The Australian Navy Cadets (ANC) is a youth development organisation supported by the Royal Australian Navy, with a focus on the maritime domain. The organisation conducts navy-related activities, with key objectives that include building self-confidence and developing teamwork and leadership skills.
The navy cadets, which comprises 81 training ships and with approximately 2,600 cadets nationwide. It is available to all young Australians between the ages of 13 and 17. This youth organisation is related with the Australian Air Force Cadets and Australian Army Cadets, which all come under the Australian Defence Force Cadets.
History Established in the early 1900s, the organisation received official recognition in 1911, with the passing of the Naval Defence Act. Before 1972, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Navy League of Australia shared administrative duties for the group, which was then known as the Australian Sea Cadet Corps.
The organisation was renamed the Naval Reserve Cadets, after the navy assumed full control of it in 1974. In 2000, the organisation was renamed "Australian Navy Cadets" following the recommendation of an Australian Government review titled Cadets: The Future.
In November 2024, the Australian Navy Cadets' training ship Mersey was renamed Training Ship Sheean in honour of ordinary Seaman Edward "Teddy" Sheean, VC. The name commemorates Sheean's actions during World War II.
Boys' Naval Brigades (Victoria), 1901–1911
The Boys' Naval Brigades were the earliest youth naval organisation in Australia. This organisation was run in conjunction with the Church of England. In 1903, Chief Gunner Robert Kearns of the Victorian Navy pioneered the Boys' Naval Brigade movement, forming the first group near Swan Island, Port Phillip. Soon after, in 1903, the second group was formed in Ballarat. The Boys' Naval Brigade was disbanded in 1913 when the government established compulsory training from 3 June 1913, resulting in its members joining the Navy-led Australian Naval Cadet Corps.
Australian Naval Cadet Corps, 1908–1952 In March 1908, recruitment for the Australian Navy's Australian Naval Cadet Corps (ANC) began, with its activities commencing in July that year. The ANC Corps actively operated until 1913, when the Government's Compulsory Training legislation transferred them into the newly created RANR (M) Militia, where they continued training throughout the First World War. After the war, the ANC Corps was re-established, and in 1930, compulsory training of the ANC Corps ceased. Once again in 1940, when the Second World War began, the ANC Corps deferred training as all Naval personnel were needed in the fight. The organisation had resumed its efforts after the war.
Navy League Sea Cadet Corps NLSCC, 1921–1952 In 1921, a second private Sea Cadet body was formed following the formation of the third Navy League Branch in New South Wales. This NSW Branch established the Navy League Sea Cadet Corps (NLSCC) for young boys. The NLSCC operated in parallel with the ANC Corps, which was re-established after the war. During the 1920s, the NLSCC expanded, with other states forming Navy League branches along with their own Navy League Sea Cadet units. Unlike the ANC Corps, which had halted operations during the Second World War, the private NLSCC remained operational but was reduced in units as many volunteer trainers had enlisted to serve in the war. The Royal Australian Navy recognised the NLSCC's efforts, which, up until now, operated with no assistance from the Navy. Negotiations commenced with the Navy League regarding future support; however, as the Australian Navy League was a branch of the United Kingdom's Navy League, this was possible, to resolve this problem, all branches of the Australian Defence Force were merged into the Australian Body, the Navy League of Australia, renaming its cadets the Australian Sea Cadet Corps.
Royal Australian Naval Reserve Cadets (RANRC), 1950–1973 The RANRC ran alongside the Australian Sea Cadet Corps. The program was small compared to its counterpart, with roughly 300 cadets involved within the program.
Australian Navy Sea Cadet Corps (ANSCC), 1950–1973 The Australian Sea Cadet Corps, now supported by the Navy, expanded rapidly under the leadership of its volunteer ex-service trainers. By 1970 the organisation had reached 2,500 cadets. The Royal Australian Navy expressed concerns about the increasing number of cadets and the cost of maintaining them. ASCC took responsibility for the cost, and by late 1974 the group had 2,000 members.
Representatives from the Navy League and the RAN discussed their shared concerns in 1972 on the rising costs of managing and sustaining the ANSCC program. Eventually, the RAN and Navy League decided that the Navy would be solely in charge of training the 2,000-strong ANSCC and 300-strong ANC. Under the new Defence law, the ANC and the ANSCC cadets united into the newly formed Naval Reserve Cadets (NRC). The Navy League was given time to restructure its ANSCC in the event that the Navy decided to stop training cadets, under an agreement with the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board (ACNB). The ANSCC members of the Navy League were transferred into the new Naval Reserve Cadets (NRC) of the RAN in January 1973.
Naval Reserve Cadets NRC, 1973–2000 Problems arose early in the newly formed Naval Reserve Cadets when the 21st Prime Minister of Australia, Gough Whitlam, cancelled all cadet activities and withdrew ADF support for cadets in 1975. The Navy League's agreement with the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board was honoured by the government, which notified the Navy League and allowed for the reorganisation of the ASCC structure. By the end of 1975, the Whitlam government was voted out, and Malcolm Fraser was elected the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. The cadet situation was reviewed, and the Fraser government reinstated cadet training. In 2002, the name was changed back to Australian Naval Cadets—the original name of the 1907 Australian Navy Cadet Corps.
Duelling Movements According to Australian rear admiral Frans Karel de Laat, from 1863 to 1952, young seamanship was fostered by two stands of the movement: a citizenship Sea Cadet movement, and a Navy-led, reservist-led organisation. Both strands under various bodies competed for the same resources and generally sought the same goal - that of preparing young people for naval service. The disparate schemes were understandable pre-federation due to the fractured nature of colonial government. Post-federation, the duel strands were locked in circular arguments over similar aims for competing resources. The presence of community-based naval organisations, while little threat to the Navy's resources, was at times perceived as a risk to the Navy's reputation.
Aims
Training The Australian Navy Cadets provides nautical training that involves primarily water-based activities navigation, communications, first aid, drill, maritime history, and firearms proficiency are among the skills taught. Within its program, the ANC attempts to offer the following:
develop an interest in the Navy, its tradition and moral values, encourage cadets to continue military or community service, give cadets a foundation of military knowledge and discipline, develop the qualities of leadership, self-discipline, self-reliance, and initiative, and provide training that may later assist in achieving competencies required during Navy induction training.
Purpose Australian Navy Cadets is a youth personal development program conducted by the Australian Navy in collaboration with the community. Its goal is to develop the individual, the community, and the Australian Navy in order to benefit the nation.
Values
The Australian Navy Cadets adopt the values of the Australian Navy (Service, Courage, Respect, Integrity, and Excellence) to empower youth to achieve their potential.
Structure The organisational structure of the ANC is based on three hierarchical levels: national, flotilla, and training ship.
The country (Australia) is split into regions, and the regions have flotillas, which have several training ship units. Inside the training ships are Staff and Cadets, who take on positions to run the training ship accordingly every parade night or weekend camp.
National commanders and directors general The basic naval reserve cadet (NRC) command structure prior to 2001 was:
Director of Naval Reserves and Cadets (DNRC) was a RANR Officer in Canberra who had overall authority of the Naval Reserve Cadets. Each state had a Senior Officer Naval Reserve Cadets (SONRC) who answered to the LNA or Local Naval Authority usually the Commanding Officer (CO) of the establishment on which the NRCHQ of that state resided. A Cadet Liaison Officer (CLO), usually a RANR Officer, was situated in HMAS Cairns, HMAS Moreton, HMAS Watson, HMAS Lonsdale, HMAS Encounter, HMAS Huon and HMAS Leeuwin (all shore bases at the time). The CLO had responsibility for the liaising between the NRC and RAN in their state. There was no national HQ or national staff until the ANC was established in 2000.
Rank Name Post-nominals Branch Tenure Director NRC Captain David Martin RAN 1973–1974 Commander Allan Vidler NRC Commander Christine Reinks NRC National Commander ANC Captain Gavin Reeves ANC November 1999 – 25 February 2007 Commander John Goss RANR 25 February 2007 – 13 August 2008 (Acting) Captain Eliot Fisher ANC 13 August 2008 – 13 August 2011 Captain John Gill ANC 13 August 2011 – 30 June 2014 Captain Eliot Fisher ANC 13 August 2014 – 1 January 2017 Captain Kerry Rayner ANC 1 January 2017 – 1 January 2020 Captain Martin Blume ANC 1 January 2020 – December 2022CaptainPeter AldersonANC1 January 2023 – December 2025 Captain Richard Morgan ANC 1 January 2026 - Present Prior to 2000 the ANC did not have the title or position 'Director General ANC', instead the overall Commander's position was called 'Director of Reserves Navy' which was a RAN – RANR position.
Rank Name Post-Nominals Branch Tenure Director General ANC Commodore Nigel Coates RAN 2005–2007 Commodore Karel de Laat RANR 2007-2007 Commodore Michael Smith RANR 2007–? Commodore Geoff Geraghty RANR ? – 1 February 2014 Director General Australian Navy Cadets and Reserves Commodore Geoff Geraghty RANR 2 February 2014 – 30 November 2014 Commodore Bruce Kafer RANR 1 December 2014 – 9 March 2017 Commodore Mark Hill RAN 10 March 2017 – May 2019 Commodore David Greaves RAN May 2019 – July 2026 Commodore John Stavridis RAN July 2026 – Present Director General Australian Navy Cadets The position of Director General Australian Navy Cadets (DGANC) is responsible to CN, through the Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN), and to CJC, through the Head of Joint Services Support Division, for the following responsibilities:
Delivery of a strategically based, productive, and cohesive ANC program designed to enhance the cadet experience and encourage greater youth participation in the ANC Provision of specialist advice to the RAN and JSSD on matters relating to ANC organisational structures, policy, governance, personnel, administrative procedures, training of personnel, safety management and oversight of ANC resources Liaison with the Defence organisation and other external agencies. Ensuring ANC policies, procedures, and practices align with the DYSF Conducting annual reviews of youth-facing positions and WWCC positions within DGANC and provide any updates to DNWM for annotation in PMKeyS. DGANC chairs the ANC Senior Leadership Group (ANCSLG) and the ANC CadetSafe Board.
The current DGANC (of July 2024) is CDRE David Greaves, RAN.
Director Australian Navy Cadets The position of Director Australian Navy Cadets (DANC) is responsible for the day-to-day management of the ANC Directorate, including the management of all RAN and Australian Public Service (APS) staff allocated to the ANC Directorate.