Why We Have Ranks in Navy League
LCdr (NL) Cudmore, S / 12-Sep-2017 / 1st Period
Instructor Rank/Name / Date / Period / Trg O Approval Signature
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Classroom Preparation- ORIENTATION BOARD–
CTS 01 1.1 LCdr (NL) Cudmore, S
References:NL 220, Cadet Workbook pages 1 to 4
Corps Organization and Ships Routine
Cadet and Officer Rank Structure
Main Teaching Points
- Why we have ranks in Navy League
- Cadet ranks and how to achieve them
- Officer ranks
- How do we address Officers and other cadets
- CLASSROOM ARRANGEMENT PLAN –
WHITE BOARD
Instructor
Students
- MATERIAL–An Officers tunic to show the rings on the sleeve, an officer shirt with rank epaulettes and a cadet shirt with rank epaulettes to show cadets where rank is worn on the different uniforms.
Rank flashcards with pictures only and 2 Bristol boards with outlines and rank names.
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TIME COLUMN______
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LESSON PLAN BODY
INTRODUCTION
WHO Welcome. My name is LCdr (NL) Cudmore. You may address me as such or by “Sir”.WHAT Today we are going to learn about ranks. Why we have them, which ones are higher and lower, what they look like and what their names are.
WHERE What you learn here right now, you will use every time you are here or at any other cadet function you are at. Knowing your ranks and how to address your fellow cadets and officers is one of the main building blocks of being a cadet.
WHY In order to be promoted, every cadet must be able to identify all the different ranks and use proper names.
APPROACH: The way we are going to do this is first I am going to tell you a little about why we have ranks and how you can tell one from another. We will then look at the different cadet ranks and find out what their names are. We will do a little practice sheet and then repeat it all for the different officer ranks.
You will have to listen closely because before the end of class, we are going to split you into 2 teams and have a race to see who was paying attention.
CONTROL STATEMENT: If you have any questions, raise your hand and wait until I call on you to ask. If there is a bathroom emergency that can’t wait, just say so and go to the heads. We don’t want any accidents. We will be getting up and down to do activities in groups, but when I say it’s time to sit do so quickly. Otherwise we may not have time at the end for our game.
BODY
Teaching Point 1 – Why we have Ranks.Ranks are used by militaries and organizations all over the world. They help to identify a person’s job, position and experience. In Navy League Cadets, it’s the same thing. They are used to show how much experience a cadet or officer has as well as how long they have served with the Navy League. When a person joins as a cadet, they start out as a New Entry. When they join as an officer, they begin as a Midshipman. These ranks are pretty plain. New Entry Cadets don’t wear any rank and a Midshipman only has one tiny bar.
As we spend more time in Cadets and learn more things, we gain experience and when we pass our tests, we gain in rank.Like we said, lower ranks tend to look plain but as you go higher, they start to get bigger and fancier.
As a cadet, you get to try to go up to the next rank two times a year.
Questions fromClass:Does anyone have any questions?
Questions toClass: Ask these questions if the cadets do not ask them.
- Ranks are used to identify a person’s what?
- What do you need to do to go up in rank?
- What is the first cadet rank?
- What is the first officer rank?
Use one of the Bristol boards and the Velcro flash cards to put the cadet ranks on display as you show them. Have the cadets follow along on the page in their workbooks with the pictures and names of the ranks. Describe each rank from NE to CPO1 in order from lowest to highest. Ensure use of words like chevron, anchor, crown, laurels and coat of arms when describing.
Questions from Class?
Questions to Class.
- What rank has two chevrons with one anchor?
- What is the difference between a petty officer 1st class and a chief Petty Officer 2nd class?
- What is the highest rank a cadet can attain?
Teaching Point 3 – Officer ranks
Follow the same instruction used for cadet ranks using the Officer ranks cards. Use words like rings (jackets), bars (epaulettes), thick and thin for describing ranks
Questions from class?
Questions to class.
- What rank has 2 thick bars?
- What rank is higher? Sub Lieutenant or Lieutenant?
- What is the highest officer rank in Navy League?
When addressing an officer or cadet, it is okay to call them by their full rank and last name. For example, Lieutenant Commander Cudmore or Able Cadet Smith. It is also okay to use “Sir” or “Ma’am” when addressing an officer who is by themselves. Using Sir or Ma’am when the person you wish to speak to is in a group of officers. This can cause confusion when every officer tries to answer your question. It is never okay to combine the two. Using “Sir” Cudmore or “Ma’am” MacNeil is not acceptable. It’s a sloppy habit that some cadets have who do not know their ranks and how to use them.
Practical Activity = FUN!
Separate the class into two teams and have them line up single file. Place the prepared Bristol boards (one per team) at the front of the class. Place the Velcro-backed flash cards in a hat. On go, have the cadets pick a card from the hat and go to board and place it above the correct rank name. If a cadet notices a mistake, they can fix one card per turn instead of picking a card. The first team that has all cards correct wins. Play as many rounds as time allows.
CONCLUSION
SUMMARY:So, we now know that ranks tell us who is senior and who is junior and sometimes what position a cadet or officer hold. We know how to tell one rank from another and how to properly address a cadet or officer.
REVIEW: Usually, if you have successfully followed your lesson plan, restating your Main Teaching Points will satisfy the review of information.
RE-MOTIVATION: Stress to the cadets how important it is to know these ranks off by heart. If they use a person’s rank when speaking to them, it will not only show respect, but also help them learn to identify the different ranks faster.
IN YOUR NEXT LESSON YOU WILL LEARN:
Next week’s lesson is on the Divisional System. There is some information in your books if you want to look ahead. And for a surprise, some of you may get to be promoted to Officers for a little while. / ACTION COLUMN
THERE IS A LOT OF FIRST TIME INFORMATION HERE SO MAKE SURE CLASSROOM AND AIDS ARE SET UP AND READY TO GO.
THIS IS JUST SPEAKING AND A BIT OF AN EXPLAINATION. DON’T RUSH BUT IT MAY NOT TAKE A FULL 5 MINUTES. THAT’S OKAY AS IT WILL LEAVE MORE TIME FOR GAME.
USE DESCRIPTION OF PLAINEST TO FANCIEST TO HELP THEM IDENTIFY HIGHER RANKS
WHO IS HIGHER IN A RACE? 1ST PLACE OR 2ND PLACE? USE THIS EXAMPLE TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHICH PO RANK IS HIGHER
USE “AMOUNTS” OF BARS TO HELP THEM INDENTIFY HIGHER RANKS.
MORE BARS =MORE RANK
SUBLIEUTENANT= UNDERLIEUTENANT
LIKE A SUB GOES UNDER WATER
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER IS BETWEEN
LIEUTENANT
AND
COMMANDER
JUST A SPEAKING POINT. DON’T BELABOUR THEM WITH DETAILS BUT STRESS THE IMPORTANCE AND MOVE ON
IF EVERYTHING IS SET TO GO, 10 MINUTES SHOULD ALLOW FOR 2 OR 3 ROUNDS.
DON’T FORGET TO CHANGE NEXT LESSON IF TRAINING SCHEDULE CHANGES
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