The Army Cadets is an amazing organization where members learn about our country, acquire a number of valuable skills, and achieve things as a young adult that few adults would consider doing. A few of the things that Army Cadets are able to look forward to are smart uniforms, summer camp, and even overseas exchanges.
The 3125 Calgary Highlander’s Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps had a tremendous year of great success and achievements including:
• Most Improved Cadet: MCpl Aldred
• Charles Arthur Armour Memorial Award for the Most Proficient Cadet: MCpl Knight
• RSM Pacestick: MCpl Brigham
• Vesuvius Award: MCpl Bouma
• Shaw Memorial Community Award: Sgt Dale
• Stickman Award: Sgt Cairns / LCpl Eady
• Espirit De Corps: Cdt Mans
• Chris Gerbrandt Memorial Award for Bush craft: MCpl Treslove
• Gord Cousins Memorial Cup: Section Two
• Lord Strathcona Medal: MWO Parry
• Legion Medal of Excellence: CWO Carins
The 3125 Calgary Highlander Cadet Corps parades every Monday Night at 6:30pm at Camp Chestermere and reconvene in September. But just because it is summer doesn’t mean they stop. Some of the cadets are off to camps this summer in the Yukon, BC and northern Alberta for various army camp disciplines to add to their Cadet experience.
To join the 3125 Calgary Highlander Cadet Corps, you will need to be between 12 and 18 years old, have parental or guardian consent and provide I.D. in the form of birth certificate, Alberta Health Care card, and you Social Insurance card if you have one. There is also no cost to join.
Among the skill and team building, Army Cadets get involved in ceremonial military events and citizenship activities that allow them to connect to their Canadian heritage. They develop a great sense of pride and discipline through their involvement in a hierarchical system that allows them to hone their leadership skills as they grow older and they learn to care for younger cadets.
It is said that the Royal Canadian Army Cadets is recognized as Canada’s oldest youth program, there are approximately 21,000 army cadets in about 450 corps across Canada.
The Royal Canadian Army Cadets (RCAC) can trace its history to the creation of drill associations or militia companies in 1861, pre-dating confederation by six years. Enrolment was limited to men only that were between the ages of 13 and 60.
Females were unofficial participants in cadet training almost from the very beginning of Cadets. Shortly after the Highland Cadet Corps was formed at the Guelph Grammar School in 1882, a female cadet company called the Daughters of the Regiment was started. The Army provided no support for training, or uniforms. Nor could girls attend summer training. On July 30, 1975, the Canadian parliament amended the relevant legislation by changing the word “boys” to “persons”, therefore permitting girls to become members of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets. Girls became full participants in the Cadet Organization. The biggest change was during the summer training program. What had been for many decades an exclusively male environment changed dramatically at local corps and at Army Cadet Summer Training Centres. Today, boys and girls participate together in all cadet activities with girls regularly in leadership roles amongst cadets.
So if you have a child in your life that is interested in joining the 3125 Calgary Highlander Cadet Corps, you can contact them by visiting www.chestermerecadets.com
