8940 Military Department
Program Descriptions

50 - CALIFORNIA CADET CORPS

With an annual enrollment of 6,000 the California Cadet Corps founded in 1911 by the California Legislature and then-Adjutant General BG Edwin B. Forbes is a school-based, applied leadership program conducted within a military framework and is designed to provide maximum growth and leadership opportunities for cadets from the elementary through the high school levels. The Cadet Corps provides applied leadership opportunities for cadets by allowing them to conduct training for junior cadets, to perform as leaders in their cadet military units, and by demonstrating proper behavior and citizenship at their schools and in their communities. As part of their training, cadets provide assistance and support to the school and community. The most recent independent evaluation of the Cadet Corps proves conclusively that cadets stay in school, contribute positively to school safety, and do not join gangs. Statistics indicate that cadets do better academically than their peers, have better attendance, fewer suspensions and expulsions, do better on the California Physical Fitness Test, and do significantly better on the state's academic standardized reporting and assessment (STAR) tests.