The mission of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps is to build leaders of character by imbuing in our cadets the highest ideals of honor, respect, commitment, and service.

Our culture stresses self discipline, service to others, accountability, and patriotism.  At young ages, our cadets are given leadership opportunities by staffing summer training events, planning unit drill sessions, and teaching others.While our cadets gain an appreciation for the sea services and military life, there is no requirement to join the military.  Many former cadets enlist, and dozens attend service academies or ROTC.  Cadets who complete our “recruit training” are well prepared for the rigors of boot camp or officer indoctrination.

All prospective cadets must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents, and meet our minimum age requirement (ages 10 through the completion of high school). We have approximately 400 units across the United States, and in Guam and Puerto Rico.