Cadet

Cadet (French cadet " younger "), even cadet, is a term for a pupil of a military educational institution to prepare for a possible military career as an officer if necessary. In generalized form, the concept was spreading across Europe. So Cadet was in the 18th century in many countries a common and popular term for young or young noblemen in the military.

France

Originally it was called in France the younger sons of noble families of French cadets. As a rule, only the eldest son fell to the family heritage, the later born sons traditionally sought their fortune in a ministry or in the military.

King Louis XIV took the cadets together in specific companies in which they served until receipt of the officer patent as volunteers. The famous Gascon cadets sat in Alexandre Dumas 's novel The Three Musketeers, a literary monument.

Germany

At the German navy of the Bundeswehr Seeoffizieranwärter hot naval cadets with the rank of corporal. In German-speaking countries, the terms officer candidates ( Federal Republic of Germany ) or cadet ( Austria ) and aspirant ( Switzerland ) are also common.

In the NVA of the GDR, the terms cadet, cadet and officer students were common.

Austria - Hungary

In Austria - Hungary the cadets wore the imperial Army to the collar ends the Distinktionsborte the sergeant, but gold instead of imperial yellow. In addition, the Distinktionssterne the appropriately clothed batch, for example for the cadet corporal came sechsspitziger a star of white cloth ( since 1901: Celluloid ) or three stars for the cadet platoon leader. Held a cadet sergeant the lot so he put in addition to the imperial yellow Sergeant Distinktionsbörtchen that had protruded at the top of Goldbörtchens half. The Cadet warrant officer marked the simple Goldbörtchen, on a silver star lieutenant, but plated (rather sublime as usual for officers ).

Russia

In Russia cadet schools have a long tradition, dating back to Tsarist times. Even in the years of the Soviet Union enjoyed these educational institutions great popularity and are now considered elite schools. Students are generally referred to as cadets, but can also be referred to by the eponym or the support of the school, for example Nachimowschüler or Suworowschüler. Here is the percentage of graduates who takes a military career after high school is relatively high.

In Russia there are still more than 25 cadet schools for boys from grade 5 through high school, in preparation for a future military career.

USA

In the United States today Kadettenanstalten common. However, the percentage of graduates who actually grasps the military occupation after completion of education is low.

" Cadets " in sport

International winter sport competitions in age groups Cadets (16-18 years), Juniors ( 19-20 years), espoir (21-23 years) and seniors ( over 24 years ) disputed (see classification in sports).