News

By Penny Kiryk, The Courier Newspaper

It's been quite the summer for hundreds of air cadets from across the country. Close to 400 cadets have spent the last few weeks at 4 Wing Cold Lake learning about survival.

Seventy-four cadets from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, and Northern Ontario took part in the Survival Instructor's Course (SIC) which ran for approximately six weeks. The group recently began their solo training which was significant since that is what they spend the six weeks training for. The cadets had to live separately in the bush for four straight days, alone, with next to nothing.

Captain Jeff Wise, from Edmonton, headed up the SIC. He says the kids, ages 14-18, had just the basics for those four days.

"The equipment they had included uniforms, a high visibility vest, whistle, billy can, knife, flint and steel, two matches, and a six-foot-by-three-foot tarp." He says the cadets went through quite the ordeal.

"The purpose was to try to get them to go through what they would in a real survival situation. We told them to expect things like boredom, loneliness, and fatigue. They experienced something a normal 16-year-old won't experience." Capt Wise says the cadets were certainly ready. "This group was highly motivated, and they'll come out of it with great stories."

The solo training began with a Search and Rescue demonstration, thanks to 417 Squadron. A signal fire was made and a CH-146 Griffon Helicopter responded. A Search and Rescue Technician (SAR Tech) repelled down from the helicopter and rescued a mock victim. The helicopter then dropped a Stokes litter (stretcher), and the cadets gathered around to learn more about the role of a SAR Tech.

Sergeant Lance Teichrib, SAR Tech Leader from 417 Squadron, spent plenty of time with the cadets answering questions, and talking about his experiences as a SAR Tech. Then it was off to the bush for the cadets.

The cadets went into the solo training with plenty of enthusiasm. 15 year-old Megan Adkin from Edmonton said she loves being an air cadet. "I love it. Back home, I'm always the first person to go into the bush. I love trees!"

Eric Elloway, a 17-year-old from Guelph, Ontario says it felt good to be able to put his skills to work. "I'm excited about making it through the solo phase. It's all a combination of all the skills we learned, and putting them together."

All of the air cadets wrapped up their training August 18.

Here are some fast facts about the Cold Lake Air Cadet Summer Training Centre:

• It staffs over 200 staff cadet, officer, civilian instructor, regular force and civilian contract personnel from all areas of Canada
• The Canadian Cadet Organization (CCO) is the largest federally sponsored youth program in the country, and consists of 56,000 cadets located in cities and towns across Canada
• Membership in the CCO provides thousands of Canadian youth with unique opportunities free of charge that they might not otherwise experience
• The cadets get exposure to both Canadian and foreign cultures, and come through the program with a better sense of what it means to be Canadian