ESTEVAN - A member of No. 2901 Estevan (Elks) Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) participated in a professional development workshop at the HMCS Queen in Regina earlier this year.
Cadet Warrant Officer Akara Reeves was joined by sea, army and air cadets from Saskatchewan and Manitoba for a series of workshops designed to enhance their leadership and instructional skills. Cadets also had the chance to engage with two guest speakers from the Moose Jaw Military Family Resource Centre.
The sessions focused on mental wellness and resiliency, and provided the cadets tools that could be used in their cadet and personal lives.
"The amount of communication and involvement in not only the sessions, but the workshop itself, has truly inspired me," said Reeves, who joined Estevan's army cadets five years ago.
This isn't the first program that Reeves has attended through cadets.
"I really enjoyed attending the full-bore marksmanship Phase 1 [course] in Ottawa, Ontario, at the Connaught Cadet Training Centre (CTC). I love the marksmanship program.”
Each summer, select cadets participate in training at several different national and regional camps across Canada. CTCs are located on the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the Rocky Mountains, and elsewhere. Many summer training centres involve all three elements, learning and working together in one location. It is a chance for them to develop friendships that will last a lifetime.
Youth who are interested in being part of the Estevan cadet program can do so by visiting the join the cadet program page at canada.ca or emailing Estevan's army cadets at [email protected].
Adults are also needed to help train, administer and supervise the local youth involved in the Canadian cadet program.
"Becoming part of the Canadian cadet program is easier than you may think," states a news release for the program. "It is a lot of fun, and the skills you learn are likely transferable to your regular employment. Previous military or cadet experience is not required."