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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-03-05, Page 17othmu:it.' Goderich cade • Entertainment • Features • Religion • Family • More SECTION s invite recruits BY SHARON DIETZ If you are a teenager and you're looking for an activity which will provide an ex- citing challenge, training in self-discipline and leadership skills and an opportunity to meet people and travel, consider joining the air cadets.' Many young men and women have pass- ed through the ranks of the Maitland Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets since its inception in 1978. The Goderich based squadron has enjoyed a measure of success in the community and the program has launched several young people on new careers or provided exciting summer jobs. While the program has attracted a good number of young people between the ages of 13 and 19, the squadron is looking for new recruits as spaces have been made available through attrition and cadets moving from the area. The free (even the uniforms are free) youth program is sponsored by the Rotary Club and is under the direction of Com- manding Officer Rick Livesey and Captain Pat King. The, air cadet program offers camping trips, gliding training at " Centralia, weekends at Camp Ipperwash, a bus trip to Wonderland and the opportunity to work at camps across Canada for the summer. The program also offers many oppor- tunities beyond the im nediate'activities of the Maitland Squadron. Cadets can take familiarization flights in service aircraft and gliders. Summer camps are held at Canadian Forces Bases for two weeks in the summer - and bush familiarization courses are held for 54 cadets and six squadron officers. Upwards of 250 flying scholarships may be awarded by the Air Cadet League to cadets who meet the physical and academic requirements. Some cadets are selected for athletic leadership courses which qualifies graduates to supervise and instruct in physical training and recrea- tional activities in their respective home squadrons. Each year over 270 cadets from across Canada are selected for a six week Senior Leader Course to prepare cadets for senior positions within the cadet system. Meetings of the Maitland Squadron are held each Tuesday evening at Robertson Public School. Recruits are welcome from the Goderich and ,Clinton areas. Free bus transportation is provided for cadets from Clinton to attend meetings in Goderich. The Goderich based Maitland Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets held a training seminar recently at the Goderich branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. The seminar spon- sored by the Goderich Rotary Club and Branch 109 of the Royal Canadian Legion included several training activities. Clockwise from the upper left, Commanding officer Reek Livesey instructs Kevin Mcfwain in radio operation; Junior NCO Corp. Bev Harrison and cadets Sean Vanstone and Mark Robson learn how to use grid co-ordinates in a map reading session with instructor Capt. Claus Breede; cadet Dave Crothers, seated is assisted by cadet Kevin Moss in a first aid training session and cadets Kevin McElwain, Blair Waterfield and John McNaughton learn how to use map co-ordinates with instructor 2nd Lieutenant Ken McLean. POSTSCRIPT By Susan Hundertmark he fight for omen's rights is difficult one Cadet program teaches leadership skills BY SHARON DIETZ The air cadet program teaches self- . discipline, leadership skills and citizenship but through its outward bound approach; it also offers the chance to test fine's own en- durance levels, says Captain Pat King of the Maitland Squadron of the Royal Cana- dian Air Cadets. The cadet program presents oppor- tunities where the child is left to his or her own devices, fostering a little bit of the adventure spirit, says King. We .live in a society where parents protect and super- vize their children closely and there isn't always the chance for the child to test his ability to fend for himself. Cadets will pro- vide this challenge. King believes this is good because there are going to be times in life when you are challenged. • The cadet movement offers one of a few opportunities to go gliding and learn to operate a firearm safely. Summer camp presents the opportunity to meet people and offers a camp experience for kids who would not otherwise have the chance to go. Cadet training develops a sense of com- mitment as the Maitland Squadron helps the Rotary Club with its paper drive to raiseimoney for community service. The cadet program also teaches the history of the Canadian Armed Forces and develops a sense of patriotism in the young people involved. In a society where teenagers are usually known for their rebellion against establish- ed authority expressed through their h1vir- cuts and dress, cadet training tealies deportment, a respect for authority and . pride in one's appearance. Cadet training does not emphasize a career in the armed forces, but the Maitland Squadron is pleased that about a dozen of its cadets have proceeded. to careers in the forces, says. King. The female recruits have done tremendously well in cadets and have exhibited more spirit' as they progress through their train- ing, he says. Corporal Bev Harrison is a junior NCO who is in her third year .as a cadet. She originally . joined the , squadron with a friend to learn self-discipline and leader- ship skills. Drill is especially demanding but she likes it best of all cadet activities. It's a challenge to learn drill and become good at it, she says. She ha4yalso had the chance to learn to. use a' firearm, to go gliding and to earn her, first-aid certificate since she joined cadets. Bev doesn't intend to pursue a career in the armed forces but she may possibly look in' that direction when the tithe comes. Bev is one of only four girls in the' squadron and she says it has been tough at times to get along with the boys but she says, she has adjusted.' Sometimes the boys argue the girls can't do something because they are girls, but Bev says she and the other girls just go ahead and prove they can do as much as boys can do. 131rent Wilson, 15, of Goderich says he joined the cadet program because he has always been interested in planes. and Right. He has been gliding in Centralia and may try for his private pilot's licence. He likes to travel and has been to Cana- dian Forces Base Trenton for basic train- ing where he participated in the speciality flight drill. He especially enjoys being a member of the cadet, colour party, on parade. • He says people think cadets is nothing but drills but that's a misconception. He's learned map and compass 'reading, gun safety, first aid and self discipline:. Brent agrees with 'Craig Ritchie who says the cadet program is fun. Both have been cadets for three years and find the program offers many opportunities such as camping, travel and exchange courses overseas which they would not be afforded otherwise. For Craig who hasalways been in- terested in airplanes and flying, cadets may lead to a Career as he plana to join the armed forces to become an air force pilot. The cadet program is an excellent training opportunity, he says. It's good experience in preparation for life and a future career: Cadets in the 5$2 Maitland Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets praetteed orl the Goderich and Craig Ritchie of Goderich. In the rear are Captain Pat long, left and Dave firing range at the Goderich Collegiate Institute doing a braining seminar recently. Wilson, instructors. Prom the left are cadets Pat itidley of Blyth, Robert Hill of'Brtteefield; Brent Wilson of to Nobody ever said it was going to, be easy. Women's° struggle for equal rights has been fought on a long, hard roan all the way from the jailing of suffragettes who fought for women's right to vote to the bombing of abortion clinics which promote reproductive freedom for women. And, there are still many more miles to go on the journey. As women make their small strides and win their accumulative victories, a growing backlash becomes more ap- parent while the powerful are forced to share their strength with the once powerless. It would be interesting to watch if I were a detached, observer. But, my freedom, my choices and my lifestyle are directly affected by the ongoing power struggle. And, it's a little scary to know that, with the growing strength of the political right, women could be transported back to the first steps of their journey. The possibaity e stw For example, I was surprised to hear negative reactions to the new Family Law Act which equally divides all assets ( both family and personal) that are ac- quired during a marriage, between divorcing spouses. I applauded the legislation as fair and just for both' men and women since it values all labor, including the unpaid but priceless labor of child-rearing and homemaking. It reco,nizes that mar- riage is a partnership legally, emotional- ly and economically But, Instead of recognizing the Act as a law which will positively affect all Cana- dians, I've heard it direly predicted that the law will promote more family violence. It seems that when a man is forced to make a "cash settlement to his wife for half his retirement pension, his business or his farm, he'll have no recourse but physical violence. That's what I've been told. Never mind that women have tradi- tionally ended up' living with their children. ,in' poverty while-., their ex- husbands remain financially well-off or even improve their economic situation once the divorce goes through. It's just not fair to ask a guy to reach into his pocketbook and give half of what's there without a fight. Equally threatening is a growing trend in the United States described in a recent issue of Ms. magazine. During the finan- cial bargaining • of a marriage breakdown, children are being used as pawns. Custody battles are used as threats by one third of the men seeking a good finan- cial settlement even though only one in 10 men actually seek physical custody of the children. And, as many as 87 per cent of fathers challenging for eustody had not been involved in child care before seeking custody. • • - Fathers who genuinely have. the best interests of their children in mind are rare. Most are bullying their wives into choosing their children ever a fair finan- cial settlement. The backlash of patriarchs losing con- trol can also be heard in the recent discussions : concerning . equal pay for work of equal value legislation in On- tario. Because' the only attractiveness of women workers is said to be their availability as "cheap labor," women , wilt lose their jobs before they're paid for the value of their. work, many businesses threaten. Raising women's wages "artificially" to the same level of men's wages when they're pYroviding an equal service to their employers cannot be afforded by the economy, they continue, But, to my mind, asking women to con- tinue to accept 64 per cent of the Male dollar so they can continue to subsidize the profits of, Canadian businesses is the same as asking American blacks to return to the plantations in the•southern U.S. as slaves to keep them running at a high profit for the owners. Unlike the slaves, women dd not receive their food and living quarters for free( With their 64 cents, they pay the same prices as the men do with their dollar. Grocery stores, landlords and fuel companies do not adjust their prices to reflect the inequity in men's and Women's salaries. While whining that pay equity legisla- tion over -regulates the, free market and therefore threatens society's freedom, business owners conveniently forget that they readily support government regula- tions such as tariffs, tax breaks and government grants" which' work to in- crease their profits. When the bottom line is affected positively,there's no cry- ing about over -regulation. • As women gain power and edge their way closer to their goal of equality (not superiority), their opponents continue to lash out with threats, dire predictions and political pressure. Because qi its • predictability, the opposition is tirme and disheartening. • But, it's worth renumbering this Saturddy, • Mar. 8 r on International Women's Day the words, of Gloria Steinem who said, "To be.a feminist is to be ever vigilant." They help to give me strength. • ,