Edwin Alexander Forbes (1860–1915), who served as the Adjutant General of California from 4 January 1911 to 18 June 1915, is known as the Father of the California Cadet Corps. During his term of office he originated the idea of providing military training to young men in high schools. At that time the Legislature passed a comprehensive High School Cadet Law. This was the first instance in the United States, so far as is known, where an effort was made to organize statewide military training in the schools, under the supervision of the head of the state Military Department.