Be your best self

Being a First Sea Lord’s Cadet is a sought-after honour that includes representing Sea Cadets at national events and gives the cadets a glimpse into the careers of senior Royal Navy officers. On 19 January 2024, six sea cadets who had been selected by their areas attended an award ceremony onboard HMS Victory, to receive their certificates and badge from the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE ADC. Introducing the First Sea Lord’s Cadets for 2024…

LC Chloe

Eastern Area 

Chloe joined Sea Cadets in 2018 as a junior and progressed to Leading Cadet in 2023. She has gained many qualifications and is particularly proud of achieving the Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, especially as it was during the pandemic. Chloe uses her skills and experience to train and mentor her fellow cadets in her role as the unit’s cadet representative. A keen sailor and windsurfer, Chloe also enjoys taking part in adventure training and mountain biking, and loves meeting new people at competitions. 

Chloe says: “I feel honoured to be chosen as First Sea Lord’s Cadet. I’m very proud to represent my unit, district, area and Sea Cadets. My favourite memory of Sea Cadets is representing my unit at the town’s Remembrance Parade as the standard bearer and wreath layer for three years in a row. I’m also proud of my fundraising – I’ve received the award for the most fundraising twice since 2019. In five years’ time, I hope to be finishing my degree in mechanical engineering. After that I want to become an officer in the Royal Navy or an engineer in a Formula 1 or IndyCar team. I want to have a career while also being able to travel and see the world.”

POC Grace 

Southern Area

Grace joined in 2019 at 12 years old. During her first months as a cadet, she went on courses, volunteered at a care home, completed CTP modules and started learning to kayak. Grace has participated in a variety of drill and ceremonial events and she has a particular love for sailing and paddlesports. She became a Paddlesport Instructor in 2022 and has since helped teach many cadets at her unit, as well as running a basic navigation course after completing Day Skipper Theory. 

Grace says: “I am honoured to be given this opportunity. I’m really looking forward to getting to know more cadets, especially at national competitions. At our investiture day in Portsmouth, I loved having the opportunity to go on board HMS Victory and HMS Prince of Wales. Sea Cadets has enabled me to gain a lot of confidence, pushing me to try lots of things. It has also given me a lot of experience in leadership and how to work better with people in a variety of different settings. My two-week Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s expedition on the yachts has definitely been the highlight of my time as a cadet so far.”  

POC William 

South West Area

William joined in 2019 and has risen through the ranks to become his unit’s most senior cadet. He became an active member of the unit within his first few months, thanks to his strong parade night attendance and participation in community events. William has made major contributions to competitions, and has strived to gain the widest possible range of knowledge and experiences. This includes qualifications in everything from campcraft to seamanship, and a Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Award. William has achieved RYA Sailing Stage 4, RYA Dinghy Instructor, and is progressing towards RYA Day Skipper. He is planning to become a volunteer when he turns 18 in December. 

Will says: “My highlight of the investiture was when the First Sea Lord entered the great cabin of HMS Victory. I was expecting lots of formality, but he photobombed the CCF! Ever since I joined, I have always looked up to the FSLCs and aspired to be one myself. Joining Sea Cadets made a massive impact upon my social skills: walking into a room full of new people was something I really struggled with, but five years on it is much easier for me. Outside of cadets I enjoy being outdoors as much as I can, be it walking on Dartmoor or downhill mountain biking in my local woods.”

POC Millicent 

London Area

Millicent joined in 2017 as a junior. Since then, she has achieved qualifications in physical training, shooting and boating, which have allowed her to build confidence, resilience and leadership skills. Millicent is a dedicated, loyal and competitive cadet who likes a challenge. A good example if this is her regular participation in London Area’s prestigious adventure training competition, the Chosin Cup, where her campcraft and orienteering skills helped her unit to a fine third place in 2023.

Millicent says: “My favourite part of our investiture was the tour of HMS Prince of Wales. It was an impressive ship and got me excited to start my career in the Royal Navy. I’m excited to see what opportunities this role has for me. Being a sea cadet has helped me to become a leader as well as boosting my confidence. It’s also given me experience in boating, which I look forward to further improving. In five years’ time, I hope to be serving in the Royal Navy as a special equipment technician and hopefully be part of the Royal Navy PT branch.” 

POC Ashley 

Northern Area

Since she joined in 2017, Ashely has embraced the fun and adventure of the Sea Cadets Experience. Taking inspiration from senior cadets and volunteers, she has shown great self-discipline to fulfil her potential. A qualified Cadet Drill Instructor, Ashley takes charge of teaching drill modules to cadets, and supports them with any other needs. Her uniform upkeep is the best in the unit, and the fact that she has won the unit’s Cadet of the Year award for both juniors and seniors reflects her dedication to the highest standards and sets her up for her desired career in the Royal Navy.

Ashley says: “It feels so rewarding to be a First Sea Lord’s Cadet – it’s nice to see that all my hard work over the years has paid off. I’m most exited to take part in the Trafalgar Day Parade because as a younger cadet I remember watching videos and thinking how cool it would be to be part of something like that. The opportunities you get at Sea Cadets are incredible, it’s been a huge part of my life and personal development. I can’t imagine what I would be like if I hadn’t joined! My dream is to travel the world while working as a seamanship specialist in the Royal Navy.”

POC Megan 

North West Area 

Megan has been a sea cadet since 2018. She started showing her leadership skills as a junior, and the unit’s Cadet of the Year award for 2019 marked a flying start. From the beginning, Megan has volunteered to take part in every event, activity, competition and course that she can, and always encourages her fellow cadets to get involved as well. Megan has a flair for creating learning aids, having helped to develop ‘session resources boxes’ to assist instructors and cadets undertaking the peer educator course. She is currently undertaking a Health & Safety apprenticeship.

Megan says: “Attending the investiture was magnificent, and something I never thought I’d do. I joined as a shy 11-year-old. Now 17, my confidence has grown and I have learned lots of skills that I will use for the rest of my life. I want to take these skills into the Royal Navy, as being a cadet has opened my eyes to the career options it offers. Sea Cadets is life changing. It’s fun and interactive and you meet people who become your friends for life. One major highlight was representing Sea Cadets at the 2023 National Remembrance Parade, and having the opportunity to meet veterans and see the sights of London.”

Photos: Sea Cadets