Cadet

Cadet refers to a person or people who are junior in some way. The term is often used by uniformed services.

Military Context

In the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries, a cadet is a member of one of the cadet forces.

In the UK these are: the Combined Cadet Force, the Sea Cadets, Army Cadets and the Air Training Corps.

In the United States, cadet refers to an officer in training. The United States Navy and United States Marine Corps use the term midshipman. See Officer Cadet for this usage, the term used for an officer in training in the UK. Members of the Junior ROTC programs of the various uniformed services are titled cadet, as well as members of the Navy League Sea Cadets, Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program, American Cadet Alliance and students at military high schools (i.e.: Valley Forge Military Academy).

In Canada, the term "cadet" refers to either an officer in training, with the official rank names as Officer Cadet for the Air Force and Army and Naval Cadet for the Navy. Also, the term Cadet can relate to the subdepartment of the Department of National Defence, the Royal Canadian Cadets movement. This consists of Sea Cadets, Army Cadets and Air Cadets in Units across the country.

Civilian Context

In the United States, cadet refers to an officer in training for the police, firefighter and EMT services.

Similar usage exists in the UK for personnel in training for become fire and rescue service officers.

Other Usage

A new organisation on the internet named the Web Cadet Corps aims to educate people online and to build international friendships. It is not a government sponsored organisation and is run by donations by its members.
To refer to someone as a space cadet is to imply that they are "on another planet", i.e. foolish or dim.

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