cadet corps

A corps of cadets, also called cadet corps, was originally a kind of military school for boys. Initially such schools admitted only sons of the nobility or gentry, but in time many of the schools were opened also to members of other social classes. Since the 19th century, "corps of cadets" has referred to the student body of cadets at a military academy. History Origins The original Cadets de Gascogne corps was established by King Louis XIII of France for younger sons of Gascon gentry (in the Gascon language, capdets—"little chiefs"). This idea of a school for boys who would later become gentlemen volunteers in the army to offset their lack of patrimony, soon spread, with similar schools being established in other European countries. Expansion