2.4. Non-Uniformed Staff and Committee

The leadership of any Sea Cadet Unit is ‘twin-tracked’ in that there are two parallel tracks that run, firstly the Unit Management Team (UMT), comprised of non-Uniformed volunteers that help the management, fundraising and other nuts and bolts work. Secondly the uniformed staff who largely deliver the training programme. The chaplain (along with the Commanding Officer) is one of only two people to have a foot in both camps. At best the system works well by each track focussing on its main thing, the UMT freeing the Uniformed staff to concentrate on the cadets and the Uniformed staff leaving the day to day management things to the UMT. At worst there can be significant tensions between the two tracks, especially with personality clashes, money issues and the like. Part of the chaplains role (and generally speaking the bigger the unit the more ‘opportunities for tension’) is to hold these two tracks together and mediate where necessary.

2.4.1. The Unit Chair

The Unit chair leads the UMC and should usually have a close working relationship to the Commanding Officer. Chairs are hugely different in character, ranging from Ex Navy officers to Community Spirited local volunteers.

2.4.2. The Rest of the Unit Management Committee

This usually comprises interested parents and local volunteers who meet occasionally to support the Unit work.

2.4.3. Civilian Instructors

Confusingly, there is also an additional group of people in many units who operate as Civilian Instructors. These may be people who do not wish to go ‘into uniform’ as it is called but nevertheless may have a particular skill such as Seamanship or working with Junior Cadets that they may offer to a unit. Some CI’s stay as CI’s for their entire contact, others graduate or get sucked into uniform.