Joining the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps is a straightforward process designed to help prospective cadets and their families learn about the program before making a commitment.
We encourage all interested families to attend a Shadow Day during one of our monthly drill weekends. This provides an opportunity to meet our staff and cadets, participate in activities, and determine whether Sea Cadets is a good fit for your family.
Our goal is to ensure that every cadet begins their Sea Cadet experience informed, prepared, and excited for the opportunities ahead.
To join the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, applicants must:
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
• Be between the ages of 10 and 18
• Be enrolled in a public school, private school, or certified homeschool program
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0
• Be of good moral character
• Be unmarried and remain unmarried while enrolled
• Have no felony convictions
Applicants ages 10–13 join the Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC), while applicants ages 13–18 join the Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC).
Prospective cadets are invited to attend a Shadow Day during one of our scheduled drill weekends.
Rather than simply observing, prospective cadets participate alongside our enrolled cadets and experience many of the activities that make up a typical drill weekend.
While prospective cadets are training with the unit, parents and guardians will have an opportunity to meet our staff, learn more about the program, and ask questions regarding membership, training opportunities, expectations, and next steps.
Because our unit meets aboard a controlled-access military installation, Shadow Days must be coordinated with the unit in advance so that access can be arranged.
After visiting our unit and deciding that Sea Cadets is right for your family, let a member of our unit staff know that your child is ready to apply.
Families do not need to locate or download an application. Fort McHenry Division / Training Ship Constellation will initiate your child's application through the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps online enrollment system.
You will receive an email containing a registration link and code. Please allow up to 24 hours for the message to arrive and check your spam or junk folder if necessary.
Before beginning the application, please have a personal email address available for your prospective cadet that is different from the parent or guardian's email address. Do not use a school-issued email address.
Parents and guardians complete the enrollment application online through the Sea Cadet Corps' enrollment system.
During the process, you will:
If more than one child in your family wishes to apply, you only need one registration code. Additional prospective cadets—and a parent interested in becoming an adult volunteer—can be added through the same account.
Once all application materials have been submitted and reviewed, enrollment must be approved by the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps National Headquarters.
Upon approval, each cadet will:
• Be assigned an official Sea Cadet identification number.
• Receive access to Quarterdeck, the Sea Cadet Corps' membership and training management system.
• Receive access to POLARIS, the online learning and training platform used for advancement coursework and required training.
• Receive an official U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps identification card.
• Begin receiving uniforms, equipment, and onboarding guidance from the unit staff.
New cadets will then begin their Sea Cadet journey by participating in monthly drills, learning the fundamentals of the program, and preparing for future advancement and training opportunities.
After the family interview and review of the application, unit leadership will either provide initial approval to join the Sea Cadet Corps or notify the family if additional information or action is required.
The online enrollment system will provide families with instructions for the remaining steps.
National Enrollment & Insurance Fee — $125 per cadet
Following the application, interview and approval process, the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps will send the family an electronic invoice for the $125 national enrollment and insurance fee.
This payment is made directly through the national enrollment system and is not collected by Fort McHenry Division / Training Ship Constellation.
Fort McHenry Division Unit Fee —
Fort McHenry Division / Training Ship Constellation charges a separate local unit fee to support the purchase of supplies and materials including uniforms, name tapes, ribbons and awards, unit supplies, etc.
Instructions for paying the local unit fee will be provided separately by unit staff.
Please do not submit an enrollment payment through our unit payment page until instructed to do so.
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