Back
to main ACSTC page
As early as the 1930’s, cadets in Atlantic Canada attended summer training at places like Camp Utopia, New Brunswick, and Camp
Aldershot, Nova Scotia.
Prior to 1972, Atlantic Region Army Cadet summer training took place in Aldershot, Nova Scotia. In the summer of 1971, it was decided that the Atlantic region army cadet summer training camp would move from Aldershot to Gagetown. In that first summer, 1200 cadets passed through the grounds at Argonaut.
In 1978-79, Argonaut ACSTC saw the addition of main living complexes for the cadets. With these new complexes, Argonaut ACSTC was starting to look more and more permanent. Throughout the 80's, more facilities were added to Argonaut increasing the number of cadets it could train annually. In 1989, Argonaut was given the honour of Freedom of the Town of Oromocto. In 1990, Argonaut was honoured again with another Freedom of the City, this time bestowed by the city of
Moncton.
Argonaut 2004 (DND)
The 1990's saw both the physical size of Argonaut increase as well as the numbers of cadets that were trained here. In 1999, Argonaut received its hardest challenge. Due to Kosovar refugees being relocated on the grounds of Argonaut ACSTC, the training centre had to relocate for that summer. Argonaut was divided into three sites, with the majority of cadets being housed at Mount Allison University in Sackville NB while smaller contingents were placed in Port Elgin NB, Slemon Park PEI and even a company in Vernon BC!
Currently, Argonaut ACSTC has a paved parade square and roads, as well as additional ablution facilities. The most significant change to the training centre is the recent addition of the Cadet Dining Hall in 2001. The facility
seats 650 people thus increasing efficiency for meal times.
The training centre will have approximately 1450 cadets pass through its gates this summer.
