HMS Excellent RNVCC
Address
HMS Excellent RNVCC, Alamein Block, HMS Excellent, Whale Island, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO2 8ER.
Contact
Opening Hours
023 9254 7495
Tuesday
18:15 - 20:15
Friday
18:15 - 20:15
HMS Excellent RNVCC is based at Whale Island in Portsmouth and is one of our newest units, the first recruits having joined in September 2016. However, there was a VCC unit here until the mid-1980s so it’s not totally new. Working alongside the local RMVCC Division, the unit is growing fast and proving very popular.
Youngsters enjoy training and competitions in military and naval skills, as well as sports and adventure training while developing an awareness of their community and service. In addition to instruction in skills and sports, VCC cadets also get the chance to attend camps during school holidays and represent their units at major public events such as Remembrance Sunday parades.
One of our popular activities is the cadet Field Gun. Cadets can join our active and well-known field gun crew and compete for team and individual trophies. The cadets pull an original Boer War 7 pounder muzzle loading field gun weighing over a third of a ton along a 100 yard course, swapping the wheels over half-way to simulate crossing an obstacle. The wheels each weigh 70 pounds, about the same weight of one of our cadets, and after running at full speed the cadets can certainly be seen to be earning their victory.
Our Royal Naval Cadets also have the opportunity to visit ships and have recently had a tour of Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth.
All of our cadets get to wear the traditional Royal Navy ratings ‘square rig’ uniform as well as the more modern ‘working rig’, and participate in traditional naval ceremonies.
We are open to any young persons aged between 9 and 16 who live in the local area, and accept applications to join before the age of 9 for our waiting list. Find out more about us by reading Welcome to the Challenge!, our guide to being in the Royal Naval Cadets in Portsmouth.
Our key personnel are:
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Officer in Charge: CPO (VCC) Paul Conway.
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Executive Officer: AB Edwards RN.
Join Us
Join us either as a cadet, where you'll uncover your potential and explore new horizons, or as a member staff, guiding others to discover their strengths and thrive in a community committed to volunteering, leadership and mentoring.
Want to Join HMS Excellent Royal Navy Cadets?
Step into a world of opportunities and rewards by joining the Volunteer Cadet Corps! As a cadet, you'll dive into thrilling adventure training, refining your skills and delving into your passions alongside fellow enthusiasts. Experience the invaluable—learn diverse skills and partake in unique awareness and engagement visits. But it's more than that—our cadets forge lifelong friendships, hone leadership qualities, and nurture discipline and teamwork. Embrace growth as an individual while contributing to a community committed to the corps. Join us and embark on a journey of personal and collective development and have fun while doing it!
Could you be an adult volunteer with the Volunteer Cadet Corps at HMS Excellent?
Could you help with administration? Could you drive cadets to their activities? Could you organise a weekend exercise? Could you present engaging and interesting lessons? Could you help maintain our stores and equipment? Could you be a first aider? Could you attend and support summer camps, adventure training activities and engagement visits? Could you teach our cadets to play an instrument? Could you train be our next paddlesport, hill walking, climbing, archery, fieldcraft, drill, boating or aviation instructor?