Yet another successful year for the Trenton Cadet Training Centre

Cadets Canada is running its annual 2 – 6 week cadet training course at RCAF Trenton again this year.

Today (Wednesday), the Trenton Cadet Training Centre welcomed members of the media to experience the daily routine of a cadet.

The Trenton Cadets Training Centre held its media day today and members of the media got to take in life as a cadet. Photo by Alex Mahar, Quinte News.

The main focus of the Trenton cadet program is to teach its youth about becoming good leaders, how to overcome challenges, work in a team environment, communal living and how to stay physically healthy under military ethics.

Cadets register for programs all across Canada and actually out-number adults who are in the military. The goal for Cadets Canada is 60,000 – 65,000 nationwide and this year the number sits around 57,000 registered cadets.

The majority of cadets registered in the Trenton programs come from across Ontario, including Trenton, with a few coming from other provinces across Canada. Each summer, approximately 1,000 course cadets, and 120 staff members attend the training centre.

Some cadets go on to make careers in the military while some take what they learn and apply it to other endeavours in life.

Emma I’anson is a Civilian Instructor at the cadet training centre in Trenton and she explains what her goals are when working with young cadets.

Warrant Officer First Class Ross Stewart has been in the Trenton Cadets program for five years and is now a leader for the younger cadets entering the program. Stewart believes the program is all about developing youth.

“During my experience at the Trenton Cadet Training Centre I learned a little bit about the daily routine a cadet would experience. I participated in a flight simulator exercise and watched the band practice for an upcoming concert, which were both stationed at Trenton High School. Then in the afternoon I took in an arts and crafts session as the cadets were building model Hercules air crafts and also ate at the cafeteria during the scheduled lunch hour.”

The cadets at Trenton High School for the advanced aviation program are sent with boxed lunches for the day. Photo by Alex Mahar, Quinte News.

Cadets are provided with instruction and safety equipment to build model air crafts to take home with them after the camp is over. Photo by Alex Mahar, Quinte News

The cadet program is free and funded by the Canadian government. Cadets are provided with free uniforms, housing, food, laundry and training during their programs as well as the opportunity to make $60 per week. The cadets are provided with communal living during their stay. Seventy-five cadets are put up in a barracks which forces them to learn how to get along and respect others in a living space, while doing basic chores like making beds and keeping their area clean.

Local Cadet Gauthier said being a cadet can be a challenge at times,

“Personally, I found the flight simulation to be the most fun experience of my trip to the training centre.”

Learning how to fly an aircraft begins in the classroom with flight simulation training and in-class education provided by an instructor. Photo by Alex Mahar, Quinte News.

The cadets are preparing for a concert this weekend to show off the skills they have learned so far this summer. Photo by Alex Mahar, Quinte News.

This year’s cadet program in Trenton began July 7 and will be wrapping up by August 16.

“After spending the day in a cadet’s shoes, I couldn’t think of a better way for a young person to spend a summer learning, bettering themselves and exploring a career path that could be life changing.”