Back in 2016, the Royal Navy adopted the Personal Clothing System (PCS) that had been in place in other parts of the military for some time. The new, navy blue version of military combat clothing was a long awaited and popular change and followed many months of study and research into materials and practicalities of life on a modern warship.
Sea Cadets across the UK, being closely linked and sponsored by MOD Navy excitedly anticipated a change to their own uniform, and their Royal Marines Cadets were the first to be issued with the new clothing system, labelled MTP PCS (Multi-Terrain Pattern), the roll out being completed in record time for such a huge change. The adoption of the blue version was to take a little longer!
With approximately eight times as many SCC cadets wearing a blue uniform than wear a Royal Marines uniform, the issue of around 10,000 sets of clothing to each and every cadet was always going to be a challenge – but 2024 has seen it completed!
The Sea Cadet “working rig”, known as No 4 rig, had been largely unchanged for over 20 years and, in the opinion of the cadets at least, a change was long overdue. With smaller numbers to deal with, sea cadets had already seen their colleagues in Combined Cadet Force (Navy) and RN Volunteer Cadet Corps adopt the new uniform the previous year and the anticipation was palpable.
A huge logistics exercise taken on by staff at Sea Cadet Stores in Portsmouth saw every one of 400 units submit size details and the shipping began in mid-2024.
The overwhelming response of cadets is that they love it! Modern materials, better fit options and the overall smart new look have proven very popular and the new uniform has been proudly worn wherever and whenever it’s been possible by cadets who are delighted to look and feel like “real” RN sailors. And, for the first time. Wearing the white ensign and having the words “Royal Navy” clearly displayed, has really reinforced the Royal Navy family ethos.
They love the practicality and we’re quite sure that parents love the easy care of the items – even though they have to wash them more often as cadets want to wear them all the time!
All uniformed adult volunteers are also wearing the new RNPCS rig and seem to like it just as much as the cadets. With only small differences between what they are wearing and what the RN and reserves wear (a “cadet forces” name tag and “Sea Cadet Corps” curved shoulder flashes being the only real difference) sea cadet cadets and adults now feel even more closely affiliated to their parent service.
Cadets will, of course, retain the no 1 “blue suit” best uniform so well loved and recognised by the public as the Royal Navy’s ceremonial uniform.
Overwhelmingly the best and most welcomed major change in the SCC for many years!
