I started cadets with 1955 Service Battalion Cadet Corps in Calgary, AB in 2003 before aging out as the RSM and working with 3125 Calgary Highlanders in Chestermere, AB as a CIC officer until 2017. I had the opportunity to attend the Vernon Cadet Training Centre for 12 years as a cadet, staff cadet, and officer, and was employed as Sulfur Platoon Commander in Rocky in 2017. I spent several years with the Drill & Ceremonial Instructor Course in Vernon, working with the Guard to perfect the Sunset Parade. Over the course of my time in the cadet program, I met many lifelong friends from across the country, many I still keep in touch with today.
My favourite memories from cadets is definitely the Feu de Joie every Sunset Parade. I remember how hard we would train and practice for the one minute ceremony every year. This taught me the importance of repetition and rehearsal, along with the instructional and leadership skills that I still use daily.
Now, I work as an Engineer Officer with the Royal Canadian Engineers having served at 4 Engineer Support Regiment, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, Canadian Joint Operations Command, and other L1 Headquarters across the CAF. I still volunteer with 2317 RCACC in Ottawa, ON. I owe a lot of my successes in my career with the military to the skills I learned as an Army Cadet all those years ago.
