Parent Information Night 2137 Calgary Highlander Cadet Corps

1. Parent Information Night2137 Calgary Highlander Cadet Corps November 18 2010 Richard Boudreau and Capt J Sun or Capt C Morris

2. Is This You? ???? The CO and the RSM told me I needed to bring my Cadetpat to the FTX

3. Who Makes Up the Cadet Corps • Major Groups That Make up the Corps • The Officers • Part of group called the CIC (Cadet Instructors Cadre) who are adults specially trained in running cadet corps and dealing with youth • Commissioned officers in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve • Paid, Part-time service • Come from a wide variety of backgrounds • They run the corps subject to local and national cadet administration and regulations (these are referred to as CATOs) • Civilian Instructors • Provide training and administrative support to corps • Paid, part time • Civilian Volunteers • Provide training and administrative support to corps • Unpaid • The Cadets • Your kids • Civilian youth who have joined the wonderful, time tested, development opportunity known as the Royal Canadian Army Cadets (RCAC) • Are promoted within a rank structure system based on experience , training and performance • Rank structure modeled on that of the Non – Commissioned Member (NCM) ranks of the Canadian Forces • Senior cadets given significant responsibilities in running the corps activities

4. a Lieutenant-Colonel (Lcol) The Rank Structure Officers a Major a Captain (Capt) (Rank of our corps commanding officer) a Lieutenant (Lt) a 2nd Lieutenant (2Lt) a Officer Cadet (OC) Cadets a Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) functions as the RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major, the lead cadet position) All Cadet ranks must be preceded by the term ”cadet” for example, a cadet holding the rank of Warrant Officer is actually a Cadet Warrant Officer abbreviated C/WO a Master Warrant Officer (MWO) a Warrant Officer (WO) a Sergeant (Sgt) a Master Corporal (MCpl) Higher Ranks a Corporal a Lance Corporal(LCpl) a Cadet (Cdt) Recruit

5. Special Jobs (Appointments) That People Hold Main Appointments for the officers • CO (Commanding Officer) Leader of the Corps currently, Capt J Sun • DCO (Deputy Commanding Officer) currently, Capt C Morris • LHQ (Local Head Quarters ) Stores Officer currently, 2nd Lieutenant N Stubbs • LHQ (Local Head Quarters ) Training Officer currently, 2nd Lieutenant C Pellerin • Operations Officer currently, 2nd Lieutenant A Peterson • Administration Officer currently, Capt (ret) M Novak • Finance Officer currently , Mr D Jessen • FTX Stores Officer currently , Mr M Cooper • Cadet Liaison Officer (with the Calgary Highlanders Regiment) currently , MWO G Downey Main Appointments for the Cadets • RSM (Regimental Sergeant-Major) the lead cadet, currently not filled, but duties are performed by C/WO C Stein • CSM (Company Sergeant-Major), the second lead cadet, C/WO C Stein • Dunkirk Platoon WO, C/Sergeant E Stein • Passchendaele Platoon WO, C/WO J Graval • Walcheren Platoon WO, C/WO E Robinson • Hochwald Platoon WO, C/Sergeant K Ponte

6. Other Important Groups • Regional Cadet Support Unit (Prairie) • Regional administrative centre for the cadet related unit of the Department of National Defence • Affiliated Army unit – The Calgary Highlanders (Cal High) • Source of military tradition and culture (ie. Walcheren & St Julien) • Helps in training of cadets • Army Cadet League of Canada (ACLC) • National civilian sponsorship and support body • Provides support for steering of cadet activities, as well as representation with government bodies • Parents Advisory Committee (PAC) • All parents in this room with cadets in the corps are members • Provides practical support for the corps activities • Leads and provides fund raising • Communicates to parents current and planed activities • Sponsoring organization - Royal Canadian Legion 264 Kensington Branch • Supports cadet movement in Canada to promote leadership, fitness, and the spirit of patriotism • Supports Legion Medal of Excellence to honour outstanding cadets

7. Levels of Training (Star Levels) Standardized training program is part of cadet program and completion of yearly based levels of training indicated by star levels Cadets will often be referred to or be organized by star levels • Gold Star, completed after 4th year • Silver Star, completed after 3rd year • Red Star, completed after 2nd year • Green Star, initial training level, completed after first year

8. Uniforms Cadet Dress Uniforms and Standards of Dress (How it’s to be worn) • CO’s Dress • Wear the entire issued uniform including the tie • Usually for monthly CO’s Parade and other formal events • Headdress: Glengarry, which can be earned by passing test OR beret • Walking Out Dress • Same as CO’s Dress but: • Without the tie • Shirt Collar over the top of jacket (tunic) • Usual Thursday night training uniform • Highland Dress • Cadets with rank of Master Corporal and above can earn right to wear this uniform • Field Uniform (sometimes called Cadetpat or Marpat) • Field and similar training where the other uniforms might get damaged • Cadets cannot wear current Canadian Armed Forces Cadpatfield uniform that you see CIC officers wearing

9. What’s going on the Parade Square • Drill • Time tested practice that helps build individual discipline, group identity and spirit • Based on military traditions • Allows for the organized grouping and movement of people • Commands to cadets are given at quite high volumes (to be instantly and clearly understood) • The word “parade” means any activity that has the cadets form up (not just one involving marching) • Parade square etiquette • Based on a certain respect for soldiers (fallen or otherwise) and the need to keep the main work area organized • No crossing the parade square unless you march, so for casual walking you go round the outside • Stand up and remove head dress when raising/lowering flag • Respectful behaviours expected of cadets • Saluting • When addressing or passing by officers • When walking by the raised flag • No saluting in the field • Addressing Others • Officers , stand at “attention”, salute, address as “sir “ / “ma’am ” • Higher ranking Cadets , stand at “attention”, address “ rank name”

10. FTX (Field Training Exercises) • Purpose • Put into practice field craft and navigation skills leaned in the classroom • Provided a more challenging leadership situation for senior cadets • Helps all cadet improve their organizational skills • Fun (generally regarded as the best activity run by the corps) • Main Locations (Corps provided all transportation from the armoury) • Water Valley (45 km NW Calgary) • RMNACSTC , Rocky Mountain National Army Cadet Summer Training Center (75 km NW of Cochrane) • Alford Lake (winter training) • What the Corps supplies • All food • Field equipment (for cadets who do not supply their own) • Winter Parkas • Packs • Sleeping Bags (+pads) • Winter footwear (mukluks) • Rain wear • What Cadets must supply • See equipment list on corps web site or hand out given to cadets

11. Summer Camps • General Features • Vary in duration from 2-6 weeks reflecting degrees of training advancement • Held at a variety of locations mainly in Western Canada and generally at VRACSTC (Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Center, BC) • Not a requirement, spaces are limited (approx 25% of corps cadet count) • Free, in fact, cadets are paid $60/week to participate • All equipment and clothing supplied • Application process begins in early January; applications are completed by end of January; with final notification in April –June • Applicants MUST HAVE joined the unit prior to 1 Jan in order to be eligible • Decision as to which applicants are accepted based on Cadet performance and attendance • Senior cadets are offered paid staff job at the various camps: “Staff Cadets” • Parents and cadets will be given detailed documentation on summer camps and there will be a specific meeting on this topic in January

12. How Information is Communicated (to Cadets and Parents) • Weekly Event sheet • Handed out to cadets at the end of parade on Thursday evenings (look in uniform pockets) • The same sheet is posted on the Corps web site (www.calgaryhighlanderscadets.com) • Shows both near term (1-3 week) activity info , and more a general view of activities for the year • The web site also has scheduling information on the “home” page • Weekly PAC Communication by e-mail • Provided by the PAC’s communications coordinator (currently Dave VanDer Raat) . Only if the PAC has your email address will you receive this • The same near term info as the weekly sheet • Short notice changes to Weekly Event data is provided • Notices on special events (dinners, fund raising) • PAC related communication, such as minutes for meeting and fund raising • Phone Out • Senior cadets may phone homes to notify/confirm attendance to weekly parade nights • Other cadet related information resources • Corps web site: www.calgaryhighlanderscadets.com Lot of stuff here for exploring and learning • National site operated by the Department of National Defence ; www.cadets.ca • The Army Cadet League of Canada: www.armycadetleague.ca

13. Parent /Cadet Responsibilities • Parent Responsibilities • Notifying the Admin Officer if there is a change in personal or health info • Picking your cadet up on time • Cadet Responsibilities • Commitment to attend when signing up for activities; if sign-up, butcan't make it, inform officers • Calling in if you can't make cadets