LITTLE CURRENT—The Manitoulin Sea Cadets are inviting Island youths aged 12 to 18 to an open house next Monday, November 17 at the recreation centre hall in Little Current where they (and their parents) can get a first-hand glimpse of the many opportunities provided by being part of the cadet program.
Commanding Officer (CO) Maggie King said there are currently 25 cadets on parade and she is hoping to encourage more kids to join.
“We have cadets from Wikwemikong to Evansville and all points in between,” she said.
The cadets of #348 Manitoulin meet each Monday night, going ‘on deck’ at the recreation centre hall from 6:30 pm to 9 pm from September until June. In the summer months, some of the cadets even choose to continue their training through summer camps across the country. All of this comes at no cost to the parents or guardians of the cadets.
“There is absolutely no charge to the parents,” CO King reiterated. “Uniforms are supplied by the Department of National Defence (DND) and the program is sponsored in conjunction with the DND and the Navy League of Canada.”
“It is not our mandate to promote the armed forces,” she explained, “but the Sea Cadets is an alternative youth-based program. They join because of interest, because their friends do it and for the adventure—sailing in the summer, biathlon in the winter, air rifle and seamanship competitions and orienteering in the bush. And this kind of training carries on in life too.” (#348 Manitoulin has won the zone shooting competition for the past six years in a row, last year qualifying for the provincials.)
New this year, the cadets will also be starting their own brass band thanks to the recent purchase of 14 instruments to add to those few they already owned and CO King is hoping students will be encouraged by this to join. Already 19 of the 25 cadets have joined up for the band.
CO King called community service a “big component of the program,” noting their involvement in the Remembrance Day ceremonies and Legion ‘tag days.’ For those cadets with a keen sense of aim, the marksmanship team meets every Sunday afternoon in the Little Current Legion hall for practice.
She said the cadet program teaches youths leadership, discipline, teamwork and confidence. “We’ve had kids come in that couldn’t even place an order at McDonald’s at the start, but after a few years you see them start to develop,” CO King added. “Every officer and civilian instructor is there for those kids.”
During the open house, parents and potential cadets will get to see the air rifle station, the seamanship simulator (received last year thanks to the generous donations of the Little Current Lions Club and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #177), a knot-work station and showcases of drills from the drill team.
“The open house will give parents and kids an idea of what the cadet program consists of, as well as a chance to speak to officers and cadets,” CO King said. “Navy League representatives will be there too—the Sea Cadets’ biggest supporters.”
To reach CO King, call her at 705-863-2572.
