MISSION STATEMENT OF THE CORPS OF CADETS

The Corps of Cadets strives to develop in each student traits of professionalism, teamwork, pride and self-discipline to become future leaders in maritime and other industries.

GENERAL

Any student who desires to attend The California Maritime Academy must participate in the Corps of Cadets.  In addition, anyone who desires to become a licensed deck or engineering officer in the United States Merchant Marine must participate in a Merchant Marine National Service Cadet Corps (NSCC) as prescribed by Title 46 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.  Through participation in the Corps, each cadet will develop positive traits such as punctuality, ability to follow orders, initiative, attention to detail, teamwork, time management, patience, responsibility, leadership, and professionalism.  These traits require that new cadets develop self-discipline enabling every graduate to excel in their future occupation, at sea or ashore.  Some tasks required of cadets are more desirable than others, but every cadet must prove they can do the jobs required of them before they can become leaders.

Being a cadet is much more than being a college student.  You will be asked to do more, you will be held to higher standards of personal conduct and professionalism, and you will be given more responsibility than any other California college student.  Each cadet is expected to develop their leadership skills and learn how to organize and direct people in work projects.  By the time a licensed candidate cadet becomes a first class, they should be able to take charge of an actual bridge or engine room watch, teach classes on seamanship, navigation or basic engineering, and train each new class of cadets on the fundamentals of becoming a Merchant Marine Officer.  By the time all other cadets become a first class, they should have experienced an internship or co-op, an international T/S GOLDEN BEAR cruise, and be prepared to train each new class of cadets on the fundamentals of becoming a professional.  In addition, all cadets shall understand what it means to be responsible.

Any student who does not feel that they can live up to the standards or lifestyle imposed by the Corps of Cadets should strongly reconsider whether Cal Maritime is the right place. Those students who are prepared to challenge themselves by becoming members of the Corps of Cadets should study the regulations, take pride in their personal appearance in uniform, and become fully involved in life at Cal Maritime and the T/S GOLDEN BEAR.

THE CALIFORNIA MARITIME ACADEMY CORE VALUES

• Dedication

• Honor

• Integrity

• Responsibility

• Respect

• Trust

ORGANIZATION OF THE CORPS

The Corps of Cadets is organized into two Companies (Blue and Gold Company) with three Divisions each.  Within each Division are five sections, two Deck, two Engineering, and one section of either Business or Global Studies and Maritime Affairs cadets.  The Divisions are generally referred to as 1 Blue or 4 Gold.  And the Sections are generally referred to as 2 Blue Deck or 5 Gold Business.

The Corps Commander, who assumes overall responsibility for every aspect of the Corps of Cadets, commands The California Maritime Academy Corps of Cadets.  On behalf of the Corps of Cadets, the Corps Commander acts as liaison to the Commandant of Cadets, Vice President of Marine Programs and Student Affairs, and President of the Academy.

The Company Commander assumes overall responsibility for every aspect of their company at Cal Maritime.  On behalf of the Corps of Cadets participating on the T/S GOLDEN BEAR, the Company Commander will act as a liaison to the Commandant of Cadets and Captain of the Training Ship.

CONDUCT SYSTEM

Admission to a campus of the California State University carries with it the assumption of a sense of responsibility for the welfare of the community.  Also assumed are obligations on the part of each individual to respect the rights of others and to protect the Academy as a forum for the free expression of ideas.  Therefore, conduct, which violates California State University and/or The California Maritime Academy policy, is considered a detriment to the learning environment and the members of the Academy.

The California Maritime Academy, in accordance with the Maritime Administration’s regulations governing Maritime Academies and The California Maritime Academy/California State University Transition Legislation is authorized to establish regulations and procedures to take disciplinary action against students in regards to such regulations.  The offenses, outlined in the Student Handbook, reflect misconduct of a serious nature indicating a failure on the part of a cadet to discharge their obligations to the Academy, those in a position of authority, the training ship, or fellow cadets.  Sanctions for conduct violations generally include warnings, demerits, extra-duty, community service, or other actions appropriate for the offense.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Cal Maritime functions best when its community members treat one another with honesty, respect, and trust.  Because of the quality of our graduates depends on the ethics they display, faculty members are expected to act promptly on suspected cases of academic dishonesty. 

Cheating and academic dishonesty comprise all student behavior intended to gain unearned academic advantage or interfere with another’s academics by fraudulent and/or deceptive means.  Examples of inappropriate conduct that can lead to the imposition of sanctions include, but are not limited to:

• Taking information, such as copying graded homework assignments from
  another person or looking at another student’s paper during an examination;

• Providing information, such as giving one’s work to another to be copied,
  paraphrased, or plagiarized or giving answers to another student during
  an examination;

• Plagiarizing, such as unauthorized copying of all or parts of an article,
  paper, book, published work or other propriety source including documents
  from the World Wide Web.

CLASS RANKING IN THE CORPS OF CADETS

4/C CADETS  (Fourth Class – Freshmen Academic Year)

4/C should, depending on their academic major, consider it their goal to learn everything they can about their watch station, either the T/S GOLDEN BEAR or the campus, during the academic year.  4/C should ask questions constantly and focus on ship or campus familiarization, basic watch standing techniques, and correctly carrying out orders.  Prepare yourself for your first T/S GOLDEN BEAR cruise, if applicable, throughout the year.

3/C CADETS (Third Class – Sophomore Academic Year)

3/C are the primary cadets training the underclass in basic ship and campus familiarization.  These cadets may have completed their first T/S GOLDEN BEAR cruise.  3/C must be prepared to help 4/C learn the ship or campus, the regulations Governing the Corps of Cadets, and basic watch standing skills.  3/C should prepare for commercial cruise or their first T/S GOLDEN BEAR cruise.

2/C CADETS (Second Class – Junior Academic Year)

2/C should be training to become future leaders at Cal Maritime.  Their academic course work will become more specialized at this level and they will be expected to assume more responsible supervisory and teaching roles with the underclass.  2/C should possess detailed knowledge of T/S GOLDEN BEAR and the campus while possessing two years of academic training in their respective fields of study.  Watches stood by 2/C will require more responsibility, more knowledge of problem solving, and more oversight of the underclass.

1/C CADETS (First Class – Senior Academic Year)

1/C cadets should be prepared to assume a T/S GOLDEN BEAR or campus watch and independently assume duties as the Night Mate, Night Engineer, or Campus Duty Officer.  They will serve as officers in the Corps and throughout the campus and strive to train all underclass to the highest standards.  1/C should hold themselves to the highest personal and professional standards, as they will be seeking employment in just a few months.  1/C will be expected to set the example for all other cadets at Cal Maritime.  1/C will always be held more accountable for their actions.  Underclass should be able to look to 1/C for assistance with academic and practical problems.

UNIFORM AND GROOMING STANDARDS

Uniforms are required at The California Maritime Academy.  Within the Corps of Cadets, uniforms and insignia are used to identify class standing and individual assignments to positions of responsibility, authority, and trust.  Cadets must take pride in their personal appearance in uniform.  Maintaining a neat, orderly appearance in uniform makes an outward statement about a cadet’s commitment to his or her professional development.  The first opinion a visitor or potential employer formulates of a CMA cadet is difficult to change later.  Therefore, cadets must be conscious of their appearance in uniform at all times.  Cadets should not think because the U. S. Merchant Marine is not “military” like the other uniformed services that wearing a uniform is pointless or outdated.  The ability to perform a simple task such as keeping one’s uniform in good order or taking pride in one’s appearance says a great deal about a cadet’s character and willingness to take responsibility for much more difficult tasks.  Because the appearance of the Corps of Cadets is a reflection of Cal Maritime, these regulations require cadet uniforms shall be neat, clean, well fitted, and worn with pride in the Corps.  How a uniform is worn is not subject to personal interpretation or personal fashion styles.

For additional information, contact Ms Jennifer Yount, Commandant of Cadets at 707.654.1104 or by email at JYount@csum.edu.