The
National Cadet Corps is a volunteer youth organisation in
Sri Lanka, sponsored by the
Ministry of Defence, which operates in schools. Its activities (Cadet and Cadet Band) are open for secondary school students on voluntary basis and its officers are government teachers and educational administrators, who serve as instructors. The National Cadet Corps presently consists of nine Provincial Headquarters, two Training Centres, and thirty Battalions deployed island wide. Approximately, 100,000 school cadets organised in to 4492 cadet platoons and 279 cadet band platoons are registered and trained by the NCC. The Cadet Corps was initiated in 1881 by John B. Cull at
Royal College, Colombo as a platoon attached to the
Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers with the intention of inculcating discipline in students through drill. The NCC is headed by a Director of a senior military rank, commonly a
Major General, who is appointed by the
president of Sri Lanka. Although its officers and cadets have no liability for active military service many officers volunteer for secondment to the
Sri Lanka Armed Forces during national emergencies or are mobilised under national service. Traditionally the Cadet Corps has served as a source for officers for the regular forces of the Sri Lankan military. == South Africa ==