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Our Mission

The mission of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps is to build leaders of character by imbuing in our cadets the highest ideals of honor, respect, commitment, and service.

Help Us Grow and Improve

Sea Cadets serves young people ages 10 through high school in a structured, team-based environment designed to challenge participants, reduce distractions, and cultivate confidence. Through hundreds of units nationwide, Cadets participate in monthly drills and annual advanced trainings led by thousands of dedicated volunteers.

Why Your Support Matters

Success requires financial support to train cadets, start and grow units, and operate efficiently.

Training

Training is the cornerstone of the program. During week-long encampments, known as “trainings,” cadets work collaboratively as part of a team and are challenged in a phone-free environment to develop both personally and professionally. They may select from a diverse range of STEM focus areas, including maritime studies, aviation, robotics, welding, electronics, medical training, sailing, photojournalism, and culinary.

Through the support of gifts from you, we are able to keep program costs affordable and subsidize transportation, ensuring that all cadets have the opportunity to participate fully and benefit from their Sea Cadet experience. Throughout these trainings, cadets step away from their phones, engage in meaningful activities, and learn from dedicated volunteers who instill the program’s core values of respect, honor, and commitment.

Unit Development

Cadets participate in local unit meetings throughout the school year. An ideal unit is conveniently located and serves more than 25 cadets. Accordingly, the program faces two primary challenges: establishing additional units to improve accessibility—particularly in rural and underserved communities—and supporting smaller units in reaching sustainable enrollment levels.

Your gift plays a critical role in our program. Gifts help offset essential expenses, including volunteer background checks, facility rental fees, recruitment efforts for both volunteers and cadets, and other logistical costs. Expanding units into rural and underserved areas can be transformative for young people, providing meaningful opportunities and exposure to potential career pathways.

General Operations

Our modern, high-quality program requires a strong infrastructure and dedicated staff to deliver excellence across multiple disciplines. This foundation enables us to maximize our impact, ensure long-term sustainability, and remain agile in responding to emerging opportunities.

Sea Cadets maintains a strong commitment to financial responsibility, allocating more than 80 percent of our budget directly to cadet programs and training. By providing the necessary resources and organizational capacity, we are able to foster innovation and continuously enhance the Sea Cadet experience – your gift can make a difference, regardless of the amount every gift matters.

Make a Gift Today

If you prefer to mail a check, please direct your donation to:

Naval Sea Cadet Corps
2300 Wilson Blvd, Suite 200
Arlington, VA 22201

(Please be sure to include Suite Number)

More Ways to Give

You may also:

  • Give through a monthly recurring credit card gift
  • Contact your employer regarding matching company gifts
  • Give via wire transfer
  • Donate stocks & traded securities

To explore these options, please email: development@seacadets.org.

Join the Anchor Society

By making a planned gift, you secure your own legacy while supporting Sea Cadets for the long term. Please email development@seacadets.org for more information about this option.

Workforce readiness is a defining feature of the Sea Cadets program. Cadets engage in immersive, hands-on training across a broad range of disciplines. And through these experiences, Cadets develop resilience, self-confidence, discipline, overall well-being and a strong sense of achievement—qualities that prepare them for success in civilian careers, industry, higher education, or military service.