The Times Advocate, 2004-04-07, Page 14Crossroads
14
Wednesday, April 7, 2004
Exeter Times Advocate
Middlesex Huron cadets find a new home
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
CREDITON — The
Middlesex Huron Cadet
Corp has a new facility to
call home after some help
from the Municipality of
South Huron.
The Cadets were offi-
cially welcomed into their
new training facility in the
Crediton Community
Centre March 24 with
Cadet Corp officials and
staff from the municipali-
ty on hand.
The unit was forced to
find new facilities after
their previous site in
Huron Park was closed
last fall.
The 30th anniversary of
the Middlesex Huron
2923 Cadet Corp, which
was founded April 1 1974
was recognized with a
plaque presented by
Army Cadet Liason Wilf
Higgens.
The Cadets were also
presented with pins
marking the 125th
anniversary of the Army
Cadet League in Canada,
which they will wear for
the next year.
With an official strength
of 26, the unit is down
from its numbers of
between 40 and 50 it had
last year, but Higgens
said it would come back
quickly.
Across Canada, Higgens
said there are around
125,000 cadets, with the
number holding steady.
A larger percentage of
those are women.
Unit commanding offi-
cer captain Alan Cottel,
who is in his second stint
as CO, said although they
hadn't planned to be
moved, it has worked out
well.
Larry Brown, South
Huron chief administra-
tive officer and Wayne
Dale, building and devel-
opment manager, were
thanked by Cottel, who
said the cadets were for-
tunate to be in the facili-
ties.
The cadets train
Wednesday nights on a
variety of subjects rang-
ing from parades, inspec-
tionsand drill to classes
on map and compass
work, fieldcraft, knots
and lashings.
With sponsorship from
the Exeter and Lucan
branches of the Royal
Canadian Legion, the
cadets are able to apply
what they have learned in
field training excercises.
Cottel added the cadets
are the only youth move-
ment free of charge.
Regular Corps training
runs from September
until June and is divided
into four levels; green,
red, silver and gold.
After basic learning in
their first year in the
green star, cadets receive
a refresher and more
enhanced training in the
second year red star after
which they are a qualified
cadet.
In the third year silver
star level, they begin to
learn how to instruct
other cadets, which is
continued in the fourth
year gold star level.
Middlesex Huron Cadet Corp commander Alan
Cottel inspects cadets March 24 at the unit's new
home at the Crediton community centre. (Right)
Senior cadet Dan Brannon instructs a class on map
reading and navigation .(photos/PatBolen)
From left, Royal Canadian Legion RE Pooley branch member Ron Helm, chairper-
son of the sponsorship committee for the cadets, cuts a cake with senior cadet
Dan Brannon and Municipality of South Huron staff Wayne Dale and Larry
Brown. (At right),Army Cadet Liason Wilf Higgens presents Dawn Barker with a
pin honouring the 1 25th anniversary of the founding of the army cadet league in
Canada. (photos/PatBolen)