Washington Greys Cadets

The Washington Greys Military Cadets is a youth program modeled after an Army unit (258FA) based out of the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, New York. The group was originally formed to combat the lure of youth crime and to instill cadets with life and leadership skills aimed at making them more disciplined and more confident in themselves and in their abilities. Today, the organization continues to support this mission and has enhanced its footprint by including programming in the foothills of Harriman New York and in the Adirondack Mountains.

ROLE AND PURPOSE

The Washington Greys Military Cadets was "http://www.washingtongreyscadets.com/" the offshoot of the original Greys and maintained the original group's doctrine and training regimen. The new organization was a sign of the times and reflected changes in the population's attitude toward youth programming. The Washington Greys Military Cadets established a foothold in youth programming by including a strong curriculum in military mountaineering (mountain climbing and operations). The program quickly gained notoriety and was featured in a Daily News article "http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/at-risk-kids-find-hope-college-military-cadet-group-article-1.1189525" for their push to send their cadets to college. The program also focused on making leaders and college graduates out of their cadets including encouraging them to become military officers. In addition, the program focused on training cadets to become more regimented and organized while learning survival, mountaineering, Kayaking, Canoeing as well as hiking and outdoor adventure. The cadet program reflected changes and trends in youth programming across the country while encouraging education and discipline.

The program's participants have often gone on to accomplish much in both the civilian and military world. Many learn the importance of community by giving back as volunteers "http://www.woodlawnconservancy.org/visit/event.html?"url=www.woodlawnconservancy.org%2Findex.php%2Fnews%2Fblog%2F190-honoring-those-who-ve-served" or by working with the organization to forge additional leaders around the country. The military courtesy, ethics, history, and military science classes continue to forge leaders in the Bronx as the Washington Greys Military Cadets continue to grow as a part-time academy. The group continues to receive support from the business community more recently through the Panda Express company "https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/panda-express-opens-first-nyc-street-location" in the Bronx in New York City. The company helped the Washington Greys to start a kayaking and canoeing program in the Bronx neighborhood where none existed. Today, the Washington Greys Military Cadets gives inner city kids an experience found only in the Bronx. Nowhere else can you find a youth program with mountaineering, kayaking, hiking and classes on everything from leadership to foreign policy all in the same place and offered year-round?

ORGANIZATION

The Corps of Cadets was founded in 1957 by a group of soldiers, veterans and community leaders as a method of providing youth in the Bronx with a rich program of regimented classes, military-style drills, and encampments. Founded on the principles of military doctrine, the Greys excelled as a military band during the early years and later became a program complete with military science classes and field programming. The Greys were housed in the cavernous Kingsbridge Armory from 1957 until 1996 after which the armory was turned over to the City of New York. They then moved next door to the New York Army National Guard, 258 Field Artillery Regiment Barracks where they remain until 2017 when construction "https://www.norwoodnews.org/washington-greys-military-cadets-working-to-return-to-kingsbridge-armory-annex/" to the armory led to them moving to another location. From 1967 to 2008 the Cadet program provided a safe haven for thousands of cadets. In 2008 the program began a transformation that led to a new name, new programming and a new trajectory in the community. Today, the organization maintains a Battalion unit comprised of five companies all with platoons and squads as in traditional army organizations. All members abide by a rank structure and a code of justice similar to the Military Code of Conduct complete with a JAG and rules and regulations. The battalion also maintains a specialized unit trained in mountaineering. Cadets train for two years to understand and survive the mountain environment earning the coveted Mountain Tab on their uniforms. All courses come complete with manuals, tests and practical application exams throughout their time in the program.

INSTRUCTION AND ACTIVITIES

The Washington Greys is unique in that it employs classroom instruction with high adventure modules designed to lift the confidence and skill levels of its participants. Cadets are tasked with learning the Basic Training module which lasts four months after which they graduate to a line unit known as a company. In that company they are further instructed on the art of drill and ceremony, military etiquette, policies and procedures, and advanced leadership training. During a cadet's time in the company, they learn the value of teamwork and service to others. The company training evolves as cadets learn because every year the instruction is stepped up to include various forms of confidence building obstacle courses and outdoor activities aimed and giving the cadets survival skills that translate into real world assets. Those include building teams, understanding foreign policy, mountaineering, winter survival, advanced survival techniques as well as sports and recreation programming. There are nearly 75 classes associated with the programming that are rolled out on a progressive basis. Cadets that fall behind are put in the battle buddy system where a cadet with advanced grades helps bring that participant's skill up to par with their company. There are also sports and leisure activities designed to build comradery and a secondary support channel that young people often go without. This support channel gives cadets options if/when they are faced with the lure of drugs, sex and crime in their schools. In the more regimented GREYS they will find support and no judgement as our role is to guide every cadet.

https://www.thisisthebronx.info/military-cadets-granted-renewal-for-kingsbridge-armory/ http://www.bronxmall.com/norwoodnews/past/041901/features/page2.html https://www.norwoodnews.org/most-veteran-graves-go-unflagged-on-memorial-day-due-to-covid-19-2/ https://washingtongreyscadets.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/being-a-washington-greys-cadet/ http://www.woodlawnconservancy.org/visit/event.html?url=www.woodlawnconservancy.org%2Findex.php%2Fnews%2Fblog%2F304-thousands-of-flags-waving

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