Castlegar cadet one of 22 regional kids to attend Boot Camp in Trail
By Trail Champion
Air Cadet Joseph Thorpe from the Castlegar Air Cadets was one of 22 cadets from across the region who attended the Level 1 “Boot Camp”, which was held last weekend at the Kembel Armories in Trail.
Cadets from the Sea and Air Cadet corps in Trail, Castlegar, Nelson and Grand Forks spent last weekend learning the basics of the Cadet program. The weekend was for new cadets who have just recently joined their corps or squadron. For most of them, this was their first full weekend with the cadets.
The cadets spent both Saturday and Sunday being taught by Senior Cadets and local Cadet Officers. The cadets had classes on Drill, Uniform Care, General Knowledge and Air Rifle Marksmanship.
Two cadets, Cadet Noah Malenfant and Cadet Kia Thomson, both of Nelson, achieved their Level 1 Marksmanship qualification.
The cadets also participated in sports and had a paper airplane throwing contest which was won by Flight Sargent Kamryn Glaser from the Trail Air Cadet squadron.
The Boot Camp was an introduction for cadets from around the Kootenays to learn about the basics of Drill, Uniform Care and Marksmanship with other cadets.
Thorpe joined 581 Castlegar Air Cadet Squadron last September, and appreciates the structure and discipline that Air Cadets has to offer. Originally wishing to join Army Cadets, but seeing that it wasn’t available in the area, Thorpe decided that Air Cadets was the next best thing.
Thorpe enjoyed improving his drill as well as learning new commands and techniques throughout the weekend and hopes to put them to use at his local squadron. He also enjoyed meeting and interacting with cadets from all over the Kootenays over a lunch of MEALS READY TO EAT.
The Cadet program, which includes Sea, Army and Air Cadets, is the largest government-funded youth program in Canada, with over 50,000 participants across Canada. The Royal Canadian Air Cadets accepts youth between the ages of 12-18 who have a desire to learn more about the air element of the Canadian Forces, wish to develop the attributes of leadership and good citizenship and who wish to promote physical fitness. While the program is military based, there is no obligation for a cadet to join the Canadian Armed Forces when he or she finishes their cadet career.
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