement age, teachers became the largest group of instructors. Employment at summer training was particularly attractive as teachers were free during the school school break. Post Secondary training was increasing in society and former cadets were attracted to the reserve forces as a means to help pay for their studies. While the Navy League sponsored Wrenettes and the Air Cadet League sponsored Air Cadettes and there were a few girls in school army cadet corps, the Canadian Cadet Organization did not officially open to girls until 1975. Many of the first women officers came from the former League sponsored Wrenettes and Air Cadettes others came from the general population and some were parents of cadets. As was the practice of the day often they were assigned to unit administration. Over time, girls and female officers in the program proved to be most successful and without concern.

Training and promotion

Before the creation of the CIC, only Cadet Service of Canada Officers that led army cadet corps and Air Cadet Squadron Officers had a formal training system. In 1969, the army CIL officers, accustomed to sending their officers on courses in 1969 and 1970, conducted two-week summer courses at the[Citadelle in Quebec City, for groups of CIL officers from the three elements. Around 1971,another group of CIL officers took over the training. Their goal: start from scratch and set up a school for the CIL officers in Eastern Region. From 1972 on, Cadet Instructors were encouraged to take the courses given by what was first called the CIL School, and that later became the RCIS (Regional Cadet Instructor School). Passing these courses was not yet a prerequisite for promotion, but the fact that the students received a day’s pay for each day of training probably contributed to the increase in the number of interested officers. During the first few years, officers of all ranks were taking part in the basic courses. Following the example of Eastern Region, other regions opened schools during the mid-1970s and in 1976, the Directorate of Cadets provided training programs and standards. Since that time, taking courses has been required for promotion.

CIC Branch

In 1987, a Cadet Instructor Branch Advisory Committee (then known as Cadet Instructors List) was officially created. CIC officers are now represented in Ottawa. CFAO 2-10 states as follows: “Personnel branches were created to enable members of the Canadian Forces in related occupations to identify with each other in cohesive professional groups. These groups are based on similarity of military roles, customs and traditions.”

References

• RCIS (Eastern) Basic Officer Qualification Course Candidate Handbook (Now superceded by BOTC)

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original article was at history of the Cadet Instructors Cadre. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. Information concerning use of copyright protected material can be found at the CWwiki Copyright Policy Page.