Wayne Emde
Special to The Morning Star
With only a few days before 722 army cadets arrive, Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre staff are busy preparing for the 65th summer of training in leadership, citizenship and physical fitness.
There are 99 officers and instructors, 34 regular and reserve non-commissioned officers, 121 staff cadets and more than 80 civilian staff such as firefighters, office staff, gardeners, cleaners, laundry staff, warehouse staff and transport drivers at the facility. More than 50 people will feed the cadets and staff three meals a day for the next seven weeks.
“The focus at VACSTC is to be a centre of excellence for cadet training,” said Lt-Col Lyle Johnson, commanding officer.
“The aim of training is to provide the cadets with a positive life experience that builds skills and abilities which are transferable to all aspects of their lives. Every cadet should be challenged by aspects of their experience, making their experience positive, effective and worthwhile.”
While those cadets enrolled in the general training course will only stay for two weeks and others enrolled in basic courses will be in Vernon for three weeks, most of the cadets will spend six weeks at the centre.
Although they all wear the same summer uniform, they will receive instruction in a wide variety of skills, techniques and procedures depending on their age and previous cadet experience.
Although VACSTC is organized as an army battalion in respect to command and control, its mandate is similar to that of a school, with cadets assigned to one of eleven specific courses based on their age and previous army cadet training.
The final parade and sunset ceremony will take place Aug. 15.
