The RMVCC traces its history back to the formation of the Royal Marines Artillery Cadet Corps in the Mission Hall, Prince Albert Street, Eastney on 14 February 1901 by the Admiralty.

The new Cadet Corps was based at the now closed Royal Marines Eastney Barracks in Portsmouth.

Since 1901, units were formed at: Deal Division RMVCC closed when the Royal Marines School of Music left the town and moved to HMNB Portsmouth; Chatham Division RMVCC transferred to the Sea Cadet Corps when Pay & Records Royal Marines left Chatham in the 1960s, and Gosport Division RMVCC was disbanded and then re-formed as a non-MOD cadet marching band in the 1970s following the traditions of the Royal Marines Light Infantry but closed again in 2006.

Cadets from the RMVCC have appeared at Navy Days in Portsmouth and Plymouth, the Royal Tournament and in the 1955 film The Cockleshell Heroes.

The RMVCC were casualties in the 1951 Gillingham bus disaster when 24 RM Cadets were killed on a foggy December evening whilst marching to watch a boxing tournament.