Cadet Stories

Hello, my name is Warrant Officer Buddington and I have been a part of the 557 Lorne Scots since the age of 12 in September 2016. Being an army cadet is an extraordinary experience that cannot be found elsewhere and also provided me with another extracurricular activity to stay involved in. A few of my family members had been a part of army cadets which sparked my interest in the program. Since then, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time and had been provided many opportunities.

During my first year of being a cadet, I had recognized how much the program had to offer. I had joined the band for a period of time and there are numerous chances to continue with getting music certifications and pursuing multiple summer training courses centered around music. Throughout my experience as a cadet, I also joined the Flag Party during my second year in the program. In the Flag Party, we have the honor of carrying the flags which represent our corps and Canada. Throughout my cadet career, I became Flag Party Commander and it is a unique opportunity to be given.

For summer training there are different categories that allow you to hone certain skills such as drill, fitness, expedition and et cetera. I had the chance to do the Basic Fitness and Sports course at Cadet Training Centre Blackdown. This experience was very enjoyable and I was able to meet new friends and enhance my physical fitness. There are numerous courses that are achievable throughout one’s cadet career and each has its own area of specialization.

As a senior cadet, I teach the Silver Star cadets and a majority of them are in their third year of the program. At this stage, leadership becomes more involved in their training as they get closer to being senior cadets. These leadership skills support them in taking on more responsibility in the corps and becoming great role models for their younger peers. Additionally, these skills are very applicable throughout their daily lives and in their future endeavors.

Overall being an army cadet is a great experience that undoubtedly affected my life. There are also many possibilities to advance cadets’ participation and enjoy what the program has to offer. Numerous life skills are taught and I truly believe that any youth can benefit from becoming an army cadet.

Hello, I am Warrant Officer Johal, I have been in the Royal Canadian Army Cadet program for five years. I am beyond grateful for all the experiences that helped shape me into the person I am today. Cadet's is a fantastic program that teaches you many life skills, ranging from social skills to camp skills. When I first joined at the age of twelve, I didn't know anyone and had pretty much no expectations. After joining a few teams and going on field training exercises, I quickly fell in love with the cadet program!

I've been a part of the orienteering, drill, band, and biathlon teams! I had the chance to attend General Training in the summer of 2017, Basic Expedition in 2018, and go on a year-end trip in 2018, all experiences I wouldn't trade for the world. I've had many memorable experiences; however, my favourite memories would have to be at the Orienteering and Band competitions and our seasonal field training exercises where I was able to show my skills as a leader and have some friendly competition.

In my fifth year of cadets and first year of being a master cadet, I was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer and got the opportunity to become a gold star instructor. I felt very proud to share the many lessons I had learned from my seniors and instructors with the younger cadets. Joining cadets taught me many things and helped me form bonds with the most amazing people. The past five years of my life are the years I wouldn't change for anything, and I can't wait to learn more and create some amazing memories.

Hello, I am Corporal Gill. Since joining the 557 Lorne Scots Army Cadet program, I have done many things that I probably would have never done or gotten the chance to do. From the poppy fundraiser to learning how to use an air rifle, being a cadet is always something to enjoy and love with endless events to participate in. I have gone on 2 field training exercises (one in winter and the other in fall ), taken part in a car wash, poppy fundraising, learned about the air rifle, and much more. Moreover, I met many other cadets who are all unique and individual with their own stories to tell. These activities helped build my character as I met different people and learned how to deal with them.

Throughout the program, I was given endless opportunities to grow and expand on my future. Right from the beginning, I did different things that could help in my career. I am going to start high school next year, and some events such as the poppy fundraiser in this program can allocate for some of my volunteer hours. With that, I will be able to focus on my grades and not have to worry about where and how I could gain my volunteer hours. Cadets can benefit long term as well. While applying to universities, this can be added to my resume for it to look better.

Another thing to take out from the cadet program is all the good leadership traits that are instilled in you throughout. Whether it's from lessons during the classes or the events which make you have to meet and talk to people, you learn to be a leader.

In conclusion, the 557 Lorne Scots Army Cadet Program is something that is very beneficial for the future and helps me become better as a person. This program is something to continue forward with and take on for the years to come.