Cadet’s Corner is a weekly feature from the local Air Cadets squadron.
Why should you join Air Cadets? Have a look at our website and find out at www.bradfordaircadets.ca.
If you are intrigued by the Air Cadet program, be sure to join us at our open house and Q&A session on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at Fieldcrest Elementary School located at 100 Professor Day Dr.
The program is open to anyone between the ages of 12 and 17. If you do not want to come alone, bring a friend, join the program together. You will get to meet new friends with the same interests and go through the program with each other and become lifelong friends.
Cadets is a national organization whose purpose is to develop in youth the attributes of leadership, engaged and active citizenship and physical fitness, all within a safe environment. Cadets do lots of activities, many of which relate to flying. As a cadet at 37 Squadron, you will have the opportunity to attend a gliding/flying day in the fall and the spring. Cadets will participate in precision drill, team sports, public speaking, leadership training, first aid, camping, marksmanship training using the Daisy air rifle, music training and summer training.
When camping, known as an FTX, or field training exercise, you will learn valuable survival skills such as shelter building, how to collect water, how to build a fire and signal fires, map and compass and many more. Cadets will have the opportunity to attend two weekends during the year — one in the fall and one in the spring.
Education is very important to cadets. Cadet training is a hands-on, activity-based program that should complement school studies. In fact, the provincial education boards accept cadet subjects for school credits. As well, there are several scholarships available through cadets. The skills you develop as cadets will benefit you with your schoolwork. You will be more organized, you will be better able to focus and you will learn to work in a team. Many cadet activities can also count towards the mandatory community involvement component of 40 hours required to graduate high school.
The youth of today are our leaders of tomorrow
At 37 Squadron we will teach you how to be fair and responsible leaders. Cadets learn how to take responsibility for their actions and how to motivate their peers to follow their example. By the time cadets graduate from the program, they will have held positions of responsibility, authority, and will have learned important lifelong lessons about leadership. These lessons are valuable in all aspects of their lives.
Taking care of their uniform teaches cadets to place value on who they are. Cadets learn that when they look good, they feel good about themselves, giving them more of an edge they need to lead and succeed.
By demonstrating leadership at its simplest level, by showing a good example, cadets have the opportunity to develop younger cadets who are, in turn, learning to take responsibility and be more accountable. By setting a good example, cadets not only gain practical experience in leadership but also experience an increase in their self-esteem and self-awareness.
Join 37 Orville Hand Air Cadet Squadron today. We are waiting for you. What are you waiting for?
Find out more at www.bradfordaircadets.ca and www.bradfordaircadets.ca/joining-information.
