How Canada’s cadet program provides life, career, and leadership skills

Not every youth desires to learn personal discipline, or how to be a team player, or wants to develop their leadership skills. But yet that is exactly what thousands of Canada’s youth crave. And many of them can be found in one of our country’s many cadet corps. I am here at the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Chinook which parades on Monday evenings in Lethbridge. According Commanding Officer, Lt(N) Robert Neufeld, the cadet program is Canada’s best kept youth secret. And sea cadets in a landlocked province actually provides more and better opportunities than those who live close to the coast.

One of the most popular summer training establishments for sea cadets is HMCS Quadra in Comox BC. Chinook’s divisional petty officer, Sable Meadows says, her experiences in Quadra have made some unforgettable memories

Cadets are known for taking meticulous care for their uniforms and appearance.  Their hair needs to be short or gelled back and pinned, unforms pressed, boots polished and white tops scrubbed with…toothpaste.  But for senior cadets, they find it to be a relaxing and rewarding responsibility.

Neufeld adds he has been told by alumni on numerous occasions how the cadet program has helped them in pursuing their careers. And by the sounds of it, some southern Alberta cadets have gone on to do incredible things, including working their way to the top of Canada’s Navy.

The cadet program is funded by the Department of National Defence and The Navy League of Canada.  This funding means there are no registration fees, no costs for uniforms, and no charge for summer camp.