IN THIS ISSUE

13 The challenges of ‘homelessness’

Six officers talk about their challenges, coping techniques,
hopes and possible solutions to homelessness.
17 Finding accommodation
Craig Hawkins
18 Accommodation costs
Access to military facilities is the ideal.
19 Proceed with caution
When trying to solve accommodation problems, take care.

20 Terry Whitty
26 Training delayed, but worth the wait
What’s good about the delay in rolling out the updated
first-year local and summer training programs?
Sea cadets use new training ships
Cadets and CIC officers climbed aboard the first 27 Summer training more holistic
new Patrol Craft Training ship—Orca—during the Look for standard course lengths, training days, periods
annual seamanship concentration in March. Eight in a day and minutes in a period when updated training
new PCTs are replacing the wooden-hulled Yard begins in summer 2009.
Auxiliary General vessels that have been used for
training for more than 50 years. 28 Summer training—sea
The new focus will be fun!
29 Summer training—army
Expedition fully integrated into updated summer training.
Capt Rick Butson
30 Summer training—air
Helping cadets explore.
31 The new CF leadership doctrine and you
Capt Darin McRae
32 Meeting the legal standard of care
What can you do to manage legal risks and avoid potential
legal responsibility?
Nathalie Richard
35 CF recruiting campaign includes CIC officers

22 CIC recruiting at Canadian National Exhibition and more

Capt Chantal Durepos and Capt Sonia Nadeau
36 Unpaid reservists not “deemed on duty”
Policy change means unpaid reservists are no longer “deemed
Running a happy supply shop
on duty” while supporting the Cadet Program.
A local officer shares some pointers for keeping
your supply shop in perfect running order. Check
his tips for keeping tabs on inventory, keeping up
with administration and more.
OCdt Eric Coomber

2 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

 UPCOMING
Canadians have a rich history of volunteering and
community involvement. According to the Canadian
website [Link], voluntary activity plays

10
such a unique role in Canadian society that it has
sometimes been described as the glue that holds all
spheres of society together.
Certainly, the Cadet Program would be a lesser pro-
FRONT COVER gram without our league partners and the thousands
of volunteers who give so much to it.
‘Homeless’
Countless corps and squadrons in Canada are virtually ‘homeless’— Originally, we planned to do an article on motivating
having no permanent headquarters and moving from location and caring for volunteers in this issue. Instead, we
to location to parade in temporary spaces and operate without have decided to expand our treatment of the subject
suitable classrooms, office or storage space. Officers literally run in the Fall issue.
their units from the trunks of their cars. How do they do it?
(Photo by Lt (N) Julie Harris) The above website states that managing volunteers is
both an art and a science. “The job demands a wide
range of skills with a high level of complexity,” it says.
“Regardless of the size of the organization, it is vital
to ensure that individuals responsible for volunteers
have the necessary skills, experience and support to
do the job well.” The same could be said of Cadet
Program leaders who work hand in hand with thou-
sands of volunteers to deliver the program. Check
out our next issue for more on the subject.
You can also look for a follow-up on the new CF lead-
ership doctrine that is the core for new CIC leadership
training currently under development. This second
part will talk about leading people, the importance of
trust and leadership characteristics.
Other articles in the Fall issue will include more on

Preparing cadets for summer training

24 the Cadet Program Update, one on planning meals
for cadet exercises from a Prairie Region officer
and another on morale from an Atlantic Region
officer. Your interest may also be tweaked by one
officer’s view on the importance of competition in
Local officers may be able to drastically reduce ‘returned to unit’ motivating cadets.
numbers by adequately preparing cadets and their parents before-
hand. In 2006, 898 cadets were returned to unit from cadet sum- Copy deadlines for the Fall and Winter issues are
mer training centres across the country—a jump from 2005. June 15 and Sept. 28 respectively. If you are inter-
Capt Calvin Facey ested in writing for an upcoming issue, or have
a story idea, please contact the editor in advance
at marshascott@[Link], [Link]@[Link]
or 905-468-9371.
IN EVERY ISSUE
4 Opening notes 5 Letters 6 News and Notes
38 Viewpoint 40 Test your knowledge

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 3

OPENING NOTES Col Robert Perron

in developing the youths that join our

program, and I encourage you to
keep up the excellent work. Issue 22 Spring/Summer 2007
Cadence is a professional development tool for
Certainly, when I read the feature in officers of the Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC)
and civilian instructors of the Cadet Program.
this issue about officers setting up Secondary audiences include others involved
and dismantling offices every parade with or interested in the Cadet Program.
night, building shelves in their base- The magazine is published three times a year
ments and bedrooms to house cadet by Chief Reserves and Cadets—Public Affairs,
on behalf of Directorate Cadets.
supplies and doing cadet work at
Views expressed do not necessarily
home (over and above their cadet reflect official opinion or policy.
training nights), I was humbled at Editorial policy and back issues
their dedication. This dedication and of Cadence are available online at
enthusiasm are equally reflected in [Link]

this issue’s Viewpoint by Lt(N) Managing editor:

Lt(N) Julie Harris,
Wendy Butt and a letter from Capt Chief Reserves and Cadets—Public Affairs
Valda Styles, who loves working Editor:
with cadets so much that she would Marsha Scott, Antian Professional Services
not have her life any other way—no
Contact information
matter how much time it takes.
Editor, Cadence
Directorate Cadets
During my tenure, I also fulfilled a and Junior Canadian Rangers
mission related to my passion for National Defence Headquarters
physical fitness. 101 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa ON, K1A 0K2
Physical fitness plays a valuable role Email:
in the development of youth. I want- marshascott@[Link]

Enthusiasm
CadetNet at cadence@[Link] or
ed to encourage physical fitness in [Link]@[Link]
all elements of the program. This led Phone:

and fitness to the creation of a new award,

which applauds the considerable
Tel: 1-800-627-0828
Fax: 613-996-1618

efforts made by a cadet in his or her Distribution

<

quest for physical fitness excellence. Cadence is distributed by the Directorate Technical
Col Perron with take this opportunity to reflect on
the new Perron
Award. See article
I my tenure as Director of Cadets and
Junior Canadian Rangers before my
Physical fitness and nutrition in the
Cadet Program have also been fea-
Information and Codification Services (DTICS)
Publications Depot to cadet corps and squadrons,
regional cadet support units and their sub-units,
on page 9. senior National Defence/CF officials and selected
departure this summer. In the past four tured in Cadence over the past two league members.
years I have focussed on two themes of years and continue to receive atten- Cadet corps and squadrons not receiving
the Cadet Program that reflect my pas- tion in letters the magazine receives Cadence or wanting to update their distribution
sions: enthusiasm and fitness. from officers regarding their own information should contact their Area Cadet
Officer/Cadet Adviser.
local initiatives in this area.
During this time, I visited numerous Translation:
corps and squadrons, as well as all of Translation Bureau
The Cadet Program makes an enor- Public Works and Government Services Canada
the cadet summer training centres. I mous difference in the lives of
Art direction:
have always been quite impressed cadets and the people around them. ADM(PA) Director Public Affairs
with the enthusiasm and dedication I know in my heart that the cadets’ Products and Services CS07-0028
of the leadership of the Cadet experience—no matter the length of A-CR-007-000/JP-001
Program. In fact, I truly believe that their stay—has made them better
a leader’s positive attitude is the best Canadians. Seeing cadets being chal-
approach—the best medicine for cadet lenged while having fun has been
morale. And cadet morale is impera- my foremost motivation factor for
tive for the success of our program. the past four years, a privilege I will
never forget.
Such challenge and fun radiating from
cadets would not be possible without It has been an honour to serve the
CIC officers and civilian instructors. Cadet Program as the director, and I
You should never underestimate the will have fond memories to take
profound and important role you play along with me forever.

4 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

 LETTERS
ONE CLASS “B” POSITION PER UNIT? REFLECTION ON STAND-DOWN

For me, the biggest challenge as a When we close at the end of the Last June after annual inspection, I was alone in our squadron
CIC officer is time. When you have year for the summer, I miss work- headquarters and wrote this poem.
to work at a civilian job, it takes ing regularly with my cadets. I do The hangar is silent, I’m all alone,
away from the time you can give to help with transport in the summer, There are no messages on the squadron phone
the Cadet Program and what you so this helps. Classrooms are empty, no orders to hear,
are able to do. No drill movements shouted, by voices so clear.
I do not have any children of my
I travel each week for my job so I own so my cadets are my children Annual is over, awards given out,
only have weekends to do things and fill the void. I love working The Chief has departed, no longer to shout
with cadets. Living in a rural com- with them and would not have my His orders to others, and watch them comply.
munity, I have only two other offi- life any other way no matter how The old Chief is done, and given goodbyes.
cers (who also work in civilian jobs) much time it takes. My husband is The training year’s over, the summer begins,
to do week-day training. I conduct also a CIC officer, so we do spend The slate is wiped clean of uniform sins.
training on the weekends. time together with the cadets. So soon will the summer and sunshine slip by,
And then the new Chief and the squadron will try
This leaves me no time for myself If we could have a least one class To pass the tradition that has gone on before,
or my family. Because I was a “B” position per corps/squadron, it To all the new people who come through the door.
cadet, however, I know the impor- would make a world of difference to But for now, it is silent, but for those who’ve been through
tance of cadet training. That’s why our training program. If we can’t, The doors and the archives of old 892.
I devote my weekends to it. If I was we will continue to do what we can For it’s not just a place to go to spend time,
not here for the cadets, they would to make our civilian lives and Cadet But rather a life that will stay on your mind
not have the opportunity to take Program lives fit together for the Long after you age out and go on your way.
part in our well rounded program. sake of the cadets we train. In the future you’ll look back and here’s what you’ll say.
“I am what I am, and part of it set,
People continue to say to me, “How Capt Valda Styles By the fact that I was once a cadet.”
do you do it? You travel all week Commanding Officer But for now it is empty, no one walks the halls,
and do Cadets all weekend. When 708 Air Cadet Squadron And the pictures are silent as they hang on the walls.
do you get time for yourself?” I Stephenville, NL But when summer is over and the squadron falls in,
wonder what people who don’t do The making of memories will once more begin.
something in the community do
with all the time on their hands. Capt Terry Filce
Deputy Commanding Officer
892 Air Cadet Squadron
Cheltenham, ON

PHYSICAL FITNESS STANDARDS

I have noticed in the last five years the others to complete the walk/
that we as CIC officers have run. (In New Brunswick, we have a
allowed a reduction in standards for lot of power poles along the road-
cadet summer training—mainly a ways, so we walk a pole and then
reduction in physical fitness stan- run a pole.) Each time we do the
dards. walk/run, we try to better our time.
We can only better our time if we
At our corps, we are getting the arrive as a team.
cadets involved in helping each
other. This effort began last fall and we
have high hopes that as a corps, we
On physical training (PT) night we will raise our fitness standard.
do a 2.2-kilometre walk/run as a
group—officers and cadets. We place Capt James Lewis
the slower cadets up front and we Commanding Officer
start as a team and end as a team. 3015 Army Cadet Corps
The better runners help motivate St. Martins, NB

Cadence reserves the right to edit for length and clarity. Please restrict your letters to 250 words.

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 5

NEWS AND NOTES

warfare, musketry and battalion

attacks from a film training corps that
specializes in Commonwealth military
tactics and historical training.
Following that, they were assigned to
command battalions that would re-
enact First World War battles, includ-
ing Beaumont-Hamel, Passchendaele,
Vimy Ridge and Ypres.
OCdt Walsh equipped, trained and
commanded 23 descendants. “The
privates lived like First World War
CIC officer in “The Great War” soldiers in canvass tents, ate hard
rations and followed the disciplinary
rules of the British military of the
<

OCdt Walsh played When the CBC’s mini-series “The participate in a landmark television time,” he says. “Wearing wool uni-
the role of commander Great War” aired on April 8 and 9, production recreating the hard life of a forms and boots, many suffered
(centre) of the 46th OCdt Justin Walsh, 870 Air Cadet Canadian soldier during the First from heat fatigue in the 40-degree
South Saskatchewan Squadron in Brockville, Ont., was in World War. OCdt Walsh was one of temperatures and developed blisters
Battalion in the it. He played the commander of the more than 6500 people who answered and trench foot.”
CBC mini-series. 46th South Saskatchewan Battalion— the call. He then became one of 150 When the cameras began to roll for
the battalion his great grandfather descendants selected to take part. He the first set—the re-enactment of the
Col Herbert Snell actually com- was also among nine chosen to gas attack of Ypres—the actor sol-
manded and raised in 1914. become non-commissioned diers filmed battle sequences in the
officers (NCOs) who would trenches and met their German
The release of the mini-series, starring train, command and educate
Justin Trudeau, was timed to coincide counterparts for the first time. They
the remaining descendants in were actual descendants of German
with the 90th anniversary of the all aspects of early 1900s life
Battle of Vimy Ridge and the First World War veterans.
and warfare.
re-dedication of the Vimy In the film, OCdt Walsh is eventual-
Memorial in France. Last July, the nine were ly ‘promoted’ to Composite Battalion
dressed in standard Commander, in command of all 150
OCdt Walsh’s journey First World War kit
from CIC officer to bat- descendants. “All of us came to realize
and placed in living the stress of combat that our grandfa-
talion commander was quarters on the film
an interesting one. In the thers must have felt,” he says.
set in St-Bruno,
summer of 2005, Gala Que. Then they As 870 Squadron’s training officer,
films, in conjunction with received a five-day he hopes to incorporate some of
Here, “Cpl Walsh” CBC Canada, asked ‘crash course’ on what he learned during his experi-
heads back to camp descendants of First being an NCO and ence into the squadron’s field train-
after a shoot. > World War veterans to on methods of trench ing exercises.

The sea cadet sail training program with the Canadian sailing
for sail training
National award

in British Columbia was recognized community to the benefit of

in 2006 as the “sail training program improved sail training every-
program

of the year” by the Canadian where.”

Yachting Association.
RCSU (Pacific) operates
The CYA—the national authority for three sail centres in Victoria,
sailing in Canada—presented a tro- Comox and Nelson, B.C.
phy in February to Regional Cadet Approximately 1300 sea Cdr Rick Mountford, commanding officer
Support Unit (Pacific) in recognition cadets are enrolled in 31 sea of RCSU (Pacific) and LCdr Martin Head,
of “operating a premier sail training cadet corps in the province. staff officer sea cadets, with the CYA trophy.
program and sharing information (Photo by Gary Webster, Navy League of Canada)

6 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

 CIC officer

EVENTS MAY 6-12

National Cadet Marksmanship
SEPTEMBER 16-28
Army Cadet International
returns from
Afghanistan
OCdt Ross Davies has just complet-
ed a 12-month tour at the Canadian
Provincial Reconstruction Team in
Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was part
Championship in London, Ontario Expedition 2007 around Cortina of the civilian police contingent there,
Co-ordinator is Capt Peter Westlake d’Ampezzo, Italy (Dolomites) along with four RCMP members.
at [Link]@[Link]. This year’s host is Regional Cadet OCdt Davies was the course officer
Support Unit (Prairie). Nomination for the Red Star program at 148
JULY 28 deadline for cadets is April 15. Army Cadet Corps in Charlottetown,
Bagotville Cadet Expedition point of contact is Maj P.E.I., before his departure. He has
Summer Training Centre Bruce Kiecker at been a police officer with the City of
annual get-together at [Link]@[Link]. Charlottetown since 1995.
CFB Bagotville, Quebec
MAY 1, 2009 “Our primary mission there was to
Open to former cadets (18 years and train, monitor and mentor members
older), as well as civilian and military 100 anniversary of the CIC
th

of the Afghan National Police,” he

personnel who have participated or The CIC was founded in the “Corps says. “We were also involved in uni-
worked at the camp. More than 150 of School Cadet Instructors (militia) form and equipment supply to the
attended last year’s event. To receive on May 1, 1909. It was comprised of police; were project co-ordinators for
the official invitation, the participa- qualified male school teachers of the police station construction; and were
tion form and additional information, public schools of Canada. Watch heavily involved with the fire depart-
email lecercledesanciensduciecab@ future issues of Cadence for celebra- ment—a branch of the Afghan
[Link]. Invitations will be sent tion details. National Police.”
no later than May.
FEBRUARY 12-28, 2010 OCdt Davies believes the mission
AUGUST 19-25 Olympic Winter Games in was very worthwhile and that men
Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Vancouver-Whistler and women of the CF and other gov-
National Regatta in ernment departments are doing
CIC officers still have time to qualify remarkable things there.
Kingston, Ont. to participate as officials for biathlon
For more information visit events at the Olympics. Volunteer He says he has some great stories to
[Link], or phone opportunities are available in both tell the cadets and that the experience
1-800-375-NAVY (6289) biathlon (Olympic) and biathlon has given him a greater appreciation
(Paralympic) events . The Paralympic for what we have in Canada. “I think
SEPTEMBER 1-15 Winter Games will be held from this experience has made me a better Ross Davies takes a
2007 Army Cadet National March 12 to 21. For more informa- rounded person, and that can only break from his work
Domestic Expedition in tion, visit [Link]. benefit the cadets,” he says. in Afghanistan.
Cathedral Provincial Park in Recruitment for Games-time volun- <
southeast British Columbia teers will begin in 2008.
This year’s host is Regional Cadet
Support Unit (Pacific). Application 2010 Canadian
deadline for all regionally nominated Naval Centennial
cadets is April 15. Expedition point While plans for celebrating the
of contact is Capt Al Harland at Canadian Navy’s 100th anniversary
harland.a@[Link] or are still in early stages, hopes are that
harland.a@[Link]. Naval Centennial stamps and coins
will be produced to help celebrate the
event. Visit [Link]/ca/
centennial for more information.

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 7

NEWS AND NOTES

Three officers from Regional Cadet Support Unit (Atlantic) have decided to
support the Arthritis Society’s Joints in Motion trek to Machu Picchu, Peru.
Maj Bill Kelly, commander of the Newfoundland-Labrador detachment
(who is trekking for another CIC officer), detachment support services offi-
cer Lt(N) Vicki Finney and Capt Hope Carr, regional public affairs officer,
will trek to the mountain peak in Peru in August to try and raise $25 000 for
the campaign.
Capt Carr was inspired to do more trekking after taking
part in the 2006 International Army Expedition. “It
Up, up and away taught me that you can also do more than the limits we
set for ourselves and that I want to live my life without
regrets,” she says. Capt Carr was the first to accept the
Capt Hope Carr trekked to Mont Blanc, the highest
challenge and convinced the other officers to join her.
peak in Western Europe, during last year’s
International Army Cadet Expedition. If you would like to support their efforts, all three
have set up sponsor pages on the Arthritis
Society website at [Link]. Click
on joints in motion, click on “support
participants”, choose the province
from the drop down list and
enter the officer’s name.
Look for a follow-up in
our Fall or Winter issue.

Sea cadet wins bravery award

When a fire broke out in the house where she was babysitting in April of
2006, PO2 Tricia Cummings, 110 Sea Cadet Corps STORMONT in
Cornwall, Ont., evacuated three children from the house and called for help.
The 15-year-old has now received the Cadet Award of Bravery for her
prompt decisive action in the face of imminent danger—attributed in part
to her sea cadet training.
“We are very proud of what PO2 Cummings has done in saving both life and
property, and it is my honour as her commanding officer to have nominated
her for the award,” says LCdr Conrad Villeneuve. “Thanks to her cadet
leadership training, she was able to stay focussed and do the right thing.”
The Cadet Award of Bravery is the highest honour a cadet can
receive in the Cadet Program. It is awarded to a cadet who per-
forms an outstanding deed of valour involving risk of his or her
life in attempting to save the life or property of others. A cadet’s
CO is the nominating authority for the award. Concurrence of
the corps or squadron sponsoring committee and the pertinent
league is also required.

PO2 Cummings received the Cadet > The Ontario Fire Marshall’s office has also recognized PO2
Award of Bravery on March 19. Cummings’ actions with a Fire Safety Award certificate.

8 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

‘Hair’ today; gone tomorrow
Here’s a creative way for a corps/
squadron to give back to their com-
munity, but officers beware!
Cadets from 2511 Army Cadet
Corps in Thunder Bay, Ont., chal-
lenged two of their officers to help
raise funds for the Make-a-Wish
Foundation’s St. Valentine’s Day
Hair Massacre. The foundation
grants wishes of children with life- Lt Wright, left, and Capt Guay show off their new haircuts to similarly shorn Mrs. Heather Vis,
threatening illnesses. who received the corps’ donation on behalf of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The original ‘massacre’ began in
2002 in Edmonton, Alta., when a lit- Cadets from 2511 Corps challenged
tle girl named Kali lost her hair for the Capt Daniel Guay, corps CO, and
third time as a result of chemotherapy.
Her father, Gordon, shaved his own
head in support and encouraged 48
Lt Andy Wright, supply officer, to
shave their heads if they could raise
more than $350 for the cause. The
New national
co-workers at Canada Post to do the
same. That year, 840 heads were
shaved for the cause. This year, the
cadets were given a week to raise
funds...resulting in their officers
going ‘baldly’ where they had never
fitness trophy
‘massacre’ became a national event. gone before.
The Director Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers
will award a national cadet award annually to a
cadet for his/her “outstanding achievements in phys-

IN THE NEWS ical fitness”.

The deadline for nominations for this year’s trophy
is April 30. The award winner will be announced in
the first week of May.
Jim Kouzes, co-author with Barry that they will be dealt with equitably;
Posner of a book called The and that they will gain a sense of con- The Perron Award, suggested and funded by Col
Leadership Challenge, was recently nection with the organization on a Robert Perron who currently heads the directorate,
quoted in The Globe and Mail work and personal level. According to will be awarded to the cadet who attains the highest
(“Leadership: You’ve got to want it— Douglas Klein, Sirota president, the physical fitness test score.
and build on it”, Feb. 7) as saying, results show that, contrary to some
“There is a leader in everyone and management theories, there are no For now, the award will be based on the four fitness
you should work every day at liber- major differences in what employees testing components within the Army Cadet Fitness
ating that leader within.” According in different generations need to keep Test (ACFT) and the scoring system of the Royal
to Mr. Kouzes, who surveyed thou- them motivated. (Source: The Globe Military College’s physical performance test. In
sands of executives at American and and Mail, “Boomers, Gen-Yers agree: future, the award will be based on a fitness test includ-
Canadian companies for his book, It’s all about respect”, Jan. 24.) ed in an updated Cadet Program-specific physical fit-
people consistently say they want to ness test included in all three elemental programs.
see these leadership traits: showing Graham Fishburne, a professor in
the faculty of education at the Any cadet who has achieved the Phase 2/Red
honesty in all dealings; having for- Star/Proficiency Level 2 or higher can take the phys-
ward-looking ideas; demonstrating University of Alberta in Edmonton,
says the more active children are, the ical fitness test and apply for the Perron Award.
consistent competency; and provid-
ing inspiration to others. better they learn. “Children don’t Sea and air units that do not have experience con-
become brighter because they’re ducting the ACFT are encouraged to seek assistance
A survey by Sirota Survey Intelligence physically active, but they are less from an army cadet corps staff member, a local phys-
(a workplace attitude pollster in tired, less agitated, less stressed and ical education teacher, a fitness consultant at a local
Purchase, N.Y.) of 64 304 employees less sick,” he says. “Physically active gym, or local CF Personnel Support Programs staff.
that are Sirota clients, including 8000 kids are in a better condition for
Canadians, found the top three expec- learning.” (Source: The Globe and For further information on the fitness test and award,
tations of people in all age ranges is Mail, “Is it time for examinations in refer to the Feb. 1, 2007 interim directive 1085-13
that they will be treated with respect; physical fitness?” Jan. 22). (D Cdts 3-4-2).

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 9

FEATURE Marsha Scott

‘Homeless’

Capt Dave Timms, CO of 835 Squadron,

left, and OCdt Ryan Pedersen work out
of the bins that serve as their offices.
(Photo by Jane Bateman)

What is it like to be ‘homeless’?

There are corps and squadrons across Canada that are virtually ‘homeless’— munity hall burned down, and anoth-
having no permanent headquarters and moving from location to location to er that was told to vacate for a year
parade in temporary spaces and operate without suitable classrooms, office while their armory was renovated.”
or storage space. Officers literally run their units from the trunks of their cars. It would appear that homelessness
Lt Will Cahill, training officer with 292 Air Cadet Squadron in Halifax, is one of can happen to anyone. We spoke to
these. He ran his training section for four months out of the trunk of his Echo officers from the small towns of
Squamish, B.C., and Grimsby, Ont.,
hatchback! Other officers have worked out of their trunks for much longer. as well as from the cities of Oakville,
Ottawa and Halifax. They repre-
This article is about six homeless ing officer with 835 Air Cadet sented three air cadet squadrons,
corps/squadrons. Why are they Squadron in Squamish, B.C. and two army cadet corps and one sea
homeless and what are its effects? currently an area information tech- cadet corps—some long established
How do their officers cope, and nology adviser with Regional Cadet and one barely two years old.
what do they propose as possible Support Unit (Pacific). “The worst
solutions to homelessness? part is that it can happen to any corps The reasons for their homelessness
or squadron, no matter how success- were equally varied, everything from
“I believe this problem is much more ful or large. I know of a unit that lost forced evacuations from buildings
widespread than most would admit,” its headquarters when the local com- with asbestos and mould problems to
says Lt Harry Whale, former train-

10 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

a lack of rentable space and exorbi- Ken Brady, commanding officer board is the only possibility for
tant costs. Many times, homelessness (CO). Right now, the corps parades accommodation around here,” says
was chronic. out of a local high school that is Lt Whale. “Forestry has collapsed as
too small to practise in for events an industry in our town, and even
What is remarkable about each of such as annual inspection, a change tag days typically result in less than
these stories is the officers’ dedica- of command, or for that matter $1000 for an entire weekend. All cor-
tion and hope that one day, the “basic marching”. porate donations taken together sel-
corps/squadrons they lead will have dom exceed $1000 a year.”
a place to call home.
Shelves full of ‘cadet Every Tuesday night, 835 Squadron
62 Air Cadet Squadron, uses the school gym floor for three
Grimsby, Ont. stuff’ line one wall of hours and one classroom for two
Shelves full of ‘cadet stuff’ line one Capt Cory Chapman’s hours. A multi-purpose room may, or
wall of Capt Cory Chapman’s bed- may not, be available (depending on
bedroom. whether another group has booked
room. He is the training officer with
62 Squadron, and there’s no other Years ago, the corps had to leave its the room.) If it is available, it’s used
space to store the training and home in a post office basement as a combined office, meeting room,
administration supplies that he and because of asbestos in the walls. The canteen, impromptu supply room
his wife Chris, the squadron’s asbestos was removed, but Public and sponsoring committee office.
administration officer, need to help Works and Government Services
Canada did not give the corps the Storage is also an issue. An 18.5
run the squadron. The squadron is square-metre storage space at a local
homeless, without a permanent go-ahead to return.
business is packed to bursting with
headquarters and storage facility. Storage is extremely difficult. Not furniture from former accommoda-
Cadets from 62 Squadron parade in only is there no on-site storage, but tion. Ready-use equipment is stored in
an elementary school gym and by clothing and other stores are located a $3000 per year u-lock storage facili-
some standards, they are pretty well in Beamsville, 10 kilometres away. ty downtown and in officers’ homes.
off because they also have access to The problem, says Capt Brady, is
three classrooms and a staff room— that Grimsby is a small community,
all for free. and rentable space is at a premium.
There are not many places either
Storage is a little more complicated. available, or affordable.
In addition to the Chapman’s shelv-
ing, the squadron’s supply room 835 Air Cadet Squadron,
(storing uniforms, boots, accessories, Squamish, B.C.
audio-visual equipment and field- This is also the problem in
training equipment) is actually in the Squamish. After being inactive for
basement of another officer. “He’s a 15 years, 835 Squadron was resur-
wonderful man who built the supply rected in 2000 to much fanfare in the
room himself because we were wor- small community and paraded out
ried about moisture in the outdoor of a local building owned by B. C.
storage facility we used last year,” Rail (a Crown Corporation).
says Capt Chapman. However, after only one year, the
Even though the Chapmans—and all building was leased to a commercial
62 Squadron staff—work out of the enterprise and the squadron was
trunk of their car, they are optimistic forced to move to a building belong-
because their squadron is barely two ing to the local Rod and Gun Club.
years old. The space was inadequate.
The town’s army cadet corps, also
1626 Army Cadet Corps,
evicted from the B.C. Rail building,
Grimsby, Ont.
looked for alternate space as well,
1626 Corps, also in Grimsby, is but eventually folded.
38 years old and still doesn’t have The space this ‘supply section’ occupies in the home of
a permanent home! It has moved 835 Squadron was luckier and Lt David Leonard, chief instructor with 62 Air Cadet
so many times that its nickname found space at the local junior high Squadron in Grimsby, was originally intended to become a
is “The Gypsy Corps”, says Capt school for $3500 a year. “The school washroom in his basement living area.

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 11

FEATURE
178 Sea Cadet Corps, 3018 Army Cadet Corps, with the 63-year-old squadron. But
Oakville, Ont. Orleans, Ont. the squadron hasn’t always been so
“Try to outfit a new cadet with a uni- This 19-year-old corps has moved lucky. In the late 1990s, because of
form in February in a facility with- three times in the last five years cutbacks and the disbandment of its
out heat,” says Lt(N) Bryan because there is little rentable space sponsor, the squadron moved from
McIntyre, CO of 178 Sea Cadet in the east end of Ottawa, says CO school to school until it found a
Corps. Storage of everything the Capt Sandra Heidel. Historically, the church hall to parade in.
Oakville corps owns is off site in a corps has paid as much as $10 000 a In May of 2005, the church flooded.
rented unheated storage facility. year for rent. The squadron had to postpone its
This has been the situation since the annual review, but continued to train
corps stood up seven years ago. “We moved from an RCMP facility to
an old school taken over by a church in the church hall. Three weeks into
group and from there, to another old the 2005-2006 training year, howev-
Three weeks into the 2005- school bought by a senior’s group,” er, an eviction notice on the church
2006 training year...an eviction she says. “Then we had to move from hall door stated that due to potential
there last June because the senior’s mould, the squadron could no
notice on the church hall door longer stay there. It was given three
group was becoming too large.”
stated that due to potential days to remove its equipment and
The corps currently parades out of a join the ranks of the homeless. The
mould, [292 Air Cadet public school gym. Office supplies are squadron cancelled training.
Squadron in Halifax] could brought in every week from blue stor-
age boxes. The cadets sit on the floor The squadron found another church
no longer stay there. in a hall for classes and have no to parade in, but it was soon evident
equipment to train with because since that the temporary accommodation
In seven years, the corps has parad- couldn’t work.
ed out of three locations, including the corps’ moved last August, every-
two rent-free years in a Legion hall thing it owns, except for ‘vitals’, was The squadron CO, the Nova Scotia
(which has since been sold), three packed and stored in an off-site stor- cadet detachment and the squadron
rent-free years in a regional building, age facility that is difficult to access. sponsor worked together to find the
and now a union hall, for which 178 squadron’s current home at a sea-
292 Air Cadet manship school at Canadian Forces
Corps pays rent. The union hall is
Squadron, Halifax Base Windsor Park in Halifax. The
used for classes, but because of space
limitations, drill is held mostly out- “We are lucky to have finally found a league had concerns about the
doors, and team practices occur in permanent home this training year,” squadron locating too close to others
private homes or not at all. says Lt Will Cahill, training officer in downtown Halifax, but with little
choice, the squadron moved in. It
has access to a drill floor and three
classrooms, and staff sets up a tem-
porary office each week in the
lounge. Squadron supply is run from
one small room in a different build-
ing on the base.
With homelessness hopefully behind
292 Squadron, Lt Cahill can look
back on the experience as positive in
some ways. “Although the ‘home-
less’ situation looked grave for sev-
eral months, being able to overcome
those challenges has instilled a sense
of accomplishment in both the staff
and senior cadets,” he says. “I think
there is a real notion that we have
been through some hard times and
have emerged stronger and more
able to adapt to any situation.”

12 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

Challenges of ‘homelessness’
Imagine the monotony (and work) of setting up a temporary headquarters week after week.

“We literally carry in and out storage spaces, or the space isn’t Using gymnasiums can often mean a
everything we require for a parade available for cadets to try on uni- lack of power outlets for training
night,” says Lt(N) Bryan McIntyre, forms, it’s a challenge to kit cadets. aids such as overhead projectors,
178 Corps. “This is our biggest issue,” says Capt laptops and televisions.
Sandra Heidel, 3018 Corps. “There
Every officer we spoke to does the is no feeling of belonging if one cadet No office space
same. cannot look like the other. In addi- “Because we have to track all
A typical parade night for officers of tion, our senior cadets keep growing required files and equipment in and
835 Squadron in Squamish begins and their uniforms don’t fit. It creates out of our location every parade
well before 6:30, with officers loading a problem when the leaders aren’t night, finding corps documents
equipment from their homes into their easily recognizable.” when we need them is often diffi-
cars, driving and loading up additional Capt Brady adds, “At our corps, cult,” says Lt(N) McIntyre. “If we
equipment from the u-lock storage anytime a cadet needs to exchange haven’t predicted the need for a spe-
facility downtown, driving to the uniform items, or have initial issue, cific file, then chances are it has been
school and setting things up. Each the supply officer and cadet have to left at home.”
night, everything from office files and arrange to meet at our stores 10 kilo-
computer equipment to bulletin Lt Will Cahill says that even though
metres away.” 292 Squadron finally has a ‘perma-
boards, training manuals, training
aids, flags, drill rifles, uniforms and nent’ headquarters to parade in, the
No/limited classrooms lack of permanent office space
canteen supplies are brought in.
When training is over at 9:30, the Having no proper classrooms makes makes the day-to-day running of his
entire process is reversed. it difficult for cadets to learn. squadron very hard.

“There’s no doubt that a lot of time The one classroom used by 835 Computer/
is taken up in travelling back and Squadron cadets is reserved for tech- Internet access
forth, as well as in setting up and nical subjects, says Lt Harry Whale.
The remaining classes take place in Cory and Chris Chapman share a
‘tearing down’ for nightly training,” DND laptop, but have computer
adds Capt Ken Brady, 1626 Corps. the gym, along the sidelines. These
classes run at the same time as drill, problems. The laptop user name
or drill instruction on the gym floor. hasn’t worked. Officers from the
Fitting cadets squadron gain access to CadetNet
for uniforms “Distractions and interruptions are
the order of the day. The noise is from the school on Friday nights; how-
Whether uniforms are packed annoying and it’s hard for cadets to ever, Grimsby has no high-speed
away in inaccessible concentrate when they can see and Internet access at all. “Molasses are
unheated hear everything going on around faster than what we have,” says Capt
them,” he says. Chapman. “It’s very time-consuming.”

< 835 Squadron cadets use the school

gymnasium for classes and drill,
often concurrently, making learning
difficult. Another class can be seen
against the far wall.

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 13

 FEATURE
“Given the fact that much of the the temporary office in January for Cadet morale
Cadet Program has become comput- use on training nights with access to It’s difficult to make a temporary
er based, our current lack of Internet dial-up Internet. headquarters look like ‘home’. “We
access has limited the amount of cannot make our local headquarters
work our staff can accomplish dur- Limited training look more ship-like,” says Lt(N)
ing parade nights,” says Lt Cahill. “We cannot offer our cadets the ‘full’ McIntyre. “We cannot hang any-
In Squamish, 835 Squadron had no range of optional training because of thing on the walls or make other
Internet access at the school until last space limitations at our local headquar- changes within the facility. We can’t
fall. “With the increasing reliance on ters,” says Lt(N) McIntyre. Offering make our environment more invit-
Fortress for administration informa- more training would require renting ing to raise corps morale.”
tion, Internet access became urgent,” additional space and even if available,
the cost would be prohibitive. “We can’t put up posters, or display
says Lt Whale. “By sweet-talking the our annual trophies,” adds Capt
835 training officer information technology department at Range and ground school are the Brady. “The only time the cadets see
Lt Greg Smith the local school board, we finally got only extra-curricular activities that them is at annual. The cadets spend
transports every- an Internet port in the multi-purpose take place regularly at 835 Squadron all day at school, and then come
thing he needs room—when the room is available.” because the local Rod and Gun Club back to school at night. Just making
back and forth
Capt Heidel says she has two lap- and flying school donate facilities. the environment more inviting
every week in the
tops, but no Internet. Lt Cahill says The squadron cannot afford to rent would add a lot to corps morale.”
back of his van.
(Photo by Jane Bateman) 292 Corps finally got a phone line in facilities for such things as drill team,
model club and band. Rifle drill Cadet retention and
<

practice for Remembrance Day 2006 corps/squadron success

was held in a truck garage. All the officers agreed that not hav-
ing a permanent home has affected
to some extent the success of their
corps/squadrons, or cadet retention.
“We would have fewer retention
problems with a permanent home,”
says Lt(N) McIntyre. PO2 Victoria
Reed, with 178 Corps, says “We
don’t have enough cadets to make it
worthwhile to hold weekly band,
range and seamanship team activi-
ties, so the interested cadets miss out.
And new cadets don’t stick around.”
Lt Whale says the numbers of cadets,
staff and volunteers at nearby units
that have permanent facilities reflect
the link to a successful squadron.
292 Squadron in Halifax had to
change its parade night three times
last year because it didn’t have a

Eternal hope
If 62 Air Cadet Squadron contin-
ues to grow, Capt Chapman
hopes it will be able to find a larg-
er rent-free school to parade in.
Capt Brady has asked his local
Member of Parliament to look
into the possibility of returning

14 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

835 Air Cadet Squadron’s
Level One cadets improvise
Suggested
‘desks’ from a bench so they
can take notes during a class. solutions?
The leagues could offer expert guidance to corps/
squadrons with accommodation problems. The
leagues (perhaps at the Provincial/Division level)
could put together a team of people who know all the
tricks of the trade in terms of facilities, suggests Lt
Whale. The team could help negotiate with school
boards, city governments, businesses and landlords
and assist negotiations with ready-to-use presenta-
tions and materials. The team could also promote
the benefits of hosting cadets in communities.
We could all help to educate communities about
the Cadet Program. “Many communities believe
that the cadet movement is fully funded by the
Canadian government and that we are able to pay
rent from that source,” says Capt Heidel. “This mis-
conception needs to be corrected.”
The leagues could harvest information on organ-
izations that have space for rent, or that are ‘corps/
permanent squadron-friendly’, says Capt Heidel. Speaking
facility. “This had a practically, local sponsoring committees would be
major effect on cadet retention,” the best source for this kind of information.
says Lt Cahill. “Our cadet numbers
dropped substantially from about 90 of 2006, the corps finished with 65 Efforts could be made to get no-cost or lower-
to 55 cadets. Being forced to forgo cadets. Now, an average of about 40 cost facilities. “Parading on a base that is free of
optional training for more than half cadets parade. There’s definitely a charge has allowed us to free up some budget to
of one training year made it difficult decline in numbers overall.” ensure our cadets get even better training,” says
to retain cadets who may have been Lt Cahill.
on the fence about joining and stay- Lack of privacy for meeting
Tax credits or other initiatives could be offered
ing in the program.” Lack of adequate space also means a
to owners of vacant businesses who allow cadets
lack of privacy for meetings with
Retaining cadets has also been diffi- to use their facilities, says Capt Brady. It may not
staff, or cadets.
cult for 3018 Corps in Orleans. “Our be common knowledge that landlords who donate
cadets get frustrated when they have At 835 Squadron, meetings requir- space to corps/squadrons may (under some cir-
to sit on the floor in a hall for class- ing privacy are held during class cumstances) qualify for a charitable donation tax
es,” says Capt Heidel. “Our numbers breaks, or sometimes, in the janitori- receipt. Also some cities and communities will give
have been up and down, and retain- al supply room off the hallway, says a landlord a tax credit on realty/business/school
ing senior cadets is difficult. In June Lt Whale. taxes, in some cases up to 40 percent.

1626 Corps to the post office League support for 178 Sea Cadet leased space with the cadets. The
basement, as well as bringing 62 Corps is now excellent, says Lt(N) corps hoped to enter its new home
Squadron into the facility. McIntyre. “We hope the league by March, says Capt Heidel, but
will work with the municipality to renovations have forced a delay.
A distant, but small hope, says Lt
rent space that is more adequate Because weapons and equipment
Whale, is that Squamish will build
and affordable so the corps does will be stored there, Public Works
a ‘youth leadership’ building—an
not have to continue moving.” and Government Services Canada
initiative backed by the mayor.
and military police must ultimately
The building would house cadets, The affiliated unit of 3018 Army
‘clear’ the space before the cadets
Scouts and Guides for example. Cadet Corps has agreed to share
can move in.

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 15

FEATURE

How they do it

When the weather

co-operates, cadets
from 178 Sea
Cadet Corps in
Oakville, Ont.,
train outdoors.
In seven years,
the corps has
paraded out of
three locations. >

Using rolling tubs and toolboxes to carry their ‘offices’ in and out of
their temporary headquarters. “Portability has become 835 Squadron’s mantra,” says Lt Harry Whale.
Planning ahead to ensure that officers have all the training aids and files they need for each parade night.
Counting on goodwill and hard work from everyone, including league representatives, officers, civilian
instructors and senior cadets.
Dedicated staff. “Luckily, we had a dedicated staff who didn’t seem to mind giving up a lot of their evenings at home
to ensure 292 Squadron remained on top of paperwork and training,” says Lt Will Cahill. “I am 26 years old,” says
Capt Cory Chapman. “I was blessed and fortunate to go through the Cadet Program. I will give back whatever I can.”
Working at home. “We have two parade nights, but on the other five days, we work at home,” says Capt
Chapman. A lot of computer work, in particular, is done at home.
“Making do” and focussing on what they can do, instead of what they can’t.
Moving teaching around—outdoors when the weather is good.
Fostering a good relationship with other corps and squadrons so facilities can be shared. “We often use the
local headquarters of 304 CHAUDIERE Sea Cadet Corps for winter weekend exercises,” says Lt(N) Ken
McIntyre. Capt Brady has invited cadets from Capt Chapman’s corps to join their Tuesday night rifle practice
at the Legion. The downside, however, to having lots of activities with other corps, says Capt Sandra Heidel,
3018 Corps, is that you sometimes lose your cadets to corps with permanent facilities.
Fostering a good relationship with municipal and business leaders in the community who may be able to
help. “The mayor’s influence has helped get our youth leadership building project off the ground,” says Lt Whale.
Fostering a good relationship with parent support committees. According to Capt Chapman, “We put our
heads together and said, ‘We can do this. We’ll take it all on!’”
Using corps/squadron websites and CadetNet. Lt Cahill says that to combat 292 Squadron’s problems with
multiple moves, he developed a regularly updated squadron website to take the place of a system of phone calls.
835 Squadron staff also use their squadron website and CadetNet extensively.
Committing to minimizing the effects of homelessness on the cadets. At 292 Squadron, this required staff
who could deal with challenges as they arose, adapt and overcome them, says Lt Cahill. Capt Chapman adds,
“What cadets don’t see is great. They can still benefit from the training.”

16 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

Craig Hawkins

Finding accommodation
An Air Cadet League perspective
The Department of National Defence be discussed openly among SSC lease/rental price is within the ballpark
will provide space in military facilities members and the CO. established in earlier discussions, then
to cadet corps/squadrons wherever that is well and good. If the rental price
possible. However, the reality is that Once the partners have agreed on is a bit higher, how will the additional
many corps/squadrons do not have the parameters, the next big problem funds be raised? Do you plan an addi-
easy access to military facilities. That is one of availability. Are facilities tional fund raising activity? Do you go
means that they have to find suitable readily available in the community? back to the sponsors for a larger
accommodations within their own Can all of the facilities be located at grant? Do you apply to the municipal-
community. This is clearly the one site, or will the squadron have to ity for a grant, or to the provincial lot-
responsibility of the leagues. operate from multiple sites? When tery corporation for additional funds?
looking for suitable facilities it is All of these points should be decided
In most cases, the squadron spon- important for all partners to look in consultation with the CO and staff.
soring committee (SSC) must make actively. In fact, I would suggest that
arrangements for suitable quarters the more eyes looking in the com- In an ideal world, all squadrons
for an air cadet squadron. munity, the better the chances are would have their drill hall, offices,
that the SSC will find a suitable loca- classrooms and stores located in the
Finding suitable quarters can be a tion. It might be worthwhile to let same building. Those who have
challenge at the best of times. First, parents know that the squadron is access to armories are the lucky ones.
the SSC needs to have a clear idea of searching for suitable quarters.
what type of quarters is required. Most squadrons, however, will have
For this, they will need input from Once a suitable location has been to look for creative solutions to their
squadron staff. What are the ‘must found, it is clearly the duty and accommodation needs. This will
haves’ that the commanding officer responsibility of the SSC to negotiate a require active consultation and col-
(CO) and staff require? What are reasonable lease for the facilities. laboration between the partners.
the ‘should haves’ and the ‘nice-to- However, this may require additional Then, it is up to the squadron
haves’ that can be included? How consultation with the CO. If the sponsoring committee to do
much can the SSC afford to pay for its duty.
quarters? All of these factors need to
Mr. Hawkins is the
national president of
the Air Cadet League
DND will provide
space in military
facilities to cadet
corps/squadrons
wherever possible.
2784 Army Cadet
Corps parades out
of this armory
in Ottawa. >

Who is responsible?
Both DND and its three league partners—through sponsoring committees in local communities—provide
accommodation for corps and squadrons in more than 1000 communities in Canada. However, the leagues
are ultimately responsible for providing “appropriate training and stores accommodation” for local
programs where DND is unable to provide it.
Responsibilities are clearly outlined in QR (Cadets) 2.31 (c) and 2.32 (f) and the Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) signed by representatives of the three leagues and the DND/CF on Dec. 1, 2005. The MOU further
clarifies the leagues’ role in consulting with corps/squadron commanding officers to provide the space and
identify insurance requirements. It also states that regional DND staffs will apply their “best efforts” to provide
facilities for local programs and advance concerns with the leagues.

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 17

FEATURE

Accommodation costs
The Air Cadet League had captured accommodation costs for the 2005-2006 training year for 248 of 454
squadrons across Canada, based on financial statements submitted by the end of January. Statistically, says
Bob Robert, chair of the league’s finance committee, these costs are representative of the bigger picture.
Statistics show that 123 of the 248 Quebec—55 percent paid rent, with there, four parade in a DND facility,
squadrons paid no rent at all for an average of $3455. one parades in a church and 28
accommodation. These squadrons are British Columbia—56 percent paid parade in secondary schools—all at
accommodated in a variety of build- rent, with an average of $3967. no cost. Some schools do charge a
ings, including DND-owned facili- custodial fee.
ties, municipal buildings, schools, Saskatchewan—46 percent paid
service club buildings and so on. “In rent, with an average of $3430. The tide can turn quickly for accom-
most cases, the squadron sponsoring Newfoundland-Labrador— modation costs though. The Legion
committees were responsible for no sponsoring committee paid rent. sponsor for 2685 Army Cadet Corps
securing free non-DND accommo- in Whitehorse, Yukon, has provided
Nova Scotia—15 percent paid rent, parade, office and storage space for
dation,” says Mr. Robert. with an average of $3100. free, year round. The ‘going rate’ for
rental of that space would be as
[In] Ontario, 60 percent Mr. Robert adds that additional
much as $32 400 a year. (One army
costs apply in many locations for
[of squadrons] paid rent, with heat, power, taxes, maintenance, cadet corps in British Columbia actu-
ally does pay close to that for annual
an annual average of $4348— expansion, and so on. Twenty-nine
accommodation.) Unfortunately for
percent of squadron sponsoring
the highest of all provinces. committees pay these additional the Whitehorse corps, the Legion
accommodation costs, which aver- has sold the building. The new
The other squadrons paid for their age $1609 a year. owner is allowing the corps to stay—
training, administration and storage until it finds a new home.
facilities. The costs ranged from Army cadet corps
practically nothing to upwards of Sea cadet corps
$20 000 for facilities owned by the Terry Whitty, executive director of
Although the Navy League has
squadron sponsoring committee. the Army Cadet League, says anec-
insurance records for league-owned
dotal information shows the aver-
The average accommodation cost property, it has no statistics on the
age yearly cost of accommodation
for those who paid rent was $3842 a cost of rentals/leases or DND prop-
for a corps parading out of a school
year, but according to Mr. Robert, erty use. The league hopes, however,
or community centre is about
“there are interesting provincial com- to capture those costs by January of
$8000 to $10 000. The league does
mittee differences”. 2008 through its new branch
not, however, track costs formally.
reports, according to Jerrod
Ontario—60 percent paid rent, with For army cadet corps, Newfound- Riley, the league’s national
an annual average of $4348—the land-Labrador is the province to be deputy director.
highest of all provinces. in, at least cost-wise. Of 33 corps

18 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

Terence Whitty

Proceed with caution

Signing leases can be dangerous
One of the bigger quandaries facing local corps and squadron sponsoring committees is when they are
‘stuck’ for quarters for their cadets, and a helpful landlord asks them to sign a lease in good faith.
Enthusiastic officers anxious to solve If you have to sign a preliminary nance. Your corps/squadron is not
their accommodation problems “Offer to Lease”, always add a clause responsible to rebuild an old structure.
should be aware of the caution with that says “conditional upon obtaining
which sponsoring committees must funding” or “conditional upon Enthusiastic officers anxious
proceed when signing leases. authorization from the provincial
Branch or Committee”, just in case to solve their accommodation
At the start this may appear to be a
friendly situation where well-mean-
you have to withdraw for any reason. problems should be aware
ing local folks are trying to help a Never sign a lease in your own name. of the caution with which
group of teenagers in their commu- Use the name of the corps/squadron
nity. But it is serious business, and or the name of the sponsoring com-
sponsoring committees must
any agreement will be legally bind- mittee. Always sign— “for:” your proceed when signing leases.
ing on all parties. organization. The provincial Branch
or Committee should be able to give Before you start lease negotiations,
Under normal circumstances spon- you advice on this. always contact the league provincial
soring committees should consult a Branch or Division to let them know
lawyer in such a matter, but this is Never give a landlord a personal guar- what is going on and to obtain an
not always possible or financially antee. This clause is usually added explanation of the insurance cover-
feasible. At the very least though, into the body of a lease under the age the league provides.
they should consult someone with heading “Guarantors”. When you do
experience in commercial leases to this, you are guaranteeing the whole And finally, to practise what we
review the lease document. A local term and conditions of the lease. On a preach, let me add here that “This
business person or a real estate agent five-year lease at $1000 per month, advice is offered as suggested guidelines
may be able to help here. that would add up to $60 000 if the only and is not to be construed as legal or
landlord calls in the guarantee early, business advice”. Don’t laugh: leases
Following are a few general rules for and you could be held additionally are serious contracts with serious con-
local sponsoring committees when responsible for damages to property. sequences if a situation turns sour.
negotiating a lease.
Beware of onerous or confusing word- Mr. Whitty is the executive director of the
ing regarding repairs and mainte- Army Cadet League.

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 19

OFFICER TRAINING

Lt(N) Ford and >

Lt(N) Cardinell
aboard Orca.
They were the
first two CIC
officers to receive
initial cadre
training for the
new Patrol Craft
Training ships.

Sea cadets to use new training ships

The delivery in recent months of the first two of eight
Vessel 3 (Caribou 57): Delivery end
new Patrol Craft Training (PCT) ships to the Canadian Navy
of May; available in July.
is generating a lot of buzz among CIC naval officers and
sea cadets who will be among their primary users. Vessel 4 (Renard 58): Delivery in
August/September; available in
The new ships replace the Yard ship concentration. Sea cadets from October.
Auxiliary General (YAG) 300 wood- every region made up her crew.
en-hulled tenders that have served Alternating as Orca’s second-in-com- Vessel 5 (Wolf 59): Delivery in
the Canadian Navy in a training role mand were Lt(N) Rex Ford, a former October/November; available in
for more than 50 years. commanding officer (CO) of 82 Sea January 2008.
Cadet Corps in Bonavista, N. L., and The delivery and availability dates
The new ships’ main users will be Lt(N) Pat Cardinell, CO of 109 Sea
the Naval Officers Training Centre of Vessel 6 (Grizzly 60), Vessel 7 (Cougar
Cadet Corps in Port Alberni, B.C., 61) and Vessel 8 (Moose 62) are still to
(NOTC) VENTURE in Esquimalt, the first two CIC officers to receive
B.C.; Naval Reserve Divisions; and be confirmed.
initial cadre training (ICT) from the
the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. ship’s contractor. Two other CIC
While all three groups will have Crew
officers filled the deck officer and
access to the new ships, NOTC has ship’s training officer positions. The minimum crew size in a PCT is
priority to meet its training schedule. five. Of these, three must be PCT qual-
On April 1, Orca became available for ified/endorsed—the officer-in-charge
Victoria Shipyards recently training operations. The second new (OIC), engineer and chief boatswain’s
ship, Raven, is expected to be available mate (buffer). All must complete PCT
accelerated the produc- for training operations by May 14. familiarization training (ICT or steady-
tion of the ships, and the This article will hopefully answer
state) and be endorsed by MOG4/
Canadian Fleet Pacific engineering staff,
Navy may have all eight many questions about the new ships as applicable. The remaining two mem-
and explain how Maritime Operations
by the summer of 2008. Group Four (MOG4) intends to qual-
bers of the crew must have completed
the basic Maritime Surface (MARS)
ify personnel to operate them, as well training course, as a minimum.
In the early months of this year, the as how the ships will be employed.
first PCT ship—named Orca—com- Naval Tender Section will supply a
pleted her sea readiness inspection Delivery schedule qualified engineer and a qualified
and conducted local area operations Victoria Shipyards recently acceler- chief boatswain’s mate for all sea
out of Esquimalt, B.C. ated the production of the ships, and cadet trips. The engineer will be
the Navy may have all eight by the responsible to the OIC for all techni-
From March 12 to 18, Orca—along cal matters. Sea cadet engineers will
summer of 2008. If all goes well, the
with three YAGs and Maple Leaf work under the supervision of the
remaining ships will be delivered
(British Columbia’s oldest tall ship)— NTS engineer. The chief boatswain
and available as follows:
participated in the annual seaman-

20 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

mate will be responsible to the OIC HMCS ACADIA and Lt(N) CIC officers will train at NOTC
for the safety of all seamanship evo- Cardinell will return as sea operations VENTURE, which will promulgate
lutions, including crane operation. officer at HMCS QUADRA. course-nomination and loading mes-
sages based on operational priorities.
CIC officers who are tender com- “I am thrilled to be involved at this
mand/charge-qualified are eligible stage and teaching this course with Wider area of operations
for PCT familiarization training as Rex,” says Lt(N) Cardinell. “The
OIC. PCT qualification will be training we have received obviously The additional speed, range and
granted once the candidate passes stands us in good stead to instruct onboard facilities of the PCT allow
the MOG4 practical assessment, as people who will go on to work in for a wider area of operations than
well as a formal Tender Command Orca and other vessels of her class.” YAGs. With accommodation for 20
Board (for those who have not Adds Lt(N) Ford, “I would highly personnel and excellent onboard
already done so for YAGs). CIC offi- recommend the Tender OIC course facilities, the PCTs are well equipped
cers who are non-tender com- to any CIC officer who would thrive for their primary training role. The
mand/charge-qualified may gain on the daily challenges of working ships have an Integrated Control
PCT endorsement as OIC after and instructing cadets at sea.” Platform System for ship control and
completing the Tender OIC course monitoring and a sophisticated inte-
and 42 days at sea in a Tender (14 of The Directorate of Maritime Training grated navigation and electronic
them as second-in-charge), as well as and Education solicited nominations chart display and information sys-
the same PCT familiarization train- from Naval Reserve Divisions for the tem that is consistent with the sys-
ing, practical assessment and board. next course, tentatively scheduled for tem already in service in the
April 25 to June 22. Naval Reserve Kingston- and Halifax-Class ships.
Initial training Headquarters co-ordinated the selec-
tion for these positions based on nom-
The first three ships, Orca, Raven and ination messages from individual CIC officers may request
Caribou, come with an ICT package
taught by the ship’s contractor.
units. CIC officers will be among training on either the
those attending the course.
The first ICT—a “train the trainer”
Tender Officer-in-Charge
opportunity involving personnel Steady-state course, or Patrol Craft
from MOG4 Naval Tender Section class training
(NTS), NOTC and Canadian Forces It is expected that the Navy’s steady-
Training familiarization and
Fleet School Esquimalt (CFFSE)— state class training package for qualification boards.
occurred last fall and included a OICs, engineers and boatswains will
week of classroom and onboard commence this fall, or early in 2008. In the future, a hydrodynamic model
familiarization, followed by a week of the PCT will be incorporated into
of day sails. Representatives from CIC officers may request training on
either the Tender OIC Course, or the bridge simulator at NOTC VEN-
NOTC and the fleet school continue TURE. That will allow OIC candi-
to fine-tune the ICT documents and PCT familiarization and qualification
boards through their regular chain of dates to practise ship handling prior
develop material for a steady-state to the OIC practical assessment,
class training package. command. CIC members who are
interested in the Tender OIC must first should they wish to do so.
Lt(N) Ford and Lt(N) Cardinell attend- apply to their respective regional cadet The Patrol Craft Training ships are
ed the second ICT session in February support units to receive a pre-instruc- Sea cadets ‘man
exciting, capable and technologically
onboard Raven. Both are now Tender tional package (PIP). Upon successful the side’ of Orca,
advanced. They represent a significant the first of eight
OIC course training officers at NOTC completion of the PIP, their names will investment in navigation and seaman-
VENTURE until the end of June; this be priority listed and forwarded to new Patrol Craft
ship training for both the Canadian Training ships.
summer Lt(N) Ford will return to his Directorate Cadets for course loading. Navy and the sea cadet program.
position as sea operations officer at (Photo by Gary
Webster, Navy
League).
>

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 21

SHARING IDEAS OCdt Eric Coomber

Running a
happy
supply
shop
Keeping track of every shirt
and tie in your corps/squadron
>

supply room is no easy job.

OCdt Coomber skips the paper forms and enters information directly on his laptop when he updates It takes time, effort and
uniform information for Cpl Daniel Vorwerck. However, the supply officer finds it’s faster to use help from others to keep
paper forms and update his spreadsheets and Fortress later when swamped with new cadets. things moving efficiently.
OCdt Coomber fits Cpl Jared Mellow with a wedge in his small, but well-organized supply room. The Fortress supply module
has made keeping track of
>

a cadet’s measurements and

the initial date of issue easi-
er, but if you are a new sup-
ply officer, you may also find
the pointers below helpful.

Keeping tabs
on inventory
Challenge: Telling at a glance which
sizes you have in stock. This is a big-
ger problem when you have limited
space to work in.
Solution: Create a spreadsheet for
every possible size of each item. This
is easier than it sounds. I copied and
pasted the tables from the Logistik
Unicorp website showing all the sizes
and NATO stock numbers for each
item. I use separate pages for pants,
shirts and so on, so I can find them
quickly. If you store this information
on a floppy disk or portable drive,
you can update it on any computer.

22 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

This is especially important if you And you can easily tell when you’re in alphabetical order and easily acces-
don’t have a computer in your supply running low just by looking on the sible, or stored with CF 892A clothing
room or don’t have a permanent office. shelf. It takes a lot more time, how- cards. When you are expecting a
To audit your stock, simply print each ever, to determine that you need to return, pull the cadet’s records and
spreadsheet and check the count. order Cpl Bloggins’ new pants paperclip them together. After closing
because his size is not in stock. a supply account, be sure to update
When I first started in supply, a cadet Fortress with the changes.
gave me the idea to record boot and While it is important to keep track of
shoe sizes in a grid-like table. Label the smaller things, your time is better
rows by the numerical size and the spent keeping track of pants, boots, With Fortress, there
columns by width so that you can keep and tunics. The bigger, more impor- is no more trying to
a tally in the intersecting box. This grid tant items should be the things you
makes it easy to read at a glance. watch like a hawk. Do a monthly squeeze giant words
Challenge: Keeping track of inven-
audit of the small things to determine into tiny spaces!
if you need to order more.
tory when you are busy with uni-
form exchanges, equipment sign- Keeping supply
Administrative running smoothly
outs, and initial uniform issue. efficiency
Challenge: A messy supply room.
Solution: Keep track of every size Challenge: Filling out paperwork
coming and going. I’ve created a can be time consuming. Solution: If your supply room looks
form that lists each item a cadet like it was hit by a tornado, make
receives on initial issue. Just fill in the Solution: Use Fortress! When you sure you take the time to clean it up.
sizes issued and set it aside to update issue kit to a new cadet, use the The supply room is one of the first
your spreadsheet later and add the Fortress supply module to automati- impressions new cadets will have of
measurements to Fortress. Keep cally generate the clothing card. This your corps/squadron. You want to
track of exchanges on another sheet will save you time because it auto- make sure you appear organized and
of paper or form. matically includes the cadet’s name professional, especially if their par-
and contact information on the print- ents are with them.
Be sure to discard these temporary out. With Fortress, there is no more
‘inventory sheets’ after updating your trying to squeeze giant words into Challenge: Not having enough time
spreadsheet so you don’t accidentally tiny spaces! The PDF form includes in one training night to do everything.
change your totals again. If you are everything you issue to each cadet
lucky enough to have a computer in when they join. All you need to do is Solution: Ask for cadet volunteers to
supply, make the changes directly on type in the quantity and date (copy help. I find that when I need help,
your computer and skip the paper. and paste works well here too) and there is always someone looking for
Make sure you save your changes! print. You can easily type in addi- something to do. I think the key here
tional items (that are not part of the is to ask cadets in the ‘middle’ of the
training program—corporals often
Do a monthly audit regular issue) that your unit issues.
have a genuine interest in helping out.
of the small things If you don’t have the luxury of hav- Assign small tasks, like alphabetizing
ing a computer in supply, print the loan cards and sorting wedges by size,
to determine if you form in advance. Be sure to update and eventually explain how pants
need to order more. your clothing cards when cadets and tunics are arranged on the racks.
move. Luckily you can access all of By the time they move to the higher
Don’t sweat this information on Fortress. ranks, they will know the sizing sys-
the small stuff tem and can help you kit new cadets.
Challenge: Making sure cadets return
Challenge: Keeping track of odds everything they have borrowed. OCdt Coomber is the supply officer
and ends. with 535 Air Cadet Squadron in
Solution: Keeping all records in the Leamington, Ont.
Solution: Don’t worry about know- same place is important. If you have
ing the exact number of belts or ties issued items on temporary loan, make
on the shelf. Cadets regularly ask to sure you maintain this paperwork.
borrow a tie or slip-ons from supply Make sure your DND 638 forms are
because they forgot theirs at home.

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 23

 Capt Calvin Facey

Preparing cadets for summer training

>

Cadet Abbie Ootova, Summer training can be pleasurable or miserable for cadets. Every year, many cadets are returned to
3058 Army Cadet unit (RTU), cutting short their cadet summer training centre (CSTC) experience. Local officers may be able
Corps, arrives at to drastically reduce these numbers if they adequately prepare cadets and their parents beforehand.
the cadet summer
training centre in
Initial intake smooth transition from local to sum- • Addressing an officer
Whitehorse for
Preparation for summer training mer training. If a cadet has to spend • Paying attention to detail
summer training.
(Photo: Capt Elisabeth should begin the day a cadet signs up time adjusting to higher CSTC train-
ing standards, he/she will have a hard- • Teamwork
Mills, CSTC Whitehorse at a corps/squadron. Local training
public affairs.)
staff should try to learn what the er time grasping material. The cadet • Obeying orders
cadet’s interests are and by the first may become easily frustrated and dis- • Good personal hygiene
quarter, have a good grasp of what enchanted, leading to an RTU.
• Respect for property
course and CSTC best fits each cadet. Special emphasis should be placed on • Physical fitness
If a cadet requests a specific course or key training points when preparing
CSTC, then that’s just what it is—a cadets for camp. Preparation should Mindset
request. You are not bound to rec- include not only new cadets but cadets If cadets do not express an explicit
ommend the cadet for that course if at all levels and ranks. (Experienced desire to attend camp, they should
you feel that another cadet deserves cadets sometimes get too comfortable not attend. They should not attend
it more, the cadet is not suitable for a and complacent, making them more just because their parents are keen to
specific course, or the corps/ likely to ignore or circumvent camp send them or out of fear that they
squadron would be better served if rules and regulations.) won’t get promoted if they don’t go.
the cadet attended another course. (A commanding officer can use some
Local officers may be discretion in this area.) Training staff
Local officers have a great deal of
influence in deciding what course able to drastically should, however, explore any cadet’s
lack of interest in summer training
and CSTC a cadet will attend. This reduce [RTU] numbers if and disseminate proper information
is as it should be because that cadet’s
training—or lack of it—will have a they adequately prepare to ensure they are well informed
direct impact on the future resources cadets and their parents Attitude
and training available to the corps/
squadron. Training staff should act as beforehand. If a cadet does not exhibit the correct
‘guidance counsellors’ to assist cadets attitude to function effectively at a
in selecting courses and CSTCs. Key training points should include CSTC, then an attitude adjustment is
the following: warranted before allowing the cadet
Training to attend. The misconception that
• Dress and deportment camp will ‘fix’ the cadet is totally
At the very least, local cadet training • Respect for time unreasonable and unfair to CSTC
should be at a comparable level to
• Responsibility for one’s staff. They have hundreds of cadets
CSTC training. This will allow for a
own and issued kit

24 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

Returned often rush to pick up their child at
the first call with a hard-luck story
could catch someone’s eye and be
stolen—at home.
without calling the CSTC first.
to unit Inform parents that they must con-
tact the camp’s duty desk (the num-
When cadets leave for camp, it’s
important that a prominent member
ber the cadets send home after they of the corps/squadron be present at
In 2006, 898 cadets were returned to the pick-up point to tend to last-
unit from CSTCs across the country. arrive at camp) before heading out.
minute issues and help put
That represented 4.2 percent of the
Homesick cadets parents/guardians at ease by provid-
cadets taken on strength and a
jump from the previous summer’s ing reassurance and answering ques-
Most young cadets will get homesick tions. Show parents that local respon-
RTU rate of 3.7 percent. in the first few days at a CSTC. This sibility does not end with the com-
There can be many reasons why a in itself is generally a good sign that pletion of a CF 51.
cadet is returned to unit, including the cadet is coming from a support-
medical problems, course failure, dis- ive environment.
cipline problems and parent requests. The misconception
However, cadets are doomed to fail- New cadets, in particular, have prob-
ure if they arrive at camp ill-prepared lems adjusting to the rigors of camp that camp will ‘fix’
for a specific course. regime. Everything about camp can the cadet is totally
“When the cadet arrives at camp, become a problem, including wake-
paperwork may say that the cadet up and bed times, regimented meal unreasonable and
meets all of the requirements for times, the food, the lack of privacy unfair to CSTC staff.
a course, but sometimes the and the requirement to share televi-
cadet doesn’t,” says LCol Christian sion, videogame and phone access. Local officers may sometimes be able
Bergeron, responsible for program Inform cadets beforehand that if they to visit the camp their cadets are
delivery at Directorate Cadets. “It is become homesick, they should visit
important to carefully consider the attending. This will give the cadets
the CSTC counselling department some level of reassurance and a
suitability of cadets for specific cours- before calling home.
es. The selection process starts with chance to ask about something that
local corps and squadrons.” Before it gets to that point, however, they may not feel comfortable asking
local officers can be on the lookout for CSTC staff. This can also re-assure
LCol Bergeron adds that corps/
cadets with adjustment problems. parents that someone familiar is look-
squadrons should inform their cadets
as soon as possible that they have During corps/squadron exercises, look ing out for their child.
When cadets arrive
been selected for a course. “Do not for cadets who are having trouble Capt Facey is the CO of 2881 Army at a CSTC, their
wait until their final parade,” he says. sleeping or adapting to schedules. You Cadet Corps in Scarborough, Ont. He has chances of having a
may be able to help them resolve these been a social worker for 16 years and is pleasurable experi-
issues before they leave for camp. supervisor of a youth shelter in downtown ence are very high
to deal with and will not have time Toronto. He has recently completed his if they and their
Cadet ability
for individual ‘cadet-fixing’. master’s degree in environmental studies, parents have been
When considering a cadet for sum- with a focus on youth violence containment adequately prepared.
Parents mer courses, the cadet’s ability to and urban development. (CSTC Valcartier photo)
complete the course should be the

>
Parents’ motives for sending their primary consideration. Some simplis-
children for summer training should tic examples are, don’t send a cadet
not influence a CIC officer’s decision. with foot problems on a Drill and
Ensuring parents are well-informed Ceremonial Course or a cadet that is
about the courses their children are afraid of heights on a Parachutist
enrolled in will help alleviate ‘mom Course. Local training staff must
and pop’ anxiety. The more informed ensure that the cadet’s mental, physi-
parents are about CSTCs, the better cal, intellectual and emotional states
equipped they are to help prepare their are appropriate for the selected
children. This approach will also help course. Anything less could set the
parents become less dependent on the cadet up for failure.
detachment for information when the
corps/squadron is at stand-down. The send-off
Cadets should be advised when
Parents must be informed about packing for the CSTC to leave the
rules and regulations concerning ‘shiny stuff’— personal property that
cadet pick-up from camp. They will

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 25

 Maj Russ Francis
CADET PROGRAM UPDATE

Stakeholders involved in the update

process have been very positive
about the quality of training content
Updated training delayed, and documentation developed so far,
and the creation of documentation
but worth the wait remains on schedule.
Your new documents will look and
feel slightly different. You will have a
You should be aware by now of the delay in rolling out the qualification standard and plan
updated first-year local and summer training programs. Some (describing course content and
of you are probably disappointed; others may be relieved. administrative details), as well as a
complete instructional guide (helping
you plan periods or evening/week-
>

The new instruc- We understand how you feel. We too you will receive them this fall. This end activities) in each completely
tional guide for were chomping at the bit to imple- is well ahead of the new implemen- bilingual package.
map and compass ment the updated corps/squadron tation date. We have developed this strong docu-
suggests all sorts program by September 2007. We mentation, knowing that you may be
of new activities were initially disappointed that the The advantage of this is that now
you will have more time to fully working with it for the next 12 to 15
and games to Department of National Defence sec- years until the next significant pro-
assist teaching. tion that is financing and overseeing review your new training publica-
tions before you implement updated gram overhaul.
(CSTC Trenton photo) the translation, printing and distribu-
tion of our training documentation training. This is no small thing for Even though you will not implement
needs more time because of CF oper- instructors who have a tougher time the new first-year training program
ational demands. Now, however, we adjusting to change. at your corps/squadron until
can see the ‘up’ side to waiting until September 2008, you can get a head
September 2008. We had hoped to deliver start by experimenting (in your cur-
When we first began to work with new first-year training rent program) with some of the ideas
in the training publications you will
people across the organization to publications to you by receive this fall.
update cadet training, they told us,
“Take as long as you need because January of this year; Rather than delivering your usual
we want quality. Take your time and instead you will receive stand-up classroom lecture, you may
do it well.” They knew they would want to follow up on suggestions for
be living with the changes for a long them this fall. delivering material in more hands-on,
time and believed their patience practical ways. Your new instructional
would pay off. You will now have time to fully absorb guide for map and compass, for
documentation and get answers from instance, suggests all sorts of new
We listened and have been taking detachment and area staff to your activities and games to assist teaching.
the time to do it well. At the same questions before you start.
time, we were so excited about the The great news is that you don’t
updated program that we created You will have more time to adjust to have to wait until September 2008 to
aggressive deadlines for implement- changes like the more concentrated try them!
ing it. We had hoped to deliver new and detailed approach to physical fit-
first-year training publications to ness and healthy living, or the shift Maj Francis is the officer responsible
you by January of this year; instead, to more specific streams of citizen- for cadet program development at
ship training. You will have more Directorate Cadets.
time to plan.

26 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

Summer training more holistic
Cadet training will look different to instructors at cadet summer training centres (CSTCs) across
Canada in the summer of 2009—the kick-off date for updated summer training for first-year cadets.

Common look and feel “It’s also a positive change from the by an instructor during the day) and
to training framework current 10 periods a day we spend on the informal learning environment,
“We are standardizing course lengths, sea cadet training,” says Lt(N) says Capt Andrea Onchulenko, air
training days per week, periods in a Shayne Hall, sea cadet program cadet program development officer at
day and minutes in a period across the development officer at D Cdts. “We D Cdts. “We will provide a more
country,” says Capt Rick Butson, have tried to do too much ‘hard relaxed environment for the cadets at
army cadet program development training’ in the past. Now the cadets the end of each day, allowing them to
officer at Directorate Cadets (D Cdts). won’t be sick of hearing about the just be themselves in a social environ-
same subject 10 hours a day.” ment—to make friends, relax and
hang out.”
The shift to more More extra-
“It may require a little bit of a mind
extracurricular time curricular time
shift for instructors,” adds Lt(N) Hall.
The shift to more extracurricular
during summer training time during summer training applies
Some extracurricular activities, such
as an intramural sports program, will
applies to cadets of all to cadets of all ages and elements. be more structured than others (like
ages and elements. “There’s increasing recognition that a cards or board games) and will
cadet is not only at camp for the train- require organization and supervision
The General Training (GT) course ing, but for the socialization with from senior cadets and officers.
for all first-year cadets will continue other young people within the cadet “It’s not about trying to occupy the
to be two weeks long, but a training community,” says Capt Butson. cadets all day long to guarantee
week will consist of six days; a train- “We are trying to make the they will stay out of trouble,”
ing day will consist of eight periods; cadet summer training experi- says Capt Onchulenko. “It’s
and a training period will consist of ence more holistic.” about just giving them time to
40 minutes—regardless of element. be 12- and 13-year-olds in a
There will be a balance
“This creates a common look and between the formal learn- summer setting.”
feel across the CSTCs, and I ing environment (led
think the summer program is
going to be smoother and
cleaner because of it,” says
Capt Butson. “It’s going to
be a lot easier to exchange
best practices.”
As air cadet summer training is
already based on the model of
eight 40-minute periods daily
and a five-and-a-half to six-day
training week, standardization
affects army cadet and sea
cadet training more. Currently,
< Cadets are not only at
army cadet summer training
camp for the training,
can extend up to 11 periods a day
but for the socializa-
and up to seven days a week,
tion with other young
depending on the course, says Capt
people within the
Butson. “This shift is going to be
cadet community.
dramatic in reducing the amount of
time and pressure on the cadets. It’s
much more reasonable now. Our
cadets will now have more time in a
less-structured environment.”

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 27

CADET PROGRAM UPDATE

Summer training—sea In current GT sail

“The updated summer The updated general training (GT) training, sea cadets
training program for sea course will introduce cadets to all of spend half their time
the activity areas—sail, drill and cere-
cadets will open the door to monial, seamanship, marksmanship, on land learning the
instructors who want to be fitness and sports and music. basics of sailing.
more creative in presenting
The main change will not be so
and conducting activities,” much the specific activities, as the right in the boat. The cadets will also
says Lt(N) Shayne Hall, sea focus. Currently, the focus in first- take part in a regatta with their
cadet program development year training is on teaching cadets a peers, once again with an experi-
officer at Directorate Cadets. couple of basic skills in each stream enced sailor at their side.
and giving them a presentation on
When the updated first-year pro- what they can learn in the future if “Essentially the same approach will
gram is introduced in the summer they pursue that stream. The new be taken to every activity area on the
of 2009, summer camp staff—par- focus will be on fun. GT course,” says Lt(N) Hall. “We
ticularly senior cadets and junior will show them what is possible—
officers—will have fun showing the Lt(N) Hall offers this example: In what they will learn by going
cadets the “cool stuff they can do”, current GT sail training, sea cadets through our program.”
says Lt(N) Hall. The instructors’ spend half their time on land learn-
ing the basics of sailing. Then they Some instructors may be disappoint-
goal will be to give first-year ed that outdoor adventure training
cadets a taste of the excitement are put into a boat by themselves to
start their sailing lessons. has been removed from sea cadet
they will experience when they summer training. “They may feel
too gain advanced knowledge and In the updated training program, that they are losing a valuable activ-
specialized skills. first-year cadets will sail with some- ity that allowed cadets to show their
Future summer training activities one who knows how to sail well—at leadership qualities in a peer envi-
for sea cadets will be much the same higher wind speeds, for example. ronment where they interacted all
as activities in the current program, They will experience the excitement the time; however, the sea cadet
but cadets will see more choice and of sailing with experienced sailors program can achieve those things to
variety in the courses they can take who can explain things to them and the same degree through more sea-
after first year. demonstrate expert sailing skills related activities,” assures Lt(N) Hall.

28 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

Capt Rick Butson

Summer training—army
When you first see the new summer training course configuration for army cadets you are going
to be pleasantly surprised. Finally, expedition is fully integrated into summer training!

All army cadets aged 12 to 13 will be The configuration of music courses The GT course will be the first
taking the same first-year course—the has also changed in the updated updated course to be introduced in
General Training (GT) qualification CSTC program. Every GT cadet the summer of 2009.
(currently known as the Basic Army will receive a teaser of a half-day

<
Cadet qualification). But after that, music introduction. Dedicated music For army cadets, as for sea and air
cadets, the main aim of this first qual- The ultimate
there is now an expedition series of courses will be available starting in expedition challenge
courses starting with Basic Expedition year two and the prerequisite for ification is to introduce cadets to the
cadet summer training centre (CSTC) for army cadets
for 13- or 14-year-olds, progressing to participation on the three available is the annual
Expedition Instructor for 14- to 16- courses will be based on music lev- environment and future CSTC spe-
cialty training qualifications. International
year-olds, Leadership and Challenge els, not the year of training. Army Cadet
for 15- to 17-year-olds and finally to Course content will be similar to the Expedition. This
Senior Expeditions to the United There is also recognition that some
training is common among all three current basic army cadet qualification photo is from the
Kingdom for our senior cadets. course, with an overnight expedition, 2006 expedition
elements, specifically music, air rifle
While Leadership and Challenge and marksmanship and fitness and sports, summer biathlon, marksmanship, to Mont Blanc.
recreational sports, CSTC familiariza- (Photo by Capt Hope
our Senior Expeditions will be familiar so we are developing common docu- Carr, regional public
to many, the Basic Expedition and tion, navigation and communica-
affairs (Atlantic))
tions. Some staffing flexibility has
Expedition Instructor are more than Finally, expedition is been introduced to harmonize the
an updated cover on the Army Cadet
Leader Instructor Adventure package. fully integrated into army course with the other elements,
but overall, the course is similar to
The Basic Expedition course will summer training! what we currently have. In most
serve as a vehicle to develop hard skills
in wilderness travel and base camping, mentation for all three elements. cases, the changes we are making are
while the Expedition Instructor course Regions can then decide if they want to capture best practices currently
will develop expedition specialists to run the summer training as an ele- taking place to make our courses
capable of combining their hard skills mental course or a tri-service course, even better than they are today.
with the ‘softer’ leadership, manage- based on regional resources and what Capt Butson is the army cadet training
ment and instructional skills. makes the most sense. development officer at Directorate Cadets.

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 29

CADET PROGRAM UPDATE

Summer
training
—air
“When our air cadets get together with their friends after They will learn about marshalling
taking updated first-year summer training in 2009, they will aircraft, build and operate their own
have done more in two weeks than a lot of their friends have wind vane and anemometer (tools to
done over the whole summer,” says Capt Andrea Onchulenko, measure wind direction and speed)
and tour an airport or flight school.
air cadet program development officer at Directorate Cadets.
<

For local squadrons, “The kids will be going non-stop,”

music is optional. says Capt Onchulenko.
What is really exciting about the updat- for more in this program area.” To do
However, all first- ed General Training (GT) course, she this, cadets will spend an afternoon
year air cadets will says, is the broad range of activities the touring a band facility. They will see
be introduced to What is really exciting
cadets will be exposed in just two instruments, talk to cadet staff about
music during sum- weeks. “They will see a little bit of music, learn a drum-line routine and about the updated
mer training in everything the air cadet program has to perform for their peers.
2009. Among other General Training course
offer and hopefully, find their niche.
things, they will
The more they see, the more things to Aviation is the broad range of
learn a drum-line
routine.
excite them about being a cadet, and The future GT course will also have activities the cadets
the greater the odds are that they will more aviation activities. In addition
(Photo from 713 Air
Cadet Squadron, Stoney stay with the Cadet Program.” to making and flying paper gliders, will be exposed to
Creek, Ont.)
Here’s a sneak peak at just a few of
for instance, the cadets will make over the two weeks.
and fly paper helicopters. They will
the activities designed to tweak the
still take familiarization flights in a
interest of first-year cadets. Impact on
glider, airbus or powered aircraft.
training staffs
Music Staff will have plenty of time to absorb
Aerospace
Beginning in the summer of 2009, air new top-notch instructional materials.
First-year cadets will now make bottle
cadets in the GT course will take part “Everything is so well laid out in our
rockets instead of film canister rockets.
in a music familiarization activity. instructional guides,” she says.
It’s a more complex rocket activity,
“Music is not part of our mandatory requiring more skill to make the rock- For instructors, the updated program
program because we just don’t have et fly further and faster. Also new are will mean creating a learning envi-
the resources to engage all cadets in some activities related to appreciation ronment that is more fun. “You won’t
music; however, it is available in of how to live and travel in space. be delivering text-book lectures so
optional and summer training,” says much as helping the cadets explore,”
Capt Onchulenko. “We know that a Aerodrome operations adds Capt Onchulenko. “Overall, it
lot of good things come out of cadets This subject area is brand new, famil- will be a more refreshing way to
engaged in music, so we want to whet iarizing first-year cadets with ground- interact with first-year cadets.”
the appetites of our first-year cadets based trades in support of aviation.

30 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

Lt(N) Darin McRae OFFICER DEVELOPMENT

The new CF leadership doctrine and you

The new Leadership in the supervision, administration and train- or the CF as a whole. However,
Canadian Forces: Doctrine, ing of cadets from 12 to 18 years of distributed leadership does not equate
age. Further, mission success may be to a co-command arrangement. In the
issued in early 2005, provides our success in imparting in Canadian end, a leader must make decisions.
the basis for all leadership youth a sense of community involve- As a CIC officer, you can see easily
training in the CF. This docu- ment, promoting life skills and moral how this philosophy can apply to
ment will also form the core character, and enabling young people your leadership of other CIC officers,
of new CIC leadership training to develop social values and ethical non-commissioned members serving
standards. the Cadet Program and cadets.
currently under development.
The Cadet Program Update (CPU) Values-based leadership means being
How has leadership changed? This has produced a clear mission, vision guided in your decisions and actions
article describes the CF’s new defini- and aim, as detailed in CATO 11-03. by institutional values that define our
tion of leadership and new leader- It describes the Cadet Program mis- ethos. Military ethos reflects how mil-
ship philosophy. sion as developing and preparing itary professionals view themselves
youth for the transition to adult- (identity), how they fulfill their func-
What is leadership?
hood—enabling them to meet the tion (expertise) and how they relate
The new definition of CF leadership challenges of modern society. to their government and society
evokes the concepts of duty and hon- (responsibility). The institutional val-
our: “directing, motivating, and Cornerstones to CIC officers accom- ues that define our military ethos are
enabling others to accomplish the mis- plishing that mission are teamwork, the civic values of liberal democracy,
sion professionally and ethically, while professionalism, ethics and motivat- values based in the rule of law, ethical
developing or improving capabilities ing others, all strongly emphasized in values governing our treatment of
that contribute to mission success.” the new CF definition of leadership. others and the core military values of
duty, loyalty, integrity and courage.
CF leadership
For CIC officers, mission philosophy
Can you see how values-based lead-
ership might apply to CIC officers?
success may mean our The CF’s leadership philosophy is
rooted in two spheres of leadership— If you would like to learn more about
success in the profes- distributed leadership and value- the new CF leadership doctrine, visit
sional supervision, based leadership. [Link]/CFLI/engraph/
leadership/leadership_e.asp.
administration and Distributed leadership means sharing
A follow-up article in the Fall issue
training of cadets from the essential functions of leadership
will discuss leading people, the
to varying degrees with peer and sub-
12 to 18 years of age. ordinate leaders to help develop and importance of trust and leadership
use their leadership potential. This characteristics.
While this definition emphasizes mis- means sharing leadership responsibil-
sion success in the context of the ities (where appropriate) vertically Lt(N) McRae is a CIC courseware devel-
broader CF, it can also apply to us. and horizontally within teams, units, opment officer at Directorate Cadets. < The CIC
For CIC officers, mission success may leadership
mean our success in the professional philosophy will
help determine
our success
in training
Canadian
youth to
become leaders.
(Photo by WO
Eileen Redding,
Regional Gliding
School (Pacific)
public affairs)

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 31

OFFICER DEVELOPMENT Nathalie Richard

Meeting the legal “standard of care”

As legal advisor to the Directorate Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers, I am frequently
asked about whether new policies or practices are legally sound. As part of this analysis I
must ask the question, “What is the legal standard of care and has it been met?” As CIC
officers working with youth, you may be asking yourself similar questions and wondering
what you can do to manage legal risks and avoid potential legal responsibility.

At the outset, the person being sued In addition to proving that a duty of
The legal notion of negligence is one (the defendant) must owe the plaintiff a care exists, a plaintiff must also
that frequently arises in civil lawsuits duty of care. This is an obligation to exer- show that the defendant failed to
cise reasonable care in favour of others. meet the expected standard of care.
against adults who supervise youth. Generally the standard is that of a
The law has clearly established that reasonably careful person placed in
“Negligence” and a duty of care exists in the case of the circumstances of the defendant.
“standard of care” adults who supervise minors. CIC Perfection is not expected; reason-
officers therefore owe a duty of care able care is. This means that a per-
The legal notion of negligence is one
towards cadets. They may also owe son can make a mistake or an error
that frequently arises in civil lawsuits
a duty of care to other individuals and no liability may result. The court
against adults who supervise youth.
who may be affected by their will look at whether a reasonable
For an injured person (the plaintiff) to actions. Whether such a duty exists person would have foreseen and
be successful in a negligence lawsuit, would have to be assessed in light of guarded against the risk of injury to
he must prove the existence of a specific circumstances.
duty of care, a breach of the stan-
dard of care, a sufficient causal link
between the alleged wrong and the Quebec’s equivalent to “negligence”
damage, as well as proof that dam-
ages were suffered. The law of negligence does not apply to Quebec, which has a dif-
ferent legal system called civil law. The concept of extracontractu-
al responsibility, Quebec’s equivalent to negligence, is not covered
in this article. Although the two notions are different, the out-
come on whether a person is liable often leads to the same result.

32 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

others. The likelihood and severity teacher was found negligent for hav- their subordinates, even if the
of damage is also considered, as a ing inadequate safety precautions employer did nothing wrong. Under
reasonable person is expected to act while students were working on an this notion of vicarious liability the
more cautiously if there is a strong art project. A student’s eye was DND/CF could be held liable for the
probability that something will hap- punctured by a wire and this could actions of its CIC officers if there is a
pen or if the impact will be very have been prevented by wearing pro- sufficient connection to their duties.
harmful. tective eyewear. The court conclud-
ed that the teacher was under a legal In the case of the Cadet
The determination of the standard obligation to ensure appropriate
of care may also be influenced by safety equipment was being used. Program, proof of compliance
established practices or norms fol-
lowed by other individuals or organ- In another case, a gym teacher was with the safe practices of
izations carrying out similar activi- found legally liable when a student other youth organizations
ties. In the case of the Cadet was rendered quadriplegic as a result
Program, proof of compliance with of a failed jump from a box horse.
may help to establish that
the safe practices of other youth The court ruled that the activity was due care was exercised.
organizations may help to establish inappropriate for a high school gym-
that due care was exercised. nastics class and that the teacher did What if a CIC
not provide adequate supervision. officer gets sued?
A higher standard of care than that The standard of care principle
of the reasonable person may be required that the level of difficulty be CIC officers who are sued can apply
expected where an individual has appropriate for the participants and for DND/CF coverage. To be consid-
specialized abilities. For example, in that proper guidance and supervi- ered for legal assistance funding, a
the case of CIC officers, a court sion be provided. CIC officer must have acted honestly
would impose a standard that is and without malice within the scope
based on the reasonably prudent and The remaining elements of negli- of CIC duties and have met reason-
competent youth instructor or youth gence are the causal link and damages. able departmental expectations. If
specialist. Further, the standard is ele- A plaintiff must be able to prove that you are sued or notified about a
vated in all instances involving the the action of the defendant con- potential claim, you should immedi-
care of children, to that of a careful tributed to the damage and that the ately advise your chain of command,
parent or guardian. The amount of resulting injury could be reasonably as well as the Office of the DND/CF
supervision and control that is foreseen. Lastly, the plaintiff must Legal Advisor or the closest office of
expected will depend on the age and demonstrate that he has suffered the Assistant Judge Advocate General
ability of the child, and will generally some form of damage due to the (located on CF bases).
diminish the older the child is. defendant’s failure to act properly.
Nathalie Richard is Counsel with the
“Standard of care” A finding of negligence can have far- Office of the DND/CF Legal Advisor.
examples reaching consequences that extend
beyond the individual who is found
A couple of court decisions provide a negligent. Employers can be held
helpful illustration of the standard of legally responsible for the actions of
care principle. In one case, an art

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 33

OFFICER DEVELOPMENT Nathalie Richard

Can you
manage
risk better?
Following are some tips which may
help you manage legal risks:

• Identify issues ahead of time, and

make risk management part of
your planning. Consider the fol-
find out whether other groups or
associations have developed guide-
lines or tools that are relevant to
Interested
lowing questions:
– What is the likelihood a
the activity you’re organizing.
• Respect everyone’s right to priva-
in learning
more?
problem will take place? cy and avoid physical contact that
– If it does, what would be may be misunderstood. Prior to
the potential impact? being alone with a cadet consider
• Reflect on whether the activity the risks. If a private meeting is
can be modified to reduce or elim- necessary, it should take place in a The DND/CF strategy
inate the risk. Consider whether location with visual access and on managing risks
the chain of command should be away from isolated areas.
Check out the DND/CF Legal
consulted, particularly where • If you’re aware of activities that Advisor’s online Legal Risk
there is a strong chance that a risk do not meet the standard of care, Management course and try out
will materialize or that the result- ask that they be brought to the some case studies. To register for
ing impact would be high. attention of the chain of com- this online course you must contact
• Ensure a proper safety check is mand so that any pertinent poli- the Defence Learning Network
carried out prior to conducting cies can be changed. Helpdesk at 1-888-486-4743.
cadet training. For example, make • If an incident occurs, record the
sure adequate first aid supplies are details. If an incident is likely to Funding for CF Members
on hand. Also verify whether all result in a legal claim, the proce- who Get Sued
DND/CF norms are met, as well dures set out in DAOD 7004-1 The procedures to follow are set
as Cadet Program policies. “Claims and Ex gratia proce- out in the Treasury Board Policy on
• Avoid supervising large groups of dures” must be followed. the Indemnification of and Legal
cadets without proper assistance. Assistance for Crown Servants.
• Because laws are constantly
This policy can be consulted at:
• Make sure that you have the evolving and legalities will vary
[Link]/pubs_pol/hrpubs/
required qualifications to proceed based on the situation, make sure
TB_851/pila_e.asp
with an activity. If you feel you to seek the opinion of a legal
are not properly trained or expe- expert if you have outstanding
concerns. A request can be made
The law generally
rienced, raise the concern with
your chain of command. through your chain of command The Department of Justice website
to seek advice from Directorate is a good starting point and pro-
• Keep an eye on what similar youth Cadets and Junior Canadian vides links to sources of informa-
organizations are doing with Rangers legal counsel, or the clos- tion regarding various legal topics
respect to safe practices. For exam- est office of the Assistant Judge and Canada’s court system. Go to:
ple, try some online research to Advocate General. [Link]

34 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

Capt Chantal Durepos and Capt Sonia Nadeau

<
CF recruiting campaign training or mentoring recruits or Capt Cheryl Major,
includes CIC officers young military members.” training officer at
848 Air Cadet
To further boost CIC recruiting Squadron in
efforts, a new CIC recruiting video, a Victoria, B.C.
In recent months, the Canadian them visited the Canadian Forces
CIC monograph (job description) and and LCdr Pash
Forces (CF) has embarked on a mas- Pavilion, and many of them stopped
new recruiting pamphlets are being set out new CIC
sive recruiting campaign to increase at our kiosk. Twenty CIC officers
produced for CFRG and the leagues. recruiting material
its strength. The aim of the campaign took turns staffing the kiosk over 18
is to show that the CF can appeal to days. The experience of meeting at the Maritime
you, no matter where your interests with the general public at an exhibi- It is important for us to Forces Pacific
lie. You can serve either full-time as a tion of this calibre was incredible! make the most of every Employment
member of the Regular Force, or Exposition on
part-time—with the Primary Reserve, It is important for us to make the possible opportunity to Feb. 6. The two
most of every possible opportunity
or, if you are interested in youth, the
to promote the CIC. For example,
promote the CIC. encouraged retiring
Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC). members of the
Pacific Region CIC officers took Regular Force to
No matter what the forum, we
Canadian Forces Recruiting Group part in a job fair staged by the consider continuing
should take advantage of opportuni-
(CFRG) launched Operation CON- Canadian Forces Personnel Support in the CF as
ties to promote the CIC and the
NECTION to forge a ‘connection’ Agency in February and shortly cadet instructors.
Cadet Program. We already know
between citizens and the CF. after, attended a Second Career
what the CIC offers. Now is the
Realizing that the CIC represented Assistance Network (SCAN) semi-
time to let the rest of the country
another area of potential ‘job’ oppor- nar to encourage people leaving the
know. The CIC officers who
tunities, CFRG invited the CIC to set Regular Force or Primary Reserve to
worked at the CNE can attest to the
up a kiosk at the Canadian National think about joining the CIC.
fact that most Canadians are open to
Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto last According to LCdr Gerry Pash,
our message. We just have to make
summer, alongside our Regular and regional public affairs officer
an effort to find and talk to them.
Primary Reserve colleagues. (Pacific), “The Cadet Instructors
Cadre is stimulating a lot of interest Capt Durepos is the human resources offi-
More than 640 000 visitors passed among non-commissioned members cer with Directorate Cadets. Capt Nadeau
through the turnstiles at the CNE of the CF—particularly those who is a public affairs officer with Director
between Aug. 8 and Sept. 4. Most of spent part of their careers either General Reserves and Cadets.

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 35

 “Deemed on duty” policy change
Paragraphs 20-22 of CFAO 49-6, allowing Reserve Force members to be “deemed on duty”
when providing support to the Canadian Cadet Organizations (CCO) without pay, were
cancelled April 1 to align CCO regulations with regulations that have been in force for
other reservists for some time.

Will this throw the entire Cadet Below are the major impacts of this trips and every training activity the
Program on its ear? No. change on corps and squadrons and regions have approved. COs must
attempts to make the transition easier. ensure that paid days are distributed
“The whole Cadet Program has so there will be enough to cover the
always been based around a certain
expectation of voluntary service,” COs must ensure whole year.
says Maj Al Memess, senior person- that at least one While Maj Memess concedes that
nel policy officer at Directorate the initial reaction will be, ‘Wow—
Cadets (D Cdts). “Instructors have paid instructor is how are we going to do this?” he
always done more, even at corps and “on service” for says it can be done.
squadrons that do a minimum num-
ber of activities.” all approved Below is an example of a month's
training schedule for a typical corps
He says it’s important to understand cadet activities. with a staff of five officers (including
that this change does not mean that the CO) and a medium-to-high
instructors are being asked to do any Impact 1 training load. “It’s somewhat sim-
more than they are currently doing. The biggest impact is on command- plistic, but shows what can be done,”
“They are simply being asked to ing officers (COs) who must ensure says Maj Memess. “With more than
change the way they allocate paid that at least one paid instructor is 1100 cadet corps and squadrons,
days,” he says. “At first, it looks like “on service” for all approved cadet there’s no doubt that there could be
a big administrative headache, but activities. This includes weekend many different scenarios.”
eventually all of the pieces of the exercises, cultural visits, year-end
puzzle will fall into place.”

36 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

The challenge will be planning well
ahead of time. “COs are going to
have to sit down as far ahead as they
can to look at their schedules and
allot specific people to specific activi-
ties,” says Maj Memess.
There’s no set formula for doing it,
but D Cdts is working on providing
tools that will help COs with their
planning, so that a paid instructor is
responsible and physically participat-
ing in each authorized cadet activity.

Help
Access to specialist days has been
increased. In the past, these days
could be used only for civilian instruc-
tors. Now, they can be used to hire
any active member of the Reserve
Force, regardless of sub-component—
as long as that person is trained in a
specialty. The only restrictions are port the Cadet Program will be cov- what DND provides, where the
that the specialist duties must be per- ered under a commercial Special member would go to hospital, be
formed for another corps/squadron, Risk Accident Policy for accidental treated under their provincial health
and a specialist cannot be hired to do death, dismemberment and medical care plan and be reimbursed for a
administrative or general tasks. benefits. CIC members will be eligi- portion of any additional costs
Here’s an example of how this could ble for liability coverage under through their insurance plan.
work. One CO, who has a trained Treasury Board’s Policy on the
Indemnification of and Legal “The Standard Insurance plan for
first-aid instructor or range safety volunteers is a good one,” he
officer on staff, might consider Assistance for Crown Servants,
provided that they have acted hon- assures, “but like any insurance, we
allowing his specialist to work with hope they never have to use it.”
other corps and squadrons. These estly, without malice, within the
instructors would be paid over and scope of their duties and have met
What stays the same?
above their corps/squadron alloca- reasonable departmental expecta-
tions. Coverage for members of Unpaid civilian instructors (CIs) are
tion for this service.
other Reserve Force sub-components considered as volunteers and come
is still being investigated. under the provisions of CATO 23-07.
Impact 2
Paid CIs will be covered under the
CIC officers (and other Class “A” "COs are going to terms of their employment contracts.
Reserve Force members supporting
the Cadet Program) can still volun- have to sit down as
Paid Reserve Force members working
tarily perform duties without pay; far ahead as they in support of the Cadet Program will
however they will no longer receive
can to look at their continue to be covered under regula-
Class “A” Reserve Service benefits if
tions that govern Reserve Personnel
an injury is determined to be due to schedules and allot on Class “A” Reserve Service.
“military duty”. Those benefits
include emergency medical and den- specific people to CMP Instruction 20/04 allows mem-
tal care and possible Veterans Affairs specific activities." bers on Class “B” or Class “C” serv-
Canada benefits. ice to voluntarily continue serving
“The details of the available benefits with corps/squadrons, provided they
Help will be published in the CATO that meet the administrative require-
All Class “A” Reserve Force mem- will explain the procedures to file ments set out in A-PM-245-001/FP-
bers who are unpaid when they sup- claims,” says Maj Memess. “They 001 Chapter 19.
will be ‘bridge benefits’, similar to

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 37

VIEWPOINT Lt(N) Wendy Butt

We need to recruit more CIC officers

We need a better recruiting strategy for CIC officers. We need to show people who
have not been associated with the Canadian Cadet Movement or Cadet Instructors
Cadre (CIC) that the Cadet Program is worth becoming involved in.
What leads me to this conclusion? N. L., and the corps is a one-hour When we first arrived, we were a little
drive away. I work in management in taken aback that only 13 cadets
In 2004 I offered my services to a sea my civilian career which is usually a turned out. We spoke to the cadets
cadet corps in need. This corps had 50 plus hours-a-week job. The other and told them that we would work
an outstanding past and having been officer was in university full-time, with them to bring the corps back to
with the Cadet Program for such a working on a post-secondary degree. where it once was. We got the word
long time and known most of the out and ended up the next week
cadets in the corps, I could not see Administration desperately needed with 43 cadets coming back to start
her ‘sink’. to be done. Personnel and training the year.
records were not up to date.
Along with one other officer (whom Training was in a shambles. The
the cadets knew from camp), I started cadets didn’t seem to have a clue
We trained them well
the long process of about the courses, competitions and and took the corps from
getting this corps activities available to them. The
back on its feet. sponsor and parent committee had
a 100 percent failure rate
We live in not had a good relationship on national exams (petty
Corner Brook, with former staff. We
basically had to
officer, first-class) to a
start from scratch. 100 percent pass rate
over a couple of years.

Our task was challenging. The lack

of training among the cadets was
evident. Another officer, also work-
ing on a post-secondary degree,
came to help us later in the year.

Sailing to success
We planned, charted and sailed our
way into success with the corps.
We formed a new parent committee
and pursued a healthy relationship
with our main sponsor. We took the
cadets on outdoor adventure train-
ing. We trained them well and took
the corps from a 100 percent failure
rate on national exams (petty officer,
first-class) to a 100 percent pass rate
over a couple of years. In the fall of
2005, our corps received the Naval
Weapon Technicians’ Association
award for a corps that has risen from
the ashes and turned itself around.

SLt Holly Lewis, training officer, range safety officer and band officer,
refreshes PO1 Shawn White, a cadet instructor, on the back splice.

38 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007

 Tips for
rescuing a
‘sinking ship’
Let the cadets know you are there for them
and not for yourself. Let them know you will
work for them.
Get to know your cadets. Compliment them on
their successes and help them through their
Lt(N) Butt promotes CPO2 failures.
Melanie Goode to the rank of Keep parents informed of cadet activities and
chief petty officer, first class. their kids’ development—good or bad. Take
time for the parents. They are the ones who
take their kids to Cadets.

It’s taken a lot of blood, sweat and tears. love this ‘job’ and look forward to Make sure your relationship with your sponsor
seeing the cadets and planning is on an even keel. Although there may have
Our biggest challenge is getting peo- been past issues, make sure you explain what
things for them, but I do not know
ple from the local community to you need from your sponsor.
how much longer I will be able to do
become CIC officers to keep this it. It is totally frustrating not having If there is a parent committee in place, make
corps running. I have begged, plead- the support of the community and sure you set guidelines regarding what they
ed and sometimes cried because no more adults coming out to help. can and cannot do. They are there to help with
one wants to help. It is a kick in the fundraising and other volunteer activities, but
teeth to the cadets who want more. I not to run the corps.
want to give more and so do my offi- Our biggest challenge Ensure you know what activities are available
cers but we are only human and can-
not keep going this way. It was sup-
is getting people to your cadets. Don't be afraid to ask. That is
what other commanding officers (COs) and
posed to be only for a couple of from the local com- area cadet officers are for.
years; now it’s approaching three.
Every moment I am not at my civil-
munity to become Make sure you have a staff that is willing to
work through challenges and limitations and
ian job I am working at cadet ‘stuff’. CIC officers to keep not give up on your cadets.
I sometimes work from my home
with the cadets because I cannot
this corps running. Get to know the community you are working
in especially if you are an ‘outsider’. Let the
drive back and forth all the time.
community know as well that you are there for
Last September, two more adults
We have one of the greatest youth the cadets—not yourself.
from the community stepped forward
organizations that Canada has to to enrol, but that’s still not enough. Have patience, patience, patience. The time
offer, yet corps and squadrons con- Maybe, as Capt Styles says, a full- and effort you dedicate to your corps/squadron
tinue to fold. time Class “B” position assigned to will one day pay off.

We need to let the people in our com- every corps and squadron would be a
munities know that there is training, good thing.
possible summer employment and Lt(N) Butt is the commanding officer of
satisfaction in making the kids in 194 Sea Cadet Corps in St. George's,
their communities better people. N. L. She joined the Cadet Program
Like Capt Valda Styles (see Letters as a cadet in 1982, became a civilian
on page 5), I have no children of my instructor in 1988 and enrolled as a
own. When someone asks me how CIC officer in 1995 with another corps.
many kids I have, I tell them 48! I

Professional Development for Leaders of the Cadet Program 39

 Created by the directing staff at Regional Cadet Instructors School (Central)

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Can corps/squadrons with a qualified small-bore

1 range safety officer and possessing .22-calibre

rifles accept an invitation from their affiliated unit
commanding officer (CO) to conduct range training
on the indoor small-bore rifle range in the armories
in which they parade?
a) Yes, as long as the range has not been previously
used for indoor large-bore weapons training.
b) No, as no training of any type can be conducted
by cadets/CIC officers/civilian instructors on any
small-bore or large-bore indoor range.
c) Yes, if your detachment commander authorizes
it in writing to the affiliated unit CO.
d) No, as cadets are only permitted to fire Daisy
air rifles at the corps/squadron level.
You are an officer at a corps/squadron and you have

2 recently married a fellow officer on staff. You will

take over as CO in September and your spouse will
be in your chain of command. What do you do?
a) Nothing. Your personal life is your own
and doesn’t affect your CIC career.
b) Notify the next highest level in your
chain of command.
c) Explain the situation and its You are a corps/squadron CO with an upcoming unit
implications to your spouse and trust
that all concerned will just ‘get over
it’ in time.
4 sports day. At the last minute, your sports officer
calls and informs you that she has to work and can-
not attend the sports day. You have no other female
officer/civilian instructor/screened civilian volunteer
d) Convince your spouse to transfer to available for the day of your activity. Can you still
another local corps/squadron or to the conduct the sports day?
Supplementary Reserve.
a) No. Without a female staff member to satisfy

3 A local flea market operator (a former cadet) has

made a bulk purchase of various types of vessel/
aircraft/vehicle gauges and wants to donate them
to local corps/squadrons for use as training aids.
the gender supervision requirements, the
activity must be cancelled.
b) Yes. A female parent can temporarily act as
He separates the gauges into elemental boxes a supervisor for this activity.
and drops them off at various training locations. c) Yes, but only if a female senior cadet is in
Can corps/squadron COs accept the donations attendance to assist in supervising this activity.
and begin using them immediately?
d) Yes. You have three male officers—more than
a) No. They can never be used because corps/ enough to supervise.
squadrons are prohibited from accepting
training aids of any type that are not brand 4. (c) Reference: CATO 13-12, Supervising Cadets, paragraph 7.
new and in their original packaging. in the Canadian Cadet Organizations, paragraph 9.
3. (c) Reference: CATO 14-20, Ionizing Radiation Sources
b) No, because of concerns regarding lead
contamination in the paint on the housings Fraternization.
paragraphs 8-9, and DAOD 5019-1 Personal Relationships and
of the gauges. 2. (b) Reference: CATO 25-05 Personal Relationships,
c) No, because of concerns regarding radiation military or civilian.
contamination from the luminous dials. This applies to all indoor small-bore and large-bore ranges—
to all regional cadet support units, dated July 31, 2003.
d) No, until they have been inspected by the 1. (b) Reference: VCDS letter 1085-25-8 (D Cdts 4-2-2) sent
appropriate area cadet officer as being in
accordance with the learning outcomes of
ANSWERS
the Cadet Program.

40 CADENCE Issue 22, Spring/Summer 2007