Royal Canadian Army Cadets

Royal Canadian Army Cadets
Royal Canadian Army Cadets badge.
Active	July 25, 1879 – present
Country	Canada
Type	Youth Organization
Size	~20,000 Army Cadets supported by
Part of	Canadian Cadet Organization
Headquarters	Ottawa, Canada
Motto(s)	Acer Acerpori (As the Maple, so the Sapling)
March	Quick: "Cadet"
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief	HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Colonel Commandant	Sergent-major Beaucage CD

The Royal Canadian Army Cadets (RCAC) is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada. Under the authority of the National Defence Act the program is administered by the Canadian Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence. The civilian partner provides support in the local community. Many Army Cadet corps receive additional support from affiliated Regular or Reserve Army units. While cadets may wear the badges and accoutrements of their affiliated unit, cadets are civilians, they are not members of the Canadian Forces .

Recognized as Canada's oldest youth program, there are approximately 21,000 army cadets in about 450 corps across the country. Together with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Air Cadets, it forms the largest federally funded youth program. Cadets are encouraged to become active, responsible members of their communities.

Along with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Air Cadets, the RCAC is part of the Canadian Cadet Organization. The RCAC and the other cadet programs is led and financed by the Canadian Forces. The program is run in partnership with the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada that provides supervision of the local corps squadron sponsor that supports the program at the community level by providing support not provided by the Canadian Forces. Cadets are not members of the Forces, and there is no expectation to join the Canadian Forces. In keeping with Commonwealth custom, the Royal Canadian Army Cadets stand second in the order of precedence, after the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, and before the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

People aged 12 to 18 may join the RCAC, free of charge. Uniforms, training manuals, and instruction are provided. A cadet must leave the organization before their 19th birthday. Upon departing, most items issued to them during their time in the program must be returned. Some cadet corps conduct a "leaving ceremony", to recognize departing cadets. If the senior-ranked cadet is departing he or she will relinquish the senior position by passing on the drill cane, or the Corps flag to his or her successor.