The VCC currently has units in southern England and eastern Scotland. We have ambitious plans to open new units over the next few years. Each unit is based on a ship’s company (RNVCC) or standard battalion structure (RMVCC) with a senior adult volunteer as Commanding Officer. The VCC also has the Bands of the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps, currently with two cadet bands based in Gosport and Plymouth.
The VCC once had over 15 units but some of these have closed as the Royal Navy estate has reduced over the years. All the current VCC units report into Headquarters Volunteer Cadet Corps (HQVCC) which is based in Hampshire and commanded by a senior VCC officer. HQVCC is under the command of the Royal Navy’s Cadets and Youth organisation, commanded by the Royal Navy’s Head of Cadets & Youth and STEM. The VCC is sponsored by the Royal Navy under the authorisation of the Second Sea Lord.
The VCC has three regions:
- South:
- Band of the RMVCC Gosport.
- HMS Collingwood RNVCC.
- HMS Excellent RNVCC.
- HMS Sultan RNVCC.
- Gosport Division RMVCC.
- Portsmouth Division RMVCC.
- VCC Training Centre.
- Headquarters VCC.
- West:
- Band of the RMVCC Plymouth.
- Chivenor Division RMVCC.
- Lympstone Division RMVCC.
- Plymouth Division RMVCC.
- North:
Each VCC unit is assisted by serving Royal Navy or Royal Marines officers provided by the unit’s parent establishment who act as Liaison Officers to ensure that their unit is receiving adequate support from the MOD. Other staff are drawn from each unit’s cadet force adult volunteers (CFAVs). Where appropriate, co-located VCC units may share central resources.
