 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2012) |
| Royal Canadian Army Cadets | |
|---|---|
 Badge of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets | |
| Active | 1861 – 1879 (as Drill Associations) July 25, 1879 – present |
| Country |  Canada |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Quasi-Military youth organization |
| Role | Help Develop Good Citizens, Develop Physical Fitness, And Sustain An Interest In The Canadian Forces |
| Size | 424 Corps (19,000+ Army Cadets) |
| Part of | Canadian Cadet Organizations Department Of National Defence |
| Headquarters | Ottawa, Canada |
| Motto(s) | Acer Acerpori (As the Maple, so the Sapling) |
| March | "Quick March" |
| Website | https://www.cadets.gc.ca |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Brigadier-General Dominique Brais |
| Colonel-in-Chief | Vacant |
The Royal Canadian Army Cadets (RCAC; French: Cadets royaux de l’Armée canadienne) is a national Canadian youth program sponsored by the Canadian Armed Forces and the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada. Under the authority of the National Defence Act, the program is administered by the Canadian Armed Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence. Additionally, the civilian partner of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, the Army Cadet League of Canada, also ensures financial, accommodations and transportation support for RCAC programs and services at a community level.
Many Royal Canadian Army Cadet corps receive logistical assistance and administrative support from their affiliated Regular Force or Reserve Force unit.
While cadets may wear the badges and accoutrements of their affiliated unit, cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces.[2]
With roots in the early drill associations authorized in 1861, Royal Canadian Army Cadets is Canada's oldest youth program.
As of 2016, there are approximately 18,920 army cadets in about 429 corps which are spread across the country.
Together with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Air Cadets, it forms the largest federally funded youth program which is known as the Canadian Cadet Organization.
Members of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets are encouraged to become active and responsible members of their communities.
The Royal Canadian Army Cadets are the rough equivalent to the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps in the United States, the Army Cadet Force in the United Kingdom and the Australian Army Cadets in Australia.
- ^ "Colonels". Archived from the original on March 13, 2005.
- ^ "The Army Cadet League of Canada". Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2008.