Cadets’ Corner is a weekly column submitted by the 37 Orville Hand Air Cadet Squadron.
Have you ever wondered what the air cadets are all about?
Here is some information on this wonderful program aimed at youth ages 12 to 18.
Benefits of air cadets
The air cadets program is a great way for young people to learn valuable life skills such as physical fitness, discipline, leadership and communication. The program offers opportunities for cadets to learn about aircraft and aviation, and participate in a variety of activities such as outdoor education, marksmanship, drill competitions, and aerospace education. There are also opportunities to earn scholarships and awards, and to go on international exchanges.
Beyond the skills and experiences, the air cadets program also creates a sense of camaraderie and teamwork among the members. This can be especially beneficial for young people who may not have as much support within their home or school environment. The air cadets program also allows cadets to develop lifelong friendships and develop skills that will serve them well in their future endeavours.
The 37 Orville Hand Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron is based in Bradford and named after its sponsor, the Royal Canadian Legion Bradford Orville Hand branch.
The organization promotes leadership, fitness and teamwork. Considering there are 454 squadrons located across the country and more than 26,000 air cadets enrolled, let’s see what it entails.
What to expect when you join the Royal Canadian Air Cadets
Upon joining the air cadets, you can expect to be part of a team of peers who are all dedicated to learning and growing together, as well as building lasting friendships. You will be able to learn important skills that will help you in the future, such as leadership, communication, organization, and physical fitness. You will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities, ranging from physical fitness and drill, to music, to field trips, to community events. You will also have the chance to travel within Canada and abroad. By joining the air cadets, you will be able to gain invaluable skills and knowledge while having fun and making lifelong friendships.
In a nutshell, the program provides mandatory cadet training sessions once a week (from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays, September to June), and optional training sessions for biathlons, marksmanship, band, drill team marching and ground school for flying lessons.
One of the best parts of the program is the summer camps. Albeit optional, these camps offer cadets specific training and at different levels. There are 24 camp opportunities offered including sports, fitness, first aid, survival, music, navigation, aerospace, communications, airport operations. Here’s a glimpse of just a few:
The general training camp provides cadets with an introduction to camp life and a variety of fields of interest (e.g., airport operations).
The flight scholarship course provides cadets the opportunity to learn how to fly, with the potential of receiving a scholarship for private pilot training.
The glider pilot scholarship course enables cadets to fly a glider plane as part of an air cadet program.
The power pilot scholarship course provides cadets the opportunity to learn how to fly a powered aircraft.
The adventure training course provides cadets with exciting and challenging outdoor activities, such as rock climbing, rappelling, white-water rafting, and mountain biking.
The national survival instructor course provides cadets with the skills and knowledge to become certified national survival instructors.
Joining the air cadets is an exciting and rewarding experience. It offers cadets an incredible opportunity to challenge themselves and develop important skills that will serve them well in the future.
Glider pilot camp includes a series of theoretical and practical lessons to train student pilots without previous experience in flight to obtain their glider pilot licence.
Cadets and our community
Air cadets are actively involved in the community, from volunteering with the town celebrations, Remembrance Day parade and service, to taking part in the poppy drive, writing letters to veterans, to park clean-ups and much more.
Other benefits
There are numerous benefits of being an air cadet:
- Important life skills and experiences that will help them thrive as young adults.
- Air cadets can apply to earn an elective credit counting toward their high school graduation
- Countless career opportunities
What does all this cost? Absolutely nothing. Yup, the program is completely free.
What about the uniform? Free, as well, with an added bonus of your child learning to iron his/her own shirt and pants and shine his/her shoes.
What about the summer camps? Free. And, get this: Not only are they free, but the cadets get paid a stipend for attending.
I personally cannot say enough good things about this all-inclusive program. It teaches youth responsibility, respect, camaraderie, teamwork and, more importantly, self-confidence (during the odd pre-teen-teenage years), which is paramount for shaping them into self-assured young adults.
If you are interested in becoming a member of Canada’s best-kept secret in the 37 Air Cadet Squadron, visit bradfordaircadets.ca/joining-information.
— Some of the above information first appeared on countryparent.ca.
