The Royal Canadian Army Cadets (RCAC; ) is a national Canadian youth program sponsored by the Canadian Armed Forces and the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada. Under the authority of the National Defence Act, the program is administered by the Canadian Armed Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence. Additionally, the civilian partner of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, the Army Cadet League of Canada, also ensures financial, accommodations and transportation support for RCAC programs and services at a community level. Many Royal Canadian Army Cadet corps receive logistical assistance and administrative support from their affiliated Regular Force or Reserve Force unit. While cadets may wear the badges and accoutrements of their affiliated unit, cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces. With roots in the early drill associations authorized in 1861, Royal Canadian Army Cadets is Canada's oldest youth program. As of 2016, there are approximately 18,920 army cadets in about 429 corps which are spread across the country. Together with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Air Cadets, it forms the largest federally funded youth program which is known as the Canadian Cadet Organization. Members of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets are encouraged to become active and responsible members of their communities. The Royal Canadian Army Cadets are the rough equivalent to the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps in the United States, the Army Cadet Force in the United Kingdom and the Australian Army Cadets in Australia. Overview Along with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Air Cadets, the Royal Canadian Army Cadets are a part of the Canadian Cadet Organizations. The Royal Canadian Army Cadets and other cadet branches are generally administered by the Reserve Force of the Canadian Armed Forces and are federally funded through the Department of National Defence. Additionally, the program is run in partnership with the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada, which provides supervision of the local corps and squadron sponsors which support the program at the community level. The Army Cadet League of Canada ensures financial, accommodations and transportation support for programs and services not provided by the Department of National Defence. Cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and there is no expectation to join the military at a later date. However, former Cadets who do decide to go on to join the military may find that there are certain