We are glad to see that you are interested in the Sea Cadet program at the George Washington Division. Centrally located at Fort Schuyler (SUNY Maritime), the GWD serves cadets 10-17 located in NYC, LI, NJ and Westchester areas. Not in the NYC metro area? Find the unit near you here. This program requires 100% commitment from cadets and parents. Make no mistake, the Sea Cadets will challenge you to the core. Are you ready?

How to Join the Sea Cadets

QUALIFICATIONS:

To join the program, cadets must be US citizen or permanent legal resident, 10-17 years of age, satisfactorily be enrolled in a public or private school or a certified home school program with a GPA of at least 2.0, be of good moral character, unmarried and remain single while in the program, and free of any felony convictions. We highly encourage cadets to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. If you meet these minimum qualifications, head over to the “parents” page, where a parent or guardian will initiate the process.

Program Requirements

DRILLS:

Cadets are required to attend all mandatory Drills (on or off base). Punctually is essential! Report to and be picked up upon dismissal exactly at the specified time published on the monthly Plan of the Month (POM). When the drill is a field trip, cadets must be dropped off and picked up to and from the location of the field trip (often within 1 or 2 hours of driving distance). Cadets grow in confidence as they train in a highly structured and disciplined environment that stresses both personal accountability and teamwork. Our cadets wear uniforms, adhere to fitness and grooming standards, and are held to the highest standards of behavior.

ADVANCED TRAINING:

Cadets must take “away-from-home” Advanced Trainings (AT). Pass Physical Readiness Test (PRT) and complete the Coursework in POLARIS, a web-based system that cadets gain access to upon approved enrollment. While essential requirements can not be waived, other non-essential procedures or unit/training-specific policies may be modified or waived as necessary to accommodate disabilities. AT includes seamanship, sailing, aviation, security, building robots, medical, STEM, SCUBA, submarines, photography, culinary, special forces training, and an international exchange program. 

UNIFORMS:

Cadets receive a Seabag with uniforms to wear at different events. Accessories and personal items such as work boots, dress shoes, running shoes, name tags, PT gear, etc. need to be purchased separately. Go to the Parent section to learn more.

FEES:

• There is an annual enrollment fee of $225. Second or more sibling may have a discount. Go to the Parent section to learn more.
• A one-time uniform deposit of $200 grants the Cadet a full Seabag. This deposit is refundable upon returning all uniforms in the same condition, within six (6) months of cadet departure from the program. Uniform accessories and personal items such as work boots, dress shoes, running shoes, PT gear, etc. are purchased separately, see the parent section for recommendation on where to buy.
• Drill chow money ranges from $15 – $18 per session.
• Advanced Training (AT) and Recruit training (RT): These costs vary but range from $175 – $350 per training. Cadets are required to attend at least one AT per year after RT as a requirement in the Sea Cadets. While instruction, room, and board are included in the training, transportation to and from the sites is the parent’s responsibility.