Sea Cadets- ok?

[tumbleweed1234]

My DD loves boats and she wants to join the local Sea Cadets. I went along with her to try it out and when I came back at the end all I could hear was lots of shouting, and all the cadets were standing in regiments, and every so often one of them would go to the heads (toilets) because they were feeling faint- and all the CO would do was tell them to wiggle their toes! Is it just me or does this seem a little cruel? It was a hot day and they were all in thick jackets. DD wasn't too sure when she came away but was reassured by the PO that every night wasn't like this. Also, will she be able to wear her earrings as we have only just got them pierced?
Any feedback great thanks :)

Yeah I'm sure I just joined at a bad time as I had a few friends who had been there earlier and they did a lot of stuff. Shame as I love the whole 'cadet' thing. Think I'd have suited RAF cadets better.

Oh yes uniform was free! Mum had to sew the badges on for me. I shined my own boots and sorted my cap and lanyard out.

DD did a stint in the brownies and uniform cost was plus the monthly fee.

I was in the navy for eleven years and just thinking about HMS Raleigh and "walking on the water (grass), were you up at the RAS rig by any chance?

I was in the Sea Cadets for about 5 years before I joined the navy. Fortunately for me the unit I went to was based onboard HMS Belfast in the Pool of London. It was brilliant time and just looking at a photo of one group of us, out of 9 in the picture, 8 joined the armed forces and two of them are still in. I say all children should be encouraged to join something like cadets. It's good for building independence and self responsibility and resourcefulness. The "can do" attitude it engenders in it's members is a valuable thing.

DS was a Marine Cadet, part of MSSCC, and they meet in the same Units as Sea Cadets at the same times but follow a slightly different programme.
Not having any background in the forces we found it an alien environment.
There are reams of rules, including suggestions of punishments for misdemeanours, which you used to be able to access online (DS left two years ago).
It seems to be down to the individual CO as to how strictly these are interpreted. Having had experience of two different Units I would say some definitely do more activities than others. Some behave as though they are recruiting for the forces and are very heavy on discipline, others are more like youth organisations. We also found that the one with the lower subs was the one where he did most activities.
DS learnt how to be cheerful in the face of adversity, that's for sure.