The Bermuda Sea Cadet Corp is looking for a few good men and women willing to help the Island’s young people.Interim Commanding Officer Lt Mark Guishard said the cadets are looking for volunteers and donations to meet the rising demand for their services and revitalise their facilities.“We have 15 officers and instructors in the BSCC,” he told a meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club. “Right now we have a vibrant programme at all three units, but one of the limiting factors is personnel.“There is a minimum level of supervision that we desire to have before we are overwhelmed and, in order to grow this programme, we need more boots on the ground.“More than ever we need administrators, fundraisers and ex-cadets. I say ex-cadets because they know more than anyone what this programme can do.”Dr Guishard said that when the Royal Navy had a permanent presence on the Island, the Sea Cadets enjoyed a great deal of manpower, but those numbers have dwindled.“What we really need is the type of volunteer who can be ongoing,” he said. “We need those people who might be able to come once and talk to our cadets as well, but we really need people who can be more involved.“If you can donate even a small amount of time to make this programme better, we need to get in touch with you.”Along with volunteers, he said the corps is hoping to raise funds for capital projects, including work at TS Venture on Ireland Island and TS Bermuda at Admiralty House.He explained that TS Bermuda requires work to remove asbestos, and that TS Venture has been closed for safety reasons.“We’ve moved from TS Venture to Springfield [Community Centre] for the time being, but we are in conversations with Wedco to see what we can do to that building,” he said.“These are things that we will need to do going forward, but we are just getting into the planning stage.”Through marine activities, camping trips, parades and sports, Dr Guishard said the programme teaches cadets discipline, physical fitness, respect for others, communications skills and teamwork all of which pay dividends later in life.“We like to say we teach life skills because the things that serve you well at sea serve you well in life,” Dr Guishard said. “I have had several ex-cadets say the things we taught them have served them well in their lives.“There have been prominent leaders in our Country who have been through Sea Cadets, and I like to think that at least some of the qualities that made them leaders are ones that they had reinforced at Sea Cadets.”He said the programme reinforces lessons taught by family, schools and churches, but in many cases young people today lack some of the support from these environments.“We say frequently to parents that we’re here to work with you, but we’re not a babysitting service.“There is a strength of character that we Bermudians have traditionally had, which has unfortunately been gradually eroded by negative influences both internal and external.“That strength of character is something we try to foster and encourage in Sea Cadets.”TS Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps will host a potluck supper on June 29 between 5.30pm and 8pm at TS Bermuda, with tickets costing $15.Useful website: www.seacadets.bm.