Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps The Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps ( RMVCC ) is a cadet organisation in the United Kingdom which is linked to the Royal Marines . History . The RMVCC was first formed on 14 February 1901 at the now closed Royal Marines barracks in Eastney , Portsmouth . It was formed , so the story goes , to " gainfully occupy the spare time of sons of senior Non - Commissioned Officer s ( SNCOs ) " after an occasion when the colonel ' s office window was broken by a ball kicked by an SNCO ' s son playing outside . The RMVCC was formed with the title of Royal Marines Artillery Cadet Corps with the motto ' Manners Maketh Man ' . It was known as the Royal Marines Volunteer Boys Corps for a while mid - 20th century and Girl Ambulance Corps units existed alongside for some time . These were merged with the RMVBC after the Second World War and the current title adopted in the 1970s . However , RMVCC Portsmouth only accepted girls from the mid - 1990s . Soon , units were also formed at the Royal Marines barracks in Chatham , Deal , Kent and Plymouth , Devon . Later on , another unit was formed at Lympstone , Devon ( Commando Training Centre Royal Marines ) . RMVCC Deal closed when the Royal Marines School of Music left the town and moved to HMNB Portsmouth . RMVCC Chatham transferred to the Sea Cadet Corps when Pay & Records , Royal Marines left Chatham in the 1960s . The current Motto of the RMVCC is ' Be Worthy ' . Structure . There are currently three existing RMVCC units ( known as ' Divisions ' ) , at Portsmouth , Plymouth and Lympstone . Each Division is autonomous , and is staffed by adult civilian instructors , some of who have previous military experience . The Commanding Officer of each Division is usually a serving Royal Marines or Royal Navy officer from the parent establishment . The RMVCC is sponsored by the MOD which provides some funding to each unit . The organisation is overseen by the Corps Colonel Royal Marines . The ceremonial head of the RMVCC is the Colonel Royal Marines Cadets ( CRMC ) , currently Colonel Paul Cautley CMG DL RMR . Additional funding is usually self - raised through events and display groups , plus donations and subscriptions / joining fees paid by the cadets . Whilst there may be variations between each Division , in general the RMVCC will accept boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 17 who can serve until their 18th birthday . Boys and girls enter as a Recruit , and having ' passed out ' at the end of their basic training become a cadet . Command Courses allow the cadets to progress up through the ranks : In each Division , where a suitable candidate exists , one cadet will be appointed the Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major in the rank of Warrant Officer First Class ( WO1 ) . All ranks are preceded by the word ' Cadet ' to ensure no confusion with serving personnel in HM Armed Forces . All cadets receive Good Conduct Badges if their behaviour and discipinary record is sufficiently ' worthy ' and after four years service are awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal . A Rosette is awarded for a further two years ' good service . These are only cadet awards and do not entitle the recipient to wear them if joining the armed or uniformed civilian services in later life . Activities and training . Cadets can take part in a variety of activities including : Each Division usually meets on two training nights per week , except leave periods in Summer and at Christmas . Also , there is usually a week - long Annual Summer Camp and many weekend activities . RMVCC Portsmouth Division also provides Display Groups that appear at public events in the South East of England and sometimes further afield . In recent times , the RMVCC has appeared at the Cumbria Steam Rally , Attleborough Tattoo and the Battle of the Flowers in Jersey . The Display Groups generally provide a 20 to 25 minute display and are ideal for fetes , fayres , tattoos , carnivals and other such public events . A modest charge is made , which is put towards the cost of attending and any profit is ploughed back into the RMVCC to fund its other activities . The 2010 RMVCC Portsmouth Division Display Groups are : The RMVCC is not a pre - service organisation , although any cadets who shows an interest in joining any branch of HM Armed Forces will be given support and guidance . Many cadets go on to equally rewarding civilian careers . The RMVCC in Portsmouth is closely aligned with the Royal Navy VCC units from HMS " Collingwood " , HMS " Sultan " and Fort Blockhouse ( formerly HMS " Dolphin " ) . Together , they form the Portsmouth Area Volunteer Cadet Corps ( PAVCC ) . These units often meet in sports and field gun competition s . Other Royal Marines cadet organisations . There are two other Royal Marines cadet organisations : the Marine Cadet Detachments ( MCD ) of the Sea Cadet Corps ( SCC ) and the Royal Marines Sections of the Combined Cadet Force ( CCF ) , which operate in a few independent schools .