At the 30th meeting of the Rotary Club of Picton’s 2022-2023 year, guest speakers from the 851 Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron Captain Mike Campbell and Warrant Officer Liam Young spoke about the cadet programs and what they offer.

The Air Cadet program is a military modelled, no cost  youth organization based around the Canadian Forces- namely the Royal Canadian Air Force-for children aged 12-18. Famed Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield is a graduate of the program as are scores of Canadian commercial airline pilots. Upon reaching the age of 19, cadets retire from the program but can continue being involved as a civilian instructor.

The local 851 squad meets weekly in the evening at Macaulay Mountain Conservation area, also known as Birdhouse City.

A YEAR IN REVIEW-Captain Penny Irish, followed by Captain Adam Kidd and others conduct the 2019 annual review of the 851 Squadron. (Sarah Williams/Gazette File Photo)

“Cadets is based on a military model to induce self discipline, leadership, followership qualities and public speaking skills,” said Captain Campbell. “The aims of the cadet program are to develop leadership and citizenship qualities, promote physical fitness and promote interest in the Canadian Forces and the air element. One thing to note is that cadets are not military, myself I am as someone who runs the program but cadets themselves are not military, they are supported by the military.”

The people who run Air Cadets are members of the military and are called Cadet Organizations Administration and Training branch (COATs).

“I am a member of the cadet instructors cadre, so a component of the Canadian Forces that looks after the cadet program,” Captain Campbell said to Rotary. “Our job is to teach, train, oversee and look after day-to-day operations for local cadets. As the commanding officer I oversee the weekly operation of the unit when we meet on Monday nights, we have the training officer that helps organize cadets and staff to deliver the training program and the information that we teach the cadets and organize certain activities.”

With the military side there is also civilian components.

“In this case with the sea cadets, army cadets and air cadets you have the navy leagues, the air and the army cadet leagues of Canada,” stated Captain Campbell. “Those leagues, referred to as the cadet leagues, are national, federally incorporated not-for-profit organizations willing to support cadets and cadet cores and squadrons as specific key areas when it is not provided by the Canadian Forces. For many decades the Canadian Forces have benefitted from the support of the cadet leagues. Together the department of National Defence and the leagues are a partnership being military, civilian and community.”

For the cadets they have structure within the program.

“Where as you see squadron warrant officer at the top, which would be Liam in this case, the highest ranking cadet achieves that position of squadron warrant officer, there would be a warrant officer position, a training warrant officer, then flight commanders, deputy flight commanders and then cadets, basically we call it a flight structure,” Captain Campbell said. “With the setup of how cadets advance, cadets at the lowest level want to try and achieve that spot at the top. These are the ranks, cadets who join start as a recruit or cadet and as time goes on usually in increments of six months to a year they can work to achieve a future rank, from leading air cadet all the way up to warrant officer first class or as we refer to them as the chief.”

At 851 Squadron, cadets participate in a lot of extra curricular activities as well as different team oriented sports and challenges.

“We participate in a lot of extra curricular activities such as sport training, Fall, Winter and Spring outdoor exercises, both flying and gliding opportunities, trips and tours, Summer camps and a formal mess dinner,” said Warrant Officer Young. “We also have a variety of teams such as the drill and range teams, flight party and effective speaking in sport competitions. We have our annual review which is our final parade of the year, where cadets get to  display both their drill and awards they’ve earned throughout the year. The parade sums up the years training and displays the achievements of each cadet. “

For the cadets the greatest challenge they find right now is the cost of time management.

“Both from my perspective and the perspective of our other seniors, we identify the biggest problem at the program right now is attendance, no thanks to COVID, and time management issues,” Warrant Officer Young stated. “Just getting out of COVID, cadets now have to refocus on attending school, completing all their homework and studying, as well as going to extra curricular activities such as sports, and cadets. Sometimes they have to cut out the cadet part. So we found that the biggest issues from the cadets is time management.”

For more information on the cadet program please visit www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/cadets-junior-canadian-rangers/cadets.html

For more information on the Rotary Club of Picton please visit pictonrotary.ca/