Possibly the best kept secret in Canada

Transcription

1 Possibly the best kept secret in Canada Acton s 197 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Typhoon Squadron will celebrate the end of this year s activities with their twenty Third Annual Review to be held at the Acton Communitty Center on Saturday June 02, Our local Air Cadet Squadron provides wonderful opportunities for the youth of our community and is proud of their accomplishments. What does it cost to join? There are no registration fees, dues or cost for uniforms or for the basic Cadet Program. Cadets even attend summer training camps at no cost, not to mention the cadets actually receive pay so that all have equal spending money while attending summer training centers. Cadets and parents are encouraged to participate in fundraising efforts including the Air Cadet League of Canada s Annual Lottery which financially supports the Cadet Glider program, allowing Air Cadets to experience glider flight. Annual March Break trips are the only activities for which Cadets and their parents provide direct funding. Cadets is a federally-sponsored program for young Canadians ages 12 to 19 who are interested in participating in a variety of challenging and rewarding activities, and learning more about the Canadian Forces. There are three elements that operate under the Canadian Cadet Movement; Air Cadets, Army Cadets and Sea Cadets. Acton and surrounding area is served by 197 Royal Canadian Air Cadets Typhoon Squadron based at the Acton Legion on Wright Avenue, in Acton.

2 The Cadet program is available to youth ages 12 to 19. Cadets are encouraged to become active, responsible members of their communities. They learn valuable life and work skills like teamwork, leadership, and citizenship. Cadets also reap the personal benefits of increased self-confidence and physical fitness, learning how to take initiative, and how to make decisions. Cadets make valuable contributions to Canadian society on a daily basis in terms of environmental, citizenship and community activities. Cadets are not part of the Canadian Forces, nor is there any expectation for them to join the military. The program is divided into two training periods: Local training - Cadets participate in training on a weekly basis during the regular school year (Sept - June) usually one night each week, plus optional band & weekend training depending on their interests. The Acton Air Cadet Squadron meets on Tuesday evenings from 1845 hours (6:45 PM) until 2100 hours (9:00 PM). There are also optional opportunities to join the Cadet Band, Drill Team, Flag Party and our Flight Scholarship Ground School program for those interested in learning to fly. Summer training - There are a total of 28 Cadet Summer Training Centres (CSTC) located across Canada. Approximately 21,000 course cadets receive training and 2500 staff cadets are employed each summer in the CSTCs and abroad on cultural and training exchanges. Acton Air Cadets have participated in such courses as Basic Training, Basic Music, Introduction to Leadership, Introduction to Instruction, Introduction to Aviation, Introduction to Physical Education, Introduction to Survival Training, Introduction to Aerospace, Advanced Music and Technical Training in Aircraft Servicing. Acton s Air Cadets have also enjoyed scholarships sponsored by the Air Cadet League and DND that have allowed candidates to attend both Glider and Power Pilot courses which result in the Cadet earning their wings as licenced private and glider pilots. See to see our latest Air Cadets to receive their wings!

3 Did you know that the vast majority of glider pilot licenses in Canada are earned through the Air Cadet Program, with a national yearly average of about 75%? In some years, this figure can jump substantially. In 1999, air cadets earned 98% of all glider pilot licenses in Canada, along with 10% of all national power pilot licenses. Each year as part of the air cadet training curriculum, intersted cadets may enroll in the Flight Scholarship Program, this program provides ground school and familiarization flight training to air cadets who make it their goal to win a flight or glider scholarship. Recent Cadets Rebecca Burtney and Christopher Gallinger pictured here, each received their Private Pilot and Glider Pilot training respectively during the summer of Rebecca has since gone on to University and become an Air Force CIC officer in the Air Cadet Program herself, while Christopher is training at Royal Military College training as an Air Force Pilot. Cadets Canada is supported by a number of outstanding organizations the Department of National Defence, and the Air Cadet League of Canada. The Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces share joint responsibility for the Cadet Program with their civilian counterparts, the Navy League, the Army Cadet League and the Air Cadet League. The Department of National Defence/Canadian Forces provides a portion of the funding for the Cadet Program, including cadet uniforms, instructors, training and some travel costs. The Cadet Program also significantly benefits from involvement in the Government of Canada s Youth Employment Strategy.

4 Other partners include other federal government departments, sporting agencies, and local service groups such as the Royal Canadian Legion, the Kiwanis Club, Lions and Lioness Clubs and The Optimists. Locally we could not offer our programs without the continued generous support of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 197 Acton. Each of the 1100 cadet corps and squadrons in Canada is overseen by a Commanding Officer (and his/her staff) who are responsible for the baseline training, supervision and administration of the cadet program. Captain Richard Chapman is our Commanding Officer at 197 Squadron, and he is supported by Captain Reg Cooke, Lieutenant Ken MacKenzie, Second Lieutenant Kati Nuttall, Second Lieutenant Scott Legge and Supply Officer Fran Chapman. We also enjoy the volunteer assistance of Civilian Instructors Jeff Carr, our Band Director and David Smelsky. The Air Cadet league is the supervisory body for all local sponsors who provide facilities and storage space to the cadet corps and squadrons. Sponsoring Committees work in partnership with cadet corps and squadron staff to ensure the viability of the unit. Their support is intended to compliment the resources available from the Canadian Forces. Acton s Air Cadet League Chair is Cathy Tate, and fundraising is led by Karen Foley. Cadets and their leaders commit to attaining the program's core values of Loyalty, Professionalism, Mutual Respect and Integrity. Whether its on the parade square, during a familiarization flight, while teaching younger Cadets or participating in a sporting event, by the time they finish the Cadet Program, these youth will have been placed in a variety of positions of responsibility, and will have learned important life-long lessons about leadership. The lessons in leadership that are taught to cadets are of value in all aspects of their lives beyond the Cadet Program. Schoolteachers, for example, often cite cadets as being uniquely willing to take on leadership roles with their fellow students. And thousands of former cadets credit the Cadet Program with teaching them how to be good leaders a skill that benefits any employer. One of the most important aspects of the program is learning how to be responsible and caring citizens. Throughout the year, cadets are called upon to demonstrate the importance of being active members of their communities, and to participate in citizenship activities locally. In Acton, 197 Squadron annually participates in Poppy Day, Remembrance Day Parade, Santa Claus Parade, Veteran s Day and Cadets Caring for Canada activities. They also attend PropWash at CFB Borden s Blackdown Cadet Training Centre every Victoria Day weekend, numerous inter-squadron sporting competitions, gliding and power flying and an optional March Break trip.

5 The March Break trips are viewed as the highlight of the year for our Cadets who have travelled to The Canadian Ecology Centre in Matawa, Science North in Sudbury, toured NORAD facilities outside North Bay, toured the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, watched fighter aircraft perform at Langley US Airforce base in Richmond Virginia, and last year they stayed on an Air National Guard base in Wisconsin and visited the Experimental Aircraft Association s museum in Oshkosh.

6 For over 50 years now, the Cadet Program has seen hundreds of thousands of teens pass through its ranks. Although it is very difficult to measure the impact cadet training has on every individual, we know that a great number of former cadets have taken full advantage of the positive experiences provided by our cadet units and have since gone on to become leaders in their fields of expertise. Some notable graduates of the Canadian Cadet Program: Marc Garneau and Chris Hadfield - Canadian Astronauts The Honourable John McCallum - Minister of National Defense Rick Mercer - Actor and comedian Myriam Bédard - Olympic Gold Medallist in Biathlon The Honourable Brian Tobin - Former premier of Newfoundland & Labrador The Right Honourable Joe Clark, former Prime Minister of Canada Ernie Boychuck - Associate Chief Justice of Saskatchewan

7 Canada s best kept secret is active in Acton. All youth ages 12 to 19 in Acton and surrounding area are welcome to join Air Cadets! If you would like more information about Acton s 197 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron please call (416) or join us at the Acton Legion on Tuesday evening between 6:45pm and 9:00pm. We welcome the community to join us on Saturday June 02, 2007 at 1:30pm at the Acton Community Center for our Annual Inspection and Review.