Cadetes

Cadetes are individuals in training to become officers or enlisted personnel in military, police, or other uniformed services. In many Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, cadete (singular) and cadetes (plural) denote students at military academies or junior members of service academies; in English-speaking contexts the term cadet similarly refers to students at military or police academies. The word originates from the French cadet, meaning younger, and historically referred to younger sons in noble families who joined the military; it later came to describe military trainees.

Cadets are typically adolescents or young adults who undergo a mix of academic study, military or public-safety training, physical conditioning, and leadership development. Depending on the country, programs may lead to commissions as officers, or to non-commissioned status; paths include national service academies, university-based ROTC programs, and police or fire service academies.

Regional usage varies: in Spain, Portugal, and much of Latin America, cadetes are students at army, navy, or air force schools or at police academies. In English-speaking countries, cadets train at service academies such as West Point, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy, alongside reserve officer programs at civilian universities.

Cadet programs aim to develop discipline, leadership, and professional competence; graduates typically receive commissions or equivalent credentials, and may pursue further professional military, security, or public-safety careers.