United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps

The **United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC)** is a voluntary youth development organization. It was introduced officially by the request of the Secretary of the United States Navy on August 4, 1958. Today, 8,600 Sea Cadets are trained on average (2025). The headquarters of the United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps is located in Arlington County, Virginia.

The United States Congress created the United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps by passing of Public Law 93−5043 6 U.S.C. § 1541 in 1962. It was named at the request of the United States Department of the Navy, by the Navy League of the United States. The United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps received money from the United States Coast Guard and the United States Navy.

The United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps began as being a gang and a drug free environment. It grew to offer skills that later include aviation, photography, physical training, and first aid. Kids are nicknamed "Sea Cadets" because of its use in literature. Often, there are activities where kids may learn from other cultures because of the organizations International Exchange Program (IEP). Sea Cadets receive higher pay and more benefits if they choose to join the armed forces.

### Early history

A Navy Admiral from the United States, Arleigh Burke, and the former Secretary of the Navy, Thomas S. Gates Jr, requested the Navy League of the United States make the United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps to create a favorable image for the United States Navy.

By 10 September 1962, United States Congress federally chartered the organization. United States Congress also gave the Navy League of the United States the legal rights to the name _United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps_ by the passing of Public Law 93−5043 6 U.S.C. § 1541 (1962)_._

Being not profitable by law, the United States Navy, and the United States Coast Guard helped for clothing and training and later other branches of the armed services. Another Navy Admiral, nicknamed "Catlett", is noted as saying "The program offers the Navy a powerful new force toward awakening america", in 1964 in the _Naval Aviation News_.

### Women enrollment

In 1974, the charter was amended by Public Law 93-504, to allow women participation, this was the first time in the history of the United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps that young women were able to join. After the introduction of the amendment women recruitment would increase allowing for an increase in funding. Organizations such as the USNSCC and many others still face prejudice as discrimination laws usually are not used by the federal government or enforced.

### 21st century

In 2021 an estimated 400 units and 6,400 Sea Cadets were in the organization located in 48 States, in the United States, and also the territories of the United States, such as Guam, and Puerto Rico. Though it is not able to gain a profit, it is able to receive donations, and historically this has made units have to pay as the organization struggles with receiving the proper funding from United States Congress.

### Newspaper

The first known news publication of the Sea Cadets "The Sea Cadet Seafarer" was in the late 20th Century but later switched to digital in 2022.

### Photography

Sea Cadets will often take photos for the official website for training in photography, but will also have photos taken by the United States Navy and  the press.

## Related pages

- United States Navy League of the United States
- United States Navy
- United States Navy Reserve

## Infobox (military unit)

- **unit name**: United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps
- **image**:
- **alt**: United States Navy Sea Cadet Corps logo
- **caption**: United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps
- **start date**: September 10, 1962
- **dates**: Chartered by Congress in 1962
- **country**: United States
- **allegiance**: Navy League of the United States
- **branch**: U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard
- **type**: Youth development organization
- **role**: Patriotic organization of the United States
- **size**: 325−400 units
- **equipment**: 1958
- **equipment label**: Introduction
- **battle honours**: Arlington, Virginia
- **battle honours label**: Headquarters