Parades and formal events
The Sea Cadets are often called upon to fly the flag for the Royal Navy at parades and special events in their local communities.
Drill and ceremonial training, based on naval traditions, forms part of the regular routine in a Unit and helps cadets to learn leadership skills, team spirit and camaraderie
Drill is the movement of cadets, as one, in an orderly formation, to orders and is carried out by the armed forces, cadet forces and other uniformed organisations. Parade training teaches Cadets many skills which are invaluable in the wider world, such as discipline, smart personal appearance and bearing, physical fitness, mental alertness, self-confidence, and a sense of pride in the organisation and of which they are part.
The Sea Cadets take most of their ceremonial routines from the Royal Navy. For example, in the past sailing ships would raise their colours (which would show the nationality of a ship at sea) at sunrise and lower them at sunset. When a ship is in harbour, the same routine is observed at sunrise and sunset (“Colours” and “Evening Colours”) and a guard and band may be present. In Sea Cadet Units, every parade night starts and ends with a colours ceremony.
Formal parades combine the drill and ceremonial skills the cadets learn and usually form part of an important civic event. The Sea Cadets take part in many high profile events, the highlight of the year being the national Trafalgar Day parade on Trafalgar Square in London, which involves approximately 500 cadets. Being selected for this event is a huge honour and often is the highlight of a young person’s time in the Cadets.
Piping
Historically the Royal Navy passed orders and information by piping. Every Sea Cadet is shown how to use a “Boatswain’s Call” and how to pipe an order. Some pipes are orders in themselves and do not require any verbal addition.
The use of the Boatswain's Call in English ships can be traced back to the days of the Crusades, AD 1248. In former days it was worn in English ships as an honoured badge of rank, probably because it had always been used for passing orders. As long ago as 1485 it was worn as the badge of the Lord High Admiral of England and was worn by his successor in office up to 1562. In those days it was known as a whistle and was worn on a silver chain. Thereafter it was used throughout the Nations Fleet for passing orders, and since 1671 it has always been known as the Boatswains's Call.