From sailing and kayaking to shooting and silver service, the Newport Sea Cadets are offering Newport youngsters the opportunity to sample what life at sea could be like. CIARAN KELLY finds out more.

OPEN to boys and girls, aged between 10 and 18, the cadets have been based at Riverside, Newport since 1953.

Since then, thousands of youngsters have passed through the ranks and many have gone on to work with the navy, army, and emergency services.

Despite tough economic times, the Newport Sea Cadets continue to thrive and the charity is one of the Mayor of Newport’s chosen charities for 2014.

Indeed, in recognition of their standards, Newport Sea Cadets were presented with a burghee, the highest award possible, by the captain of the National Sea Cadet Corps, Jonathan Holloway, earlier this month.

These exemplary standards have been set by Jeff Bowen, 67, who has been the commanding officer of the Newport Sea Cadets since 2003. Mr Bowen said that the cadets can do anything that the navy can.

He said: “I’ve been with the cadets since 1997 and I act as a senior instructor in teaching first aid, stewarding, navigating, and seamanship.

“The cadets can do anything the navy does, whether it’s diving or sailing; or rock climbing or mountain biking.

“They also do silver service, which is a bit of a dying art, where they learn of the importance of etiquette and some of the cadets have gone on to work for the Celtic Manor.

He added: “The cadets can go on to achieve a BTEC qualification in public service and learn first aid to a work standard. We offer them as much as we can and our results are among the top 15 per cent in the country.

“It’s about putting something into the community, not taking it out.”

Mr Bowen oversees much of the training the cadets do at the Newport base, with seamanship, navigation, and drilling the main areas of focus.

Mr Bowen said that the cadets are sent outside Newport for sailing, kayaking, and shooting.

He said: “Seamanship is mainly concerned with sailing, tying knots, and how the tide and wind affects conditions.

“Navigation is more to do with where the cadets are actually going and we are lucky to have Captain Rod McDonald to help us with that, as he has 50 years of experience.

“Finally, drilling is all about learning to march, how to salute, and representing the cadets outside of the area.

He added: “Everything else is done elsewhere, but we make sure everyone has one-to-one training, so no one is left alone with a rifle, for example. Even though it’s away from us, our average time spent training in sailing is 64 hours, compared to the national average of 30, and we offer as much as we can to the cadets before they are eventually referred on.”

Among the 25 youngsters to have enrolled in the Newport Sea Cadets is Rhiannon Rees, 17, from Newport. Rhiannon said that being in the cadets has given her confidence ahead of a potential career in the navy.

She said: “I wanted to go into the navy after school, but I was not sure exactly what it involved. My Mum suggested different organisations and I had a tour of the Newport unit. Once I had the tour, I fell in love with the unit and the uniform.

“It’s given me confidence going through the ranks. I was shy initially but sitting with the staff every week, it brought the personal skills out of me. For example, I wasn’t very confident with sailing but the staff work on the boat, so you’re never on your own. I can sail now and it’s amazing.

She added: “The cadets give you the opportunity to do courses at navy bases and I’ve already filled in my application form for the navy and done every stage. All I have to do is my medical.”

Rhiannon’s brother, Ryan, 14, is also a member of the cadets and has been since 2011. He said that being in the cadets has improved his discipline.

He said: “I have always been interested in the navy, but I was a bit nervous at the start as I didn’t know what to do. You just get through it, by habit, and understand what to do. Now, I’m able to share that experience with new cadets to help them along.

“Sailing is one of my favourite things, as you learn so much and there’s a real adrenaline rush. Before, I didn’t do much but the cadets have given me confidence. When you march or do a drill, you just feel so proud.

“When I finish school, I hope to apply to the navy and I think I might be one step ahead with the discipline the cadets have given me with the care of my uniform and the polishing of my boots.”

But, the philosophy of Newport Sea Cadets is not just about bringing through the future of the navy and Ann Bowen, 64, who serves as both its treasurer and secretary, said that the cadets are no longer thought of as a feeder to the navy.

She said: “The cadets are meeting the highest standards and achieving lots of skills, including a BTEC qualification. It’s no longer just a feeder for the navy and we’re moving away from that notion “It’s about engaging young people with worthwhile activities to enhance their life skills, whether it’s communication, teamwork, or leadership. It builds their confidence and the employer sitting opposite them in an interview wants to see that.

“What good is learning to sail? Well, it sparks an interest and while not all of them will go on to become Olympic sailors, it shows commitment and determination.

“Also, otherwise, they might not get the chance to sail, shoot or row and we subsidise them at minimal cost. They head off to other docks for the weekends, too, and we hope to eventually have a docking base here in Newport.”

Looking ahead, the cadets hope to redevelop their base at Riverside and Mrs Bowen said that a more eye-catching base could aid the charity’s development even further.

She said: “We’ve had the permanent base off Riverside since 1953, but it’s fallen down around us. We need to rebuild and we own the land and building. We’ve done the first feasibility report and need to clear the land for surveying. It’s a huge goal, but we’re determined to get there.

“Up until this point, it’s been about word of mouth really, with school visits, backpacking, and leaflets. We’re quite isolated where we are and there’s not been much redevelopment in recent years.

“But, going forward, the cadets will continue to learn their skills in Newport and will have the opportunity to go offshore with the T S Royalist ship, which will be ready for next year. It will be a wonderful experience and gives them the chance to go away for a week.”

For more information on the Newport Sea Cadets, visit http://www.sea-cadets.org/newport/home.aspx.