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ABOUT US
The Kerikeri Cadet Unit is a member of the New Zealand Cadet Forces:
Cadet Forces Charter:
"CADET FORCE TRAINING TODAY, NEW ZEALAND SERVICE TOMORROW"
Youth development and leadership training with a service flavour. The New Zealand Cadet Forces (NZCF) is a voluntary, disciplined, uniformed, training organisation for youth. There are over 100 Cadet Units nationwide in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Cadet Forces comprises of the:
*Sea Cadet Corps
*New Zealand Cadet Corps (sometimes referred to as the ‘Army Cadets’)
*Air Training Corps
The organisation is not part of the New Zealand Defence Force but is directed by the Chief of Defence Force (NZDF), on behalf of the Minister of Defence, and is supported in partnership by the NZDF and the community.
The structured training within Cadet Forces provides a 3-year programme and promotes teamwork, self-reliance, resourcefulness, perseverance and an ethic of community service. The training is developed by using the processes developed by and for the New Zealand Defence Forces modified to be implemented by civilian Cadet Force Officers and undertaken by young and developing adults. The training programmes emphasise personal development and include a quality, nationally co-ordinated annual programme, which aims to:
-foster the spirit of adventure and teamwork, and to develop those qualities of mind and body essential for good citizens and leaders;
-provide challenging and disciplined training activities, which will be useful in either Service or civilian life;
-promote an awareness of the Armed Forces and the role they play in the community.
The success of the NZCF is measured by the numbers of cadets recruited and retained by cadet units and who graduate from the NZCF training course programmes, having met predetermined performance criteria.
Young adults with respect for themselves and the community and environment are the products of this system, which, in its present form has existed since 1971, although cadets originated well over a century ago.
Another thing that sets the NZCF aside from other youth organisations is the new qualification that is now available for Cadets to work towards – The National Certificate in Cadet Forces – Foundation Studies (Level 2). This is an NZQA approved certificate and unit standards from this qualification are incorporated into the Unit’s training programme. Because it is a National Certificate cadets can also use the credits earned to help meet the requirements of their NCEA Levels 1-3.
Not everyone who joins the NZCF (or the Kerikeri Cadet Unit) wants to join the Army or any other Defence Service; most want to have fun, have opportunities they would not normally encounter, and meet new friends (which could be all around NZ or other countries). Cadets are not expected to join the Armed Forces when they leave and belonging to a cadet unit does not guarantee you will accepted by the Armed Forces, however there is anecdotal evidence that suggests that ex-cadets seem to adapt more readily to life in the Armed Forces. So, if you are thinking of a career in the Armed Forces, cadets would be a good place to start and get a feel for what you might be in for.