Who We Look For:
We are looking for highly mature young women and men with strong leadership potential. We are not – nor do we wish to be – a "corrective" program for youth who cannot accept discipline or who have behavioral issues. We welcome both cadets with military goals and those with none at all. All our cadets will learn how to recognize their leadership potential and develop it in a military environment, which is unique in its ability to teach discipline, inner strength, and “no-excuses” personal responsibility.
membership requirements
To be considered for membership in Massachusetts Bay Division, you must satisfy ALL of the following criteria:
- Highly mature young woman or man at least 13 years old, but not yet 18
- Able to commit to attending 75% of drills
- Willing to take responsibility for your own actions
- Be comfortable training in a highly disciplined and physically demanding military environment
- Maintain a neat, clean military image including grooming standards
- Satisfactory grades and regular advancement in school
- No criminal record
- Reject and renounce the use of drugs and alcohol
Diversity makes us a stronger and better team. We especially welcome female applicants as well as members of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Physical Fitness / Medical Accommodations
Our unit emphasizes physical fitness as a positive lifestyle choice. We encourage this by doing all-hands physical activity (run by the cadets themselves!) at almost every drill. Unit PT includes military-style team physical training, such as pushups, sit-ups, formation running, stretching.
Twice per year, all cadets are required to successfully complete a Physical Readiness Test. The Physical Readiness Test is based on age and gender and consist of the following:
- Timed 1-mile run
- Maximum pushups
- Maximum sit-ups in one minute
Click on this link to access the Physical Readiness Test manual
Your family physician will need to complete a physical exam and report that you are qualified for our program. Most common prescription medications are accepted at our 1-2 week trainings, and we permit cadets to carry inhalers where proper documentation and endorsement by the family physician is present.
Modifications to these and other policies are possible, but should appropriately consider the often physically intensive nature of our program. Requests for such reasonable accommodations are welcomed and will be considered in accordance with applicable national NSCC guidelines. Please be assured that, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other relevant law, the NSCC does not discriminate on the basis of disability.
PROGRAM COST
Currently, the first-year enrollment fee for a new cadet is $300. Thereafter, the yearly renewal fee is $200. Cadets will be loaned (at no charge) most of the uniforms they will need unless they are an unsually small or large size. Each cadet is only required to return all uniforms loaned at the time he or she leaves the program.
Massachusetts Bay Division is 100% funded by enrollment fees and donations. Our 1-2 week away-from-home training programs receive significant federal assistance, which results in you paying an average of $200 for one week of training (including food, lodging and operational expenses).
APPLICATION PROCESS
If you are interested in joining our program, you will need to schedule an interview with the Commanding Officer during one of our drills. A personal interview is mandatory before we will consider your application. For us to determine if you are a fit for our program, we need to meet you in person. Additionally, we will present an overview of the program which, combined with a chance to actually meet current cadets, helps you and your family determine whether this is something you really want to do.
Following the interview, if the unit invites you to apply and if you are interested in doing so, you will be handed a packet of paperwork which you can submit by mail.
Once you are enrolled into the program, you will be in a "training status" for your first few months, while we issue you your uniforms and teach you the basics of how to march, salute, wear a uniform, etc. You will be mentored at all stages by both a senior cadet and a "battle buddy" (a fellow recruit).
For the date of the next interview session, please visit our How to Join page.