INCREDIBLE,
CADET OFFICIALS SAY OF RECOMMENDATION
Incredible”!
That about sums up local reaction to a government – commissioned
youth report, which recommends that the cadet movement in
Canada
should be scrapped.
Moose Jaw Cadet officials appear amazed that firstly, such a move was
even considered and secondly, that the recommendation was included in the
committee’s report. “It’s
a bad recommendation,” said Lyle Johnson commanding officer of the Moose
Jaw Royal Canadian Army Cadets.
“The cadet program is a worthwhile one,” said Hub Gutheridge,
liaison officer between the Moose Jaw Public School Board and the army cadet
corps. “The youth committee is
displaying a poor attitude,” SAID Jim Douglas secretary treasurer of the
Moose Jaw
branch of the Navy League of Canada. “I
can’t understand why they made the recommendation.
What are their basic reasons?”
“By no means should the
cadet movement be scrapped,” said Everett Dykstra, acting chairman of the
Moose Jaw Royal Canadian Air Cadets. “It
would be regrettable to abandon the program which provides the finest
consistent service to the youth of the community,” said Ted Pudden,
treasurer of the air cadets.
In
Moose Jaw
, more than 200 boys between the ages of 13 and 19 will be enrolled in cadet
programs this fall.
Small Expenditure
Between
70 and 74 will take part in the air cadet program in
Moose
Jaw
this year. “For the amount of
money spent as compared to the results obtained, the expenditure is
infinitesimal.” Mr. Pudden
said cadet work has done “a lot of excellent work” in the development of
young fellows. “It provides
them with a solid background in citizenship and character building.”
“It’s nonsense to even talk about abandoning the program.”
Mr. Pudden added that if
Department of National Defence contribution to the cadet program were
stopped, “we couldn’t survive, it would disastrous.”
Mr. Dykstra described the cadet movement as “a very necessary part
of society at this time.” “Youth
training keeps the boys off the streets... makes better citizens of them.”
May Make Representation
He said that in view of the
youth committee’s recommendation the provincial organization would make
representation to the federal government.
“I’ve seen some pretty good boys go thorough the cadet
movement,” said Mr. Douglas, who has been involved with sea cadets for 10
years. “I think federal
financial assistance should be increased.
“ Boys at this age thrive on a little discipline.
They benefit from it.”
Mr. Gutheridge, who has
been associated with cadets for 25 years, said the movement “has much to
offer young men and boys.” “They
receive training in leadership, citizenship and good character – coupled
with physical fitness training and development of basic skills.”
Aim Changed
Mr.
Johnson explained that the basic idea behind cadets was no longer military
training. “In the last three
years, the aim has changed to one of good citizenship,” he said, “I
think the youth committee’s
recommendation
was based on antimilitary thinking. “Cadet
programs give general information on how the army runs, but focuses on
practical training – such things as first aid, hunter safety, radio and
electronics...”By the way,” he said,” registration for army cadets
begins Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the armoury for boys between the ages of 13
and 19.
Printed
Moose Jaw
Times Herald
August 30,1971
MOOSE
JAW
’S CORPS OF ARMY CADETS SPONSORED BY
PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD
This week is army cadet
week in
Canada
, the first official function sponsored by the newly formed Army cadet
league of
Canada
. Highlight of the week for
Moose Jaw
cadets will be a parade Thursday from
7:30
–
9:30
at the armoury, during which cadets will be available to answer queries on
their training. The
Moose Jaw
corps is sponsored by the
Moose Jaw
public school board and is affiliated with the Saskatchewan Dragoons militia
unit. Training includes hunter safety course, first aid, range shooting,
communications and recreational games, drill, outdoor exercises (survival
training) and summer camps.
A tour of Canadian Forces Base,
Moose Jaw
, conducted Saturday, is one of several special events for No. 1856 cadets
this training year. Other events planned include attendance at RCMP
graduation exercises, firing practice at Burdick military ranges and other
activities of interest to the cadets. Clothing, accoutrements and equipment
are provided free of charge by the federal department of National Defence.
Travel for tours, to and from summer camps, is provided at no expense to the
cadet. Summer camps are held for
two-week and six-week periods during July and August each year.
ATTEND
CAMPS
During the summer of 1971, eight members of the
Moose Jaw
corps attended a cadet leader course at
Vernon
,
BC
. Two of these B. Therens and B.
Chapman spent part of the time on an exchange course at Val Cartier camp;
Quebec
corps took their places at
Vernon
.
Six cadets from
Moose Jaw
spent two weeks at
Vernon
on a junior leader course and one cadet David Ewanchook, attended cadet
leader instructor course there. Two
more cadets went to
Fort Churchill
,
Man.
, to take part on the sea and air branches of the service.
These were B. Bussey and K. Steffl. Cadet WO D.J. Dale attended
militia camp under callout as a militia corporal.
INSTRUCTORS TOO
Two members of the instructional staff of the
Moose Jaw Army Cadet Corps spent the summer attending camp at other centres.
Lieut. Dave Harrison was at
Shilo
,
Man.
, and Lieut Yves Courdeau went to the national army cadet camp at Banff
Alta,
Chief instructor for the Moose Jaw Corps is
Capt. Lyle Johnson and the fourth member of the staff is Lieut. Ron Hammond.
S.H. Gutheridge, the school board’s liaison officer with the corps,
described army cadets as “training directed primarily towards the
development of good citizens and the fostering of qualities of good
character in the boy.”
Self-discipline is encouraged and cadets are
given the opportunity to seek out and accept responsibility,” he said.
FITNESS A FACTOR
Physical
fitness is a basic factor in the training offered: recreational games and
socialibility liven the evenings. “Many
parents have attested to the fact that since enrolling in army cadets, boys
have shown greater interest in their school work and their homes: they have
developed a greater since of responsibility for their own progress; and
their attitude toward society in general has improved,” Mr. Gutheridge
said.
CORPS
FORMED
Army
cadet training in
Moose Jaw
started under the sponsorship of the public board in 1904 when the board
secretary was authorized to write to the minister of militia regarding a
supply of rifles for use in the high school.
Mr. (later Doctor) J.W. Sifton was the principal
at the time. A reply was
received recommending the formation of a cadet corps and on
July 1,1904
, a request was forwarded by the school board to the department for approval
which was given.
Cadet training continued until 1931, and
expanded to include all public, elementary and high schools.
In that year, however, the Moose Jaw Cadet Corps suspended operations
due to lack of finances combined with a wave of pacificism, which swept the
country.
In 1942, advice was received by the school board
in response to a request to National Defence Headquarters,
Ottawa
that authority had been granted for the cadet corps in
Moose Jaw
.
PROUD TRADITION
The corps has been in operation since.
“A proud tradition has been built up over the years based on a good
program, a sincere concern on the part, the instructors for the welfare of
the boys, and a good record of performance in competition with other army
cadets corps on the province and other parts of
Canada
,” Mr. Gutheridge said.
“Cadets and instructors from this corps have
carried the name of
Moose Jaw
to many parts of the world and wherever they went they gave a good account
of themselves.”
Boys wishing to join the
Moose Jaw Schools Cadet Corps should present themselves to Room 115 at the
Armoury Thursday evenings between
7:30
and
9:30
. They should be physically fit
and have their parents consent.
Printed in
Moose Jaw
Times Herald on
October 25,1971
ARMY
CADET WEEK – ‘72
The
Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau is briefed on Army Cadet Week activities by Cadet
RSM K Van Tassel of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Cadet Corps.
Army Cadet Week is being held all across
Canada
from September 24th
through the 30th. Defence
Minister Edgar J. Benson monitors the proceedings.
CAPT.
THERENS TOP WINNER AT ARMY CADET INSPECTION
Cadet
Captain Bev. D. Therens won three major awards at the annual inspection of
No. 1856 Moose Jaw Schools Army Cadet Corps Friday at the armoury.
Cadet Captain Therens captured the award for senior proficiency; was
one of two cadets earning his master cadet scroll and one of four to receive
a shooting award.
The presentations followed
the actual inspection by Major K. G. Penry, commanding officer of the
Saskatchewan Dragoons, assessing officer, Capt. A.G. Ferguson and the
inspection party consisting of Capt. Art Stow, liaison officer for the
affiliated unit, the Dragoons; Capt S.H. Gutheridge, liaison officer with
the sponsoring body, the public board of education; Harry C. Braaten,
representing the school board; and Capt L.R. Johnson, corps commanding
officer.
Besides the awards won by
Cadet Captain Therens, a master cadet scroll was presented to Cadet Master
Warrant Officer Duane Dale; a commission scroll was earned by Lieut. Ron
Hammond and the award for junior proficiency was given to Cadet Craig
Botterill.
The school attendance trophy was won by
Vanier
collegiate and accepted by Cadet Lieut. Kelly Langill.
Shooting awards were accepted by Cadet Jim Selinger, Cadet Sergeant
Ted Robertson, Cadet Lieut Joel Hamre and Cadet Capt. Therens.
Printed in the
Moose Jaw
Times Herald on
May 27,1972
TAKING AIM
Royal
Canadian army Cadet training sponsored by the public board of education,
resumed Thursday night in the Moose Jaw Armoury, Cadet training is open to
all boys aged 13 to 19, who are physically fit and have their parents
consent. Rifle training is part of the training and here Steven Griffin,
left and Craig Botteriu, right, takes aim while Ron Hammond, centre,
supervises.
Printed
in the
Moose Jaw
Times Herald
on
September
15,1972
1974 GLOBETROTTERS
NEW
ARMY CADET PROGRAM WILL GO CO-EDUCATIONAL
For
the first time, girls will be included in the new training program being
instituted by the 1856 Moose Jaw Army Cadets. Registration for the program
will take place in the Moose Jaw Armoury Thursday. Boys and Girls, ages 13
to18 are asked to come to the Armoury between
7p.m.
and
9:30 p.m.
, if they are interested in joining the army cadets.
Capt. R.P. Hammond, commanding officer, said he
hopes the army cadets will be will be the first to start taking girls into
the cadet program. He said it wasn’t compulsory to do so yet but this was
on the legislative orders paper in the house of commons prior to the last
federal election .He said he hoped there will be 60 cadets registering but
had no idea how many might be girls. The new training program is of cadets
in
Ottawa
and will one just released by the director be tried during the 1974 –75
year as a trial program.
Capt.
Hammond said the program is designed to develop and strengthen the cadet’s
qualities of self – confidence, endurance, initiative, ability to work
with others, leadership and the ability to make decisions and take
responsibilities. These objectives are achieved through the activities of
military training, leadership, citizenship and physical fitness.
Cadet training will be in the areas of drill,
first aid, fundamental training, map and compass use, small arms, field
craft, leadership and methods of instruction. Capt. Hammond said the main
difference between the new program and the old is that previously, cadets
were left to their own resources. Now they will start green, red, silver,
and gold star program with a booklet that spells out each move every year.
Army cadets will have to pass the green star
program before they can move on to the red star and all along the line. This
will also apply to the summer camp programs. “We hope we are going to have
a good program with this,” said Capt. Hammond.
PRINTED
IN THE MOOSE JAW TIMES HERALD ON SEPTEMBER 1974
SIGNING
UP
Registration
was held this week for the school cadet troop, but there was a difference
this year. For the first time in
the history of the cadet movement, girls were admitted to membership and
here Janet Herbert has her registration papers filled out by Capt. Ron
Hammond, left. Watching the
action and not sure of what things are coming to is Cadet Warrant Office
Craig Botterill.
Printed
in the
Moose Jaw
Times Herald
Monday Sept 16,1974
.
CADET
CORPS INSPECTED
Major
Art Stow, commanding officer, Saskatchewan Dragoons, top photo is inspecting
the 1856 Moose Jaw Schools Cadet Corps during annual inspection ceremonies.
Friday evening program-included march past, general salute and
demonstration in first aid, gymnastics and radio as well ad presentation of
awards.
In the bottom photo cadets
are doing a pyramid as part of the gymnastic demonstration.
Gold stars were presented to Master WO Craig Botterill and Sgt Cliff
Jamieson. Silver stars were
presented to WO John Gate, Cpl. Dave Dmytriw and Lance Cpl Barry Dale.
Red stars were presented to Ryan Jestin, Doug Schiffner, Harold
McLaren, Tim Langill, Glen Downton, Bob Jamieson and Tim Kruse.
Green Stars were presented to Grant Sorochan and Ken Jamieson and the
senior proficiency trophy to Clifford Jamieson.
The school attendance trophy went to
Bushell
Park
School
.
Printed
in the
Moose Jaw
Times Herald on
June 9,1975
MORE
BRUSH-CLEARING AT
CAMP
SASKADET
Printed in the
Regina
Paper on
30 July,1976
DEANA
BREARS (LEFT) AND MARY JEAN STACEY FROM MOOSEJAW CLEAR BRUSH TO ENLARGE CAMP
Printed in the
Regina
Paper on
July 30,1976
WORKLOAD
IS HEAVY AT
CAMP
SASKADET
Cadets
from across Saskatchewan will spend the rest of this summer and the next two
summers hacking a permanent camp out of the bush near Round Lake about 125
miles northeast of Regina.
There
is no shortage of heavy work to do as these photos demonstrate, but there is
no shortage if willing workers either. Called
Camp
Saskadet
, the facility
is authorized as a permanent camp by the department of national defence.
Work officially began last summer and all the construction is being
done by air, sea, and army cadets who are using donated materials.
By September, the young people will have put in about 16,700 hours of
work.
While the construction is
under way, the camp is open on weekends for any provincial cadet corps to
use free of charge. A total of
180 cadets also get to take part in the three, two-week bushcraft courses
being conducted from the camp this summer.
From the air, the clearing
at the central assembly area and parking area stand out clearly.
A women’s tent
area is to the left of the assembly area and the men’s tent area is to the
right. A swimming and boating
jetty is in place and a second pier is available for fishermen.
An
area of beach has been cleared and a boundary fence is being constructed.
A department of tourism and renewable resources nature trail runs
between the camp and the waterline.
Major
W.P. Starr is commanding officer of the camp and there are nine officers, 19
NCOs and the cadet volunteers in the camp operations.
Four regular forces personnel also assist in the operation.
Printed
in the
Regina
on
30 July, 1976
TENTS
ARE THE GIRLS’ AND BOYS’ SLEEPING QUARTERS
Printed
in the
Regina
Paper on
30 July, 1976
CAMP SASKADET ON THE SHORES OF
ROUND
LAKE
Printed
in the
Regina
Paper on
30 July,1976
CANOEING AND SAILING ARE AMONG THE ACTIVITIES
OFFERED AT THE CAMP
Printed in the
Regina
Paper on
July 30,1976
MOOSE
JAW GIRL FIRST TO WIN CADET AWARD.
Seventeen-year-old Barbara
Romanycia is one of the three
Moose Jaw
School
army Cadets to win the master gold star examinations.
Other passing is Grant Sorochan and Stella Alexanderson.
It is the first time a girl has ever won this distinction.
The master cadet gold star is the highest level
of qualification cadet can achieve. Romanycia
said to earn the distinction she first had to complete three levels of
training – green, red, silver –“Then go to
Regina
or
Saskatoon
, depending on the part of the province you live in and take four written
tests.” She said these tests
are on fundamental training, leadership, fieldcraft, map and compass.
From there she went to Dundurn for the second half of training which
is the practical.
Romanycia joined the army cadets in September
1975 and in January of this year; she said she joined because she thought it
would be fun. “I like camping
and I find training is fun. She
said for the future she had been thinking about a military career but she is
not sure yet whether she will decide in this direction.
Questioned about the recent controversy over
women in combat positions and whether she would want to be a soldier that
could potentially go into combat. Romanycia said she did not see anything
wrong with it really. “If
women are good enough for it they should be able to.”
She admitted it might be demoralizing for men, that there could be
certain tensions between two.
She said she has noted in
her training with men that there is really a sense of competition.
“I don’t think they really appreciate having women in there with
them.”
Printed in the
Moose Jaw
Times Herald on Feb 1977(actual day unavailable)
Army
Cadet Commanding Officer Capt. Lorne Pretzer explains backpack function to
Cadets Jeff Wallace, left and Sgt Barb Romanycia.
Printed in the
Moose Jaw
Times Herald
5 Nov 1977
.
BOTH
BOYS AND GIRLS IN ARMY, SEA AND AIR
Major enrollment increase seen in Cadet
Corps
Joining
the cadets appears to be a popular activity for young people in
Moose
Jaw
.
Commanding officers of the army, navy and air cadets all report
enrolments are up from last year as both boys and girls are joining to take
advantage of various programs being offered, summer travel and a chance to
meet new friends.
Lieutenant-Commander
Harvey Bumphrey of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets says enrolment this year in
the corps is at 147 and it could reach as high as 160 by the spring.
He said he doesn’t know why there is such a big jump from last year
when the corps had 122 people.
“We
weren’t really trying for anymore this year as about 120 is the most we
can handle at ease,” he said. The
corps is open to both girls and boys from
11
to 16 years of age. It meets
every Monday at the Moose Jaw Armouries from
7
p.m.
to
9:30
p.m.
Lt Commander Bumphrey said the sea cadets offer a youngster a varied
program of activities, a chance to travel.
In
addition, it costs nothing to join and the uniform is supplied free of
charge. Lt Commander Bumphrey
said every cadet is exposed to a general navy-type atmosphere and there are
extra activities he or she can participate in.
This year’s programs include cross-country ski trips, sports
tournaments, camp-outs, canoe trips, fishing trips and citizenship tours to
various places in
Canada
and the
United
States
.
The
seamanship training includes boat work, water safety, fire prevention and
first aid and survival training, he said.
The corps has a fully equipped camp at
Buffalo
Pound
Lake
,
which can handle up to 120 people and can be ready for use at a moment’s
notice. Lt Commander Bumphrey
said the camp has a playground,
Parade
Square
and a lighthouse, which is similar to those at navy bases.
He
added that summer courses offer junior cadets a chance to take basic
training at
Cornwallis
,
N.S.
,
Whitehorse
Yukon
,
Quadra, B.C. or in
Northern
Saskatchewan
.
For senior cadets, courses are open at
Esquimalt
and Comox B.C., Cornwallis and in Toronto Ont.
Lt
Commander Bumphrey said this is a six-week training course where a cadet can
study such trades as medical attendant, boatswain, communications, senior
leadership courses, cooking and a variety of seamanship courses.
He noted last year five cadets had a trip aboard ship to
Hawaii
,
and two went in exchange visits to
Holland
and
Japan
.
Captain
Lyle Johnson, outgoing Commander of the army cadets, says this corps offers
youngsters programs, which are different from the air and sea cadets.
He said the Army cadets have more shooting practices, longer summer
programs and they are more varied than the other corps.
PROMOTES LEADERSHIP
“The
aim of the army cadets is promote physical fitness, develop leadership and
citizenship abilities and to stimulate an interest in the Armed Forces,”
Captain Johnson said. He noted
last year the army cadets consisted of 28 people but this year enrollment
has reached up to 78. “The big
reason for the jump is a recruiting program in city schools undertaken this
year by Captain Lorne Pretzer,” Captain Pretzer will be the new Commanding
Officer of Army Cadets as of Nov. 1.
As in other corps, the army
cadets cost nothing to join and the uniform is free.
Captain Johnson said one reason the army cadets offers young people
longer and more varied programs is because it is the original cadet program
in
Canada
and used to have more military support than other corps. “Other unified
programs are expanding but the army still has the lead in qualified
instructors and it has more bodies,” Captain Johnson said.
He said all army cadets
undergo a basic training program related to the land element of the Armed
Forces and optional programs, which include photography, communications,
fire fighting, water safety and athletics, follow this.
He said an army cadet could take about 15 to 20 courses, which range
from two to six weeks in duration. There are exchange programs in
Germany
and
England
, rifle competition in
England
, national cadet camps in
Banff
and regional camps in BC,
Quebec
,
Ontario
and
New Brunswick
.
Captain Johnson said there
is also a provincial camp (Saskadet) in the
Saskatoon-Round
Lake
area. He added the army cadets
are undertaking a special project this year in the
Prairie Provinces
. Each province is introducing a
course in three stages and later on cadets from all three provinces will
teach each other.
CB COURSE
In
Saskatchewan
, the course is CBs. The first
stage is CB radio, the second stage will involve more advanced forms of
communication and the use of the small ham radios and the third stage will
be the study of a complete network.
Captain Johnson said
Moose Jaw
hasn’t got CBs yet but are receiving them in the near future.
The purpose of the program is to get more young people interested in
the cadet movement and to give them something they can use later on in
life,” Captain Johnson said. He
noted local training at the Moose Jaw Armouries consists of 49 compulsory
subjects and 30 optional subject periods.
Programs, he said, include
junior and cadet leadership courses. From this, the subjects vary according
to the cadet'’ abilities and aptitudes.
In
Whitehorse
, a cadet can take a course in which two weeks are spent completely
outdoors. In
Vernon
B.C., there is a six-week drivers’ communication course, there is physical
fitness course in Borden Ont. And a leadership challenge course at
Banff
.
Captain Johnson who teaches
the course in the summer at
Banff
says “it is a real learning experience for cadets.”
They get to know the other side of languages in
Canada
and meet cadets from across the country.
He said there is also a band program at regional camps where cadets
learn about band operations and a national band competition in
Charlottetown
,
PEI
every year.
Captain
Johnson said girls were introduced to the Army Cadets four years ago and
consists of about one-third of the enrollment in
Moose Jaw
.
“They seem to enjoy military involvement, discipline and the
organization. It’s something
open to girls and those who join are more adventurous than average.
They are breaking new frontiers looking for a challenge,”Capt
Johnson said.
He added in the future there will be more and
more girls and there will be a time when 50 per cent of cadets will be
females. Angella Alexanderson,
14 of
80 Home St. E.
is one girl who joined the army cadets in
Moose Jaw
this year. She said she joined
because she wanted something to do and to meet new friends.
Another first-year girl is Terry Drysdale 13, of
710 Caribou St. W.
She said she joined because she
wanted to take rifle shooting. Although
the work is harder than she thought it would be, she is enjoying herself.
Greg Martel 13, of
524 Saskatchewan St. W.
says he joined cadets because he was interested in travel and shooting
rifles and he wouldn’t have had a chance to do these things otherwise.
Corporal Dwayne McIntyre of Boharm is a 15-year-old who joined the
army cadets three years ago and has since been to
Vernon
and
Whitehorse
. “I joined because I thought
it would be fun and interesting. Right
now I like the physical education survival programs,” he said.
Dale Northrup, chairman of
the sponsoring committee for the air cadets says there are now about 50
cadets in the corps but he would like to see twice that many.
The program, he said, offers boys and girls courses in citizenship
and leadership and familiarization flights in airplanes and camp-outs.
Rifle
Team
There
is also a rifle team and drill instruction.
Cadets meet every Wednesday at the Moose Jaw Armouries at
7 p.m.
and on Saturday morning have rifle
practice.
Printed
Moose Jaw
Times Herald
Nov. 5,1977
CADETS
VISITED
The
1856 Moose Jaw School Army Cadet Corp visited city council Monday to observe
“democracy in action”. The
14 young people represented
Peacock
High
School
,
Prince Arthur, Sacred Heart, Riverview, King George, St. Agnes and
Bushell
Park
Schools
.
The group was under the command of Lieut. Anthony Donnison and Lieut.
Twiy Schiffner. Mayor Herb
Taylor greeted the cadets on behalf of council, welcoming them to stay as
long as they wished. The cadets sat through a two-hour discussion on the
fate of the Hillcrest Playground before having to leave.
PUBLIC
GALLERY FILLED FOR MEETING
…
with cadets and Hillcrest parents
Printed
in the
Moose Jaw
Times Herald in 1978
(actual date unknown)
MOOSE
JAW GIRL FIRST TO WIN CADET AWARD
Seventeen-year-old
Barbara Romanycia is one of three
Moose
Jaw
school army cadets to win the master cadet gold star examinations.
Others passing are Grant Sorochan and Stella Alexanderson.
It is the first time a girl has ever won this distinction.
The master cadet gold star
is the highest level of qualification a cadet can achieve.
Romanycia said to earn the distinction she first had to complete
three levels of training – green, red and silver –“Then go to
Regina
or
Saskatoon
, depending on the part of the province you live in, and take four written
tests.”
She said these tests are on
fundamental training, leadership, fieldcraft, map and compass.
From there she went to Dundurn for the second half of training which
is the practical.
Training
here is in rifle mutual, drill mutual, rifle handling test, map and compass
practical. Romanycia joined the
army cadets in September 1975 and in January of this year she joined the
Moose Jaw Militia. This is her
last year with cadets.
She said she joined because
she thought it would be fun. “I
like camping and I find training is fun.”
She said for the future she has been thinking about a military career
but she is not sure yet whether she will decide in this direction.
Questioned about the recent
controversy over women in combat positions and whether she would want to be
a soldier that could potentially go into combat, Romanycia said she did not
see anything wrong with it really.
“If women are good enough
for it they should be able to”. She
admitted it might be demoralizing for men, that there could be certain
tensions between the two. She
said she has noted in here training with men that there is really a sense of
competition. “I don’t think
they really appreciate having women in there with them.”
Printed in the
Moose Jaw
Times Herald on
April 17,1978
TO
SEE GREEN SILK
CITY
YOUTH LOOKS UP WHEN HE JUMPS
GRANT
SOROCHAN FRONT RIGHT, AND FRIENDS
...wait
in airplane for jump
When
Grant Sorochan
of
988
Montgomery St.
jumps, it’s not a matter of how far but from how high.
The 17-year-old
Moose
Jaw
youth received his parachutist wings this summer from the Canadian Armed
Forces. Sorochan, who said he
always wanted to parachute, joined the Moose Jaw Army Cadets four years ago
as the first step to obtain his goal.
During the first year of
cadets he attended a two-week junior leadership course at the Saskadet Camp
in
Northern Saskatchewan
. For the next two summers he
attended two six-week courses at
Vernon
BC
The first time at
Vernon
he took courses to develop his leadership abilities and mountain climbing
and on the second trip he took a driving course.
This summer his dream came
true when he went to Canadian Forces Base Edmonton and began the parachuting
course. Seven weeks after
studying the theory of parachuting and making a jump into concrete bunkers
where he injured himself, Sorochan had his wings. Sorochan said the injury
occurred during his fourth and final qualifying jump.
“When I first jumped from
the plane the wind was only three to four knots but about 100 feet down I
hit a pocket where the wind was 35 knots.”
“It was blowing straight across and blew me way off course.”
“I landed on a concrete bunker and sprained my ankle and had to be
on crutches for a while.” Sorochan
said several other people parachuting with him landed in the same area and
also received minor injuries. Others
were burned when they landed on an electric fence.
He said the accident wasn’t really anybody’s fault and it was
difficult for the navigator to know the air pocket was there.
“Parachuting isn’t
really dangerous though, I’ve done more dangerous things right here (
Moose Jaw
). It’s only dangerous if you
get careless.” Sorochan said
his class was the first to make it through the parachute training.
There were 59 in the class when it started and after four weeks 48
trainees were and they made it through the course.
He said first thing on the
agenda was the extensive physical training in order to prepare for the
rigors of jumping. The training
was done with regular army personnel and because Sorochan and several other
cadets were small they had to do extra physical exercises.
Sorochan said they ran 15 miles per day while others only had to run
10. In addition they played
soccer, lifted weights and took saunas.
“The training is
demanding because a person has to be able to land properly.
Under war conditions about 50 percent of the jumpers get hurt.”
Sorochan said the first jumps were done from a pole in which it took
two seconds to hit the ground. He
said they practice jumps from that height quite extensively because the
height they were at was a psychological point for jumping.
The trainees were then taken up to 1,500 feet in
an airplane and parachuted from that height.
Later they were taken down to 650 feet and if time would have
permitted, they would have made jumps from 300 feet off the ground, the
normal height under wartime conditions.
Sorochan said a parachutist falls at 16 feet per second so at 650
feet a person just has time to open his parachute.
He said on his first jump when he put on his
parachute he wasn’t worried. “I
wasn’t even worried when we were on the plane and waiting at the side door
for the jump but as soon as my foot left the spring board I was scared but
only for a moment.” “I
looked up and saw that green silk and it felt safe and good and then I
looked around and all my friends were floating down around me and I felt
just great.”
Asked how it felt after he
had completed the course, Sorochan said, “it was pretty demanding but it
feels good to have those wings. They
are the elite of the Canadian Armed Forces and the cadets.”
He added the hardest thing about the whole four years was just
waiting to get the wings. “But
it was great. I really enjoyed
it and I learned leadership and I met all kinds of people from all across
Canada
.”
Sorochan, a cadet
commanding officer in the Moose Jaw Cadet Corps, says he is now a qualified
parachutist in the reserves or regular army so if he joins the armed forces
he gets to wear his wings. He
said although the armed forces paid him $100 to take the
parachutist course, he now gets $20 per jump up to a maximum of $75
per month. Sorochan said when he
finishes his grade 12 this year, he wants to join the army and take his
university education with the armed forces.
SOROCHAN
RECEIVES WINGS
...from Major General Herb Pitts
Printed
October 10, 1978
Moose Jaw Times Herald
JUST WAITING OUR TURN
Cadet Munden Braye from
Grand Falls, NFLD, Allan McGregor from Va Caron Ont., Mike Luciak from Moose
Jaw, Sask., and David Strachan from Kirkland Lake, Ont., are just waiting
for their turn in the canoes at the National Army Cadet Camp in Banff,
Alberta. The four are beginning
a four-day section of their training that will take them canoeing, kayaking
and rafting on lakes on lakes and rivers in the National Park area.
The cadets will also be receiving training in mountain climbing,
hiking, glacier work, and leadership exercises during their 6 weeks.
The top 250-army cadets in
Canada
as well as exchange programs with the
U.K.
and
Germany
attend the course. It’s
a great way to get to know
Canada
and other countries as
well.
Printed in the
Moose Jaw
Times Herald on
29 May, 1979
ARMY
CADET EXERCISE
Displaying
first aid lifesaving skills on the simulated Battleford at the Armouries,
Friday are members of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets.
Lying on the floor as the injured person is Brett Shier while Steve
Morhart, left, supervises. Applying
bandages are Tracey North, right, and Angela Alexanderson, centre.
The cadets were at the annual inspection, which was reviewed by
Lieut. – Gov. C. Irwin McIntosh.
Printed in the
Moose Jaw
Times Herald on
May 29,1979
ANNUAL INSPECTION
Lieut.
-Gov. C. Irwin McIntosh, left inspects the ranks of the No. 1856 Moose Jaw
Schools Cadet Corps at the recent annual inspection.
In the background, Commanding Officer Capt Lorne Pretzer accompanies
him.
From right are Cadets John
Kern and Brett Shier. Kern
accepted the school attendance trophy on behalf of
King
George
School
. Winner of junior proficiency
award was Steven Morhart while Doug Kinlock won the senior proficiency
award. About 30 other awards
were presented including awards for shooting, first aid, photography,
communications and hunter safety.
Printed in the
Moose Jaw
Times Herald on
31 May 1979
NOVEMBER
1979
OPENING
OF LEGISLATION
Cadets
on sentry waiting for the arrival of the Lieutenant governor Irwin McIntosh
and receiving the Lieutenant Governor’s
coat prior to the inspection of the Honor Guard.
In
the Photo: - Irwin McIntosh – Lieutenant Governor
Cadet
Sergeant K. McKenney – 1856 RCACC
Moose Jaw
Cadet
Private D. Hassay – 2370 RCACC
Regina
L-R
McMillen, North (TRACY), Alexanderson A, Rollie G.
OUT
FRONT Female North (Teresa) Anderson, Kemp and Flannigan
CADETS
WANT $2,000 AGAIN
A
request that the budget for the Moose Jaw Schools Cadet Corps for 1979
remain at $2,000 was deferred to budget discussions by the public board of
education Thursday. Capt. L.W.D.
Pretzer, commanding officer, said in a letter to the board, the
corps-recruiting program went well this year and “I have a strength of 100
cadets.”
He
said he plans to take the corps on three trips in the province and one to
the
United States
.
He said it is difficult to put a price on these trips; however, we
will try to do it with the least expense possible.
Noting
the corps went over its budget the past year by $450 to $500, Pretzer said
the city prevented the corps from holding a tag day because it received
support from the school board and the Army Cadet League of
Saskatchewan
.
“Normally with the funds received from this tag day, we are able to
put on a family night and Christmas party which cost in the area of $450 to
$500. I believe if we would have
had our tag day, our corps would not have gone over budget.
Printed
in
Moose Jaw
Times Herald on
Nov 26,1979
