Squadron returns to duty
Capt Dianne Keene
Commanding Officer
Cadets are returning to the Squadron for the 2013/14 training year. The full training schedule has been developed for the weekly Tuesday training nights. All current cadets are encouraged to bring along a friend they think might also enjoy cadets as a fun and challenging youth activity. Current cadets are required to complete their information form to update their file and potential new recruits are invited to attend and if interested complete the enrolment forms. A list of cadet activities other than Tuesday evening training is available at the squadron and include such events as the Remembrance Day Parade, Gliding Weekends, Sports competitions, field training weekends to name a few. Over the past couple of years the squadron has completed an annual year-end trip for all deserving cadets. In 2013 cadets stayed the weekend overnight on board the battleship USS Littlerock in Buffalo, New York and the previous year in 2012 the cadets spent a week in Washington, DC. This year we are even going further to Norfolk, Virginia.
Trip to Norfolk, Virginia
The Squadron has been working over the summer in preparation for next year’s trip to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia the home of the in the United States Fleet Forces Command operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Sea; home to 5 Aircraft Carriers, 5 Cruisers, 24 Missile Destroyers, 3 Frigates, 9 Amphibious Assault Ships, 6 Submarines, and dozens of other support ships that form part of the battle group. In addition they will visit Naval Air Station Oceana home to 19 F18 Hornet and Super Hornet Squadrons that support the Carrier Wing.
Cadets will be housed in military quarters at Camp Pendleton located adjacent to the NAS Oceana where they will also eat most of their meals at the Junior Ranks Mess. The quarters are open areas holding between 22 to 26 typical bunks with separate quarters for male and females.
We will be travelling by highway coach provided by Hammond Transportation.
The trip is planned for a departure from our headquarters in Orillia on Saturday at 5:30 am
March 8th, 2014 and return March 13th.
The journey to Virginia is a long one that many squadrons have completed over the years and it is a busy week with much to do and see.
This trip is a costly one which the staff and sponsor have reviewed carefully and feel is within the squadrons ability to do providing cadets commit themselves early and provide a full effort at fund-raising over the months ahead.
The cost of the trip is approximately $200 / person and a cadet must provide a down payment of The balance ($100) which is non-refundable no later than Tuesday, 28 Jan 2014.
More information and details will follow in the weeks to come or call the Squadron at 705-326-9999.
s in final preparations for their upcoming trip to Buffalo, New York which includes a stay over at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum where cadets will sleep under the wings of World War 2 aircraft.
Cadets will leave the squadron on Friday, May 31st and arrive in Hamilton to spend the evening and then will be off to participate in a “Journey Behind the Falls” in Niagara Falls. Then they will be off to cross the border into the United States where they will board the USS Littlerock, a Navy Missile Cruiser where they will sleep over night in quarters once used by US sailors. The following morning they will tour the destroyer USS The Sullivans and the submarine USS Croaker before heading for home on Jun 2nd.
All consent forms and $100 must be delivered to the Squadron Orderly Office no later than March 5th.