Quick Skills Every Cadet Should Know
Military time uses a 24-hour time scale that makes the use of a.m. or p.m. unnecessary. Midnight corresponds to 0000, 1 p.m. corresponds to 1300, and so on.
💡 Did you know? The military uses a 24-hour clock so there is never confusion between AM and PM.
Sea Cadets learn the phonetic alphabet so they can communicate clearly and avoid mistakes when speaking over radios or in noisy environments. Many letters sound similar (like B, D, P, and T), so using words like Bravo, Delta, Papa, and Tango makes messages easier to understand.
💡 Sailors have used knots for hundreds of years to secure ships and equipment.
Morning and evening colors are a naval tradition where cadets raise or lower the U.S. flag. During colors, cadets stand at attention, face the flag, and salute as a sign of respect for the nation.
The American Flag is know as the “National Ensign”. In the Navy “Colors” refers to the ceremonies honoring the flag. This tradition dates back to the 18th-century British Navy and was adopted by the U.S. Navy in 1843. On Navy ships, a flag showing the blue section of the Ensign with 50starts, called the “Union Jack”, is also displayed.
Every day, the National Ensign is raised at 0800 and lowered at sunset during ceremonies called “morning colors” and “evening colors”. Five minutes before, you’ll hear the “‘”First Call to Colors ” bugle.
At 0800 “Attention” is sounded, followed by either the National Anthem or the bugle call “To the Colors.” For evening colors, the bugle call “Retreat” is played with the same prewarning.
During the ceremony, face the flag or the music. If you’re in uniform, salute until “Carry On.” If not in uniform, stand quietly at attention. In formation, follow your unit leader’s command for saluting.
Special care must be taken so the flag never touches the ground. The U.S. flag is usually flown during daylight hours. If it is flown 24 hours a day, it must be properly illuminated at night. During bad weather, the flag should be taken down unless it is an all-weather flag. The US flag is flown above all other flags if on the same pole.
Flag folding is among the many traditions and ceremonies of the U.S. Navy. The folding involves 13 folds, each with its own symbolic meaning.
- Honors the 13 original colonies and the founders of our nation.
- Honors those who fought and died in the American Revolution.
- Honors those who fought in the War of 1812 to protect our freedom.
- Honors the soldiers of the Civil War, both North and South.
- Honors those who served and sacrificed in World War I.
- Honors those who fought and died in World War II.
- Honors those who served in the Korean War.
- Honors the brave men and women who served in the Vietnam War.
- Honors those who lost their lives in the September 11 attacks and those who serve in the fight against terrorism.
- Honors the leadership of our nation.
- Honors God, our families, and the values that guide us.
- Honors the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.
- Represents freedom, reminding us that as long as the American flag flies, we honor and protect our nation.
The National Anthem
When the National Anthem plays, all Sea Cadets must stand at attention and face the flag or the source of the music if the flag isn’t visible. If in uniform and covered, salute from the first to the last note. Without a cover, simply stand at attention.
Fun facts
The National Anthem is called “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The words were written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812.
Francis Scott Key wrote the poem after seeing the American flag still flying after a night of battle at Fort McHenry
The song officially became the National Anthem of the United States in 1931.
