101 Moncton Air Cadets will hold their annual ceremonial review in Riverview this weekend

A4

By Hanne Armstrong
This Week Staff

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

The Byron Dobson Arena will be the setting for the Moncton 101 Air Cadet Annual Review, beginning at 1:45 p.m. and running until 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. Awards will be handed out, and the cadets will be show-casing what they have accomplished during the year.

"This group of young adults will be performing tasks in unison, there will be displays of marksmanship, and the band will be performing," says Commanding Officer Rick Babin. "Two of our Cadets are going to the national marksmanship competition this year, and our band just placed second at the New Brunswick-PEI Air Cadet band competition in Gagetown."

Rick has been involved with Moncton Air Cadets for 18 years and the Commanding Officer for eight. Seven officers work with him, three of whom are women, and together they work with an average of 65 cadets each year, usually evenly divided between boys and girls.

"I was a cadet myself, and I enjoyed it and decided to give back some time," Rick explains. "We're a non-combat reserve unit, and the other officers and myself have all gone through officer qualification courses and exams. You can't wear the uniform without the training."

Another feature of the Ceremonial Review are the static displays of subjects like biathlon and aviation. Cadets will be manning each display and will happily answer any questions the public may have.

Major Dave Baudreau from Gagetown will be this year's Reviewing Officer. He is the Detachment Commander in charge of all Air Cadet programmes in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Rick works with a landscaping and snow removal company, and enjoys dedicating his spare time to this stimulating program. In addition to doing the paperwork associated with being the Commanding Officer, Rick is the marksmanship coach, instructing cadets in the safe and accurate use of air rifles.

"We're not here to recruit young people for the military," he points out, "Just to help make them better citizens. Our programs are quite intense, and include ground training for those cadets who want to learn to fly.

"If they pass the government exams, they may qualify for scholarships towards earning their private pilot licence. Two of our cadets won that scholarship this year."

Though the Review marks the end of the year's weekly activities, Air Cadets can take part in summer camps and courses. Several of the 101 Moncton Cadets will be going to Greenwood, Nova Scotia, this summer, others to Debert.

One is bound for Cold Lake, Alberta, while yet another will be spending time in Kingston, Ontario. There are also cadet exchange programs with Singapore, Australia, and Japan.

"You can join the Air Cadets when you're 12 years old," Rick continues, "but you have to leave when you reach your 19th birthday. Membership costs nothing, and neither do the uniforms and other equipment or activities, including the exchange trips. The Department of Defence and the Air Cadet League of Canada cover all the expenses."

The general public is welcome to attend the Annual Ceremonial Review, and refreshments will be provided by cadet parents. If you think you or some one you know might be interested in joining the Air Cadets, attending on May 11 would be an excellent way to learn more about the organization.