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Advanced Aviation Technology Course (AATC) interview boards

clr4449 — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:11:29 GMT

OK, so myself and a bunch of friends from my squadron were just put through the review boards today, and I felt it would be a worthy topic for my first ever blog. Of course, we started bright and early, arriving at the Ontario Air Cadet League offices for our interviews, I'd say about 20 of us were there from 166, so we spent about an hour or so as a squadron, looking over uniforms, asking one another last minute review questions, and offering encouragement (and freaking out about our minor uniform issues...OK so maybe that was just me). Eventually, a WO1 collected us in groups per course and we were sent to our respective boards.

Sitting at a set of tables in front of a cafeteria on the 2nd floor (we were in a government office block), myself and three good friends spent our time quizzing one another, and talking about what waits beyond the wood panels and cubicles of the interview blocks. There were three of us going for AATC-Aircraft Maintenance (and there still are) and the competition is close, my third friend was applying for Advanced Aerospace.

One of my friends was called away, she returned 15 minutes later, following a fine interview. We asked how it went, and we were told of the few questions we might be asked. A few minutes later a my next friend was called on to give his interview. He returned about 17 minutes later following his interview. Lastly my last friend was called on for his review board for Advanced Aerospace, and after he left I was called upon to give my interview.

My review board consisted of a senior league member, a Major who was the CO of a local squadron, and a Lieutenant. I was asked some standard questions, that I will not mention here because not everyone has done their review boards for these courses, and after about 10 minutes, I shook hands with the review panel, saluted and departed.

We all met up afterwards, we all feel we preformed as expected, and are all keeping our fingers crossed, hoping to get our wings, mechanic or radio ratings, and other qualifications afforded to cadets through national courses. As you would expect we are all keeping our fingers crossed and playing the waiting game.

To everyone applying for their own national courses, summer courses, staffing, exchanges or anything else pertaining to cadet summer training, good luck, and keep your fingers crossed! :airsalute::armysalute::seasalute:

--
Craig Rosensweig
Flight Corporal
166 Bulldog Squadron
Royal Canadian Air Cadets

Ok i miss being a cadet

catsrcute — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:33:57 GMT

ok currently i have an easy sumester right now... and i have lots of time on my hands i started to miss cadets so if there someone from a squadren in thunder bay that requires a staff member can you please let me know because i really dislike all of the time that i have on my hands currently:dance:

Oh well...

TaraMeikle — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:06:04 GMT

My squadron got told there were too many of us going to boards. They had to cut someone, and it was me. I'm not gonna lie, I was so very disappointed that I cried a little. :/ I just found out tonight, as I was getting ready for mock boards. I'd been reading up on all the tips and suggestions posted on this site. I'd been studying the study guide provided to me by my squadron. I had my hopes up so high I was soaring. But tonight I was given the news that I had to be cut, and that I'm not going to the power pilot scholarship. Not this year, not ever. I'm turning 18 on Friday. This is my last full year in cadets. Oh well... I guess spending my last summer as staff doesn't sound too bad.

My JROTC Drill Season (So far)

deSanMiguel — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:29:12 GMT

Well this has turned out to be one hell of a drill season so far. [: In a good way! I was expecting another Bolingbrook- Lockport showdown. But an Army JROTC school took us by surprise.

Let me explain it this way, I'm from Bolingbrook High School IL-091st AFJROTC. Our unit's drill team has a longtime rival, Lockport Township IL-761 AFJROTC. They've always been our rivals and there's always been that tension between the two drill teams. We always kill each other for the Conference Drill Championship Title. Bolingbrook won it back to back when the chamionship was first created. Then last year, Lockport took it from us. Let's just say that we want redemption this year and we're training harder than ever to get the 1st place title back to where it belongs ;D

The first drill competition was between 4 schools including us. We ended up taking first place overall. The team I commanded took first place and my tandem duet took 2nd place.

Here's our drill team this year.
This was us during the mass fall in as we waited for the results of the drill meet.

The second drill season was held at Lockport. Once we stepped in the school, we automatically felt that tension between the schools. There was nothing like walking in that school in your uniform with an IL-091st unit patch on your arm and getting scowls from the rival school. An Army JROTC school and another Air Force JROTC school was also there. But we were more concerned with Lockport. Now Lockport was talking big stuff before this meet. At the end of meet though, it was Bolingbrook and the Army School that tied for first place. We were surprised that the army school tied with us because in previous years, they never got past 3rd place. (The clear winner is still being disputed) Although one thing I know is that Lockport got 3rd place in their own school's drill competition. I hate to sound like a sore winner, but boy does it feel great. It's not that I hate their school, but I just love the rivalry between our drill teams. And not to mention it felt great to win after a bunch of their cadets started chanting "Go home Bolingbrook" when we first entered the school.

Though with tied for first place overall, my armed exhibition team that I command took first place, and my tandem duet took first place as well. :P It was a good day.

I'll be posting some pictures and videos from the meets, so please stick around and check this blog out [:

Look out boards, here I come!! :D

TaraMeikle — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:43:08 GMT

nd nervousness, I took the power pilot qualification exam on Tuesday and I passed!! One step closer to hopefully getting selected for the power pilot scholarship! Wish me luck, and good luck to any other applicants out there :)

The life of an American Air Force High School Cadet (p1)

deSanMiguel — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:27:01 GMT

Let me start off with how fascinated I am with the difference between the Cadet Programs in the United States and the Commonwealth Realms (Canada in particular). I never really thought that a border between two countries could make so much difference between matters such as military sponsored programs.

I reckon' I'd share my year thus far. Well it's the start of 2011-2012 school year and I find myself as a returning upperclassman cadet. I entered the school year holding the rank of E-5 Staff Sergeant. My first assignment was to help train incoming AS-1's at a drill camp. I acted as one of the cadres to instruct inexperienced AS-1's the basics of regulation drill. It turned out well as the flight I was assigned to advanced the most. I guess all those joadies and "motivation" helped.

My second assignment was to be put as Director of Operations in KHAS. It's a hectic job, but I guess the KHAS portion of the unit is earning half the total service hours for the unit as a whole. That surprised the hell out of my Aerospace Science Instructor. After countless KHAS projects such as helping out around local town events, I've constantly found myself exhausted at the end of the day.

For my third assignment, it came to a surprise to be honest. I was named Director of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Program in my unit. I was tasked with teaching cadets the basics of flight, flight procedures, and aerodynamics. It kind of reminds me of a mini class. Furthermore, I have to keep them in task with working simulators and small UAV's. I'm still holding the position and my assignment is far from complete. I guess only time can tell.

Next assignment was to attend the 2011 fall encampment at an Army Reserves base. Think of it as bootcamp. It was hilarious seeing the freshmen being scared to death with the FTO's running around "disciplining" and taking out the knife hands. I was in charge of commanding the Honor Guard for Reveille and Retreat.

Being part of the Cadet Staff, I was ordered to attend the weekly staff meetings (which bore me to death). It's sitting in the room with the whole cadet staff, recapping what recently happened in the week. To be honest, as director of UAV, I have no interest in knowing what the hell Special Projects or Information & Technology was up to. I was there to give my report on UAV and hear some news from KHAS. That was it. But I guess it's healthy being exposed to the whole unit as a whole.

I attended the Marine Corps Birthday ball at another town. It was a lot of fun celebrating it with the MCJROTC cadets. My friend and I were the only AFJROTC cadets there and it really did stir a lot of conversations and comparisons amongst each other.

After all that, I was assigned to the drill team. I found myself being put in command of the Varsity Armed Exhibition team. (The guys that spin the rifles). It's not an easy job at all. I'm constantly battling cadets with superiority complex. It's complicated because I'm a Sophomore and I'm in charge of a bunch of Juniors and Seniors who are, outside of the drill team, my superiors. I don't think they get the fact that I'm in charge of them once we're in Drill Team mode. It's weird coz I think I'm possibly the youngest cadet to make the Commander position for Varsity Armed Ex. And I guess it's kind of unusual to be commanded by a lower ranking cadet. But orders are orders and they are made to be followed. We'll see how this drill season plays out for me.

Lastly, I was recently promoted to E-6 Technical Sergeant. I was awarded two more ribbons upon updating my records. So I guess I'm gonna have to update my portrait. Haha
With this rate, I might return next school year as Chief Master Sergeant and then promoted to Cadet Officer somewhere next school year. I'm trying my best to keep at this pace.

Here's me so far.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming swimming

dbrooks319 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:25:30 GMT

Okay, just because I have nothing better to do at the moment while I wait for the bus that I will get to momentarily, I'm gonna write this post.

So, holiday stand down technically ends today, thats good, but man the past two weeks off have been great. Some of the people who read this probably saw my last post, and I'm happy to report that I have since cleared my head and am all in for the next few months. I realised the other day, I've got seventeen weeks left before our all important ACR. I also noticed my band has a grand total of, drum roll please, 3 people in the band, that means the next few weeks are going to be spent between me and the band Divisional Officer to get together enough people for our band from the ranks of the new cadets, I'm printing request forms soon, don't want to steal all of them from our ships office. Next thing on the list, gotta start training some more pipers for our corps piping party, whatever, three more people, one call, simple enough (that by the way is my teacher tick, say it all the time in classes, should really fix that). And finally for ACR I gotta find myself a metronome to practice conducting with, so that O Canada doesn't turn into a pop medley.

List of the things for ACR, check. List of corp based activities, begin. In the next few weeks I am going to begin with our corps training officer the assembly of a Seamanship Team for the Rideau flotilla seamanship concentration. Lots of studying and assembly of knowledge but using our very knowledgeable and experienced officer I am completely prepared. Next on the list, getting myself replaced from doing the colours and sunset with my call, I would like to stay with my band. Next, getting ready for range competition, we had our mandetory shoot a couple weeks ago and I intend to try and do the same thing I did there, aka, everything I possibly can because I love the range.

So, having planned for my next few months, lets talk about today. My 16, yes sixteen, year old dog kept me awake all night and now I have our corps welcome back swim, my dad is working, and my moms out of the city, so hour long bus ride, did I mention its cold? So I woke up and am currently on the third cup of the blackest coffee you could possibly imagine, I am eating it with a fork. This all in the hope to not fall asleep on the bus and be able to enjoy myself with the other seniors, and making sure juniors don't kill each other or any of the public bathers. Tonight I am going to come home and collapse. But as I said since my last post I've figured stuff out, and its this nose to the grindstone, lose the baggage and just keep going. It's gonna be a great few months, and then I have one more year. Its gonna be the best 14 months of my life. (possibly 16 depending on this summer)

glider scholarship!

Kandis.F18 — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:34:57 GMT

ok, so i am a f/sgt and i am applying for glider this summer, i was just wondering if any one has any tips, and possibly some help with writing my narritive, im not too sure what to include.
also if someone could give me some help on what would be in the interview, i'm really nervous for that.
sorry, ALSO! what else do we need to do,or have, besides the narritive interview and test, for the scholarship.
thanks!

Any tips for Base Coating?

HoVivian — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:43:06 GMT

I suck at polishing!!! Even if I polish for 4 hours my boots will look only a slightly bit better. I'm on drill team so I have to make my boots shinier!!!!!! And tips???:shrug::shrug::shrug:

Interested in Learning

ML88 — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:21:44 GMT

I am very interested in learning about the Boys Naval Brigade (1898-1910) and the Navy League Sea Cadets (1910-1942) I have looked in lot of places on the internet and could find nothing :( . now where could I go to find this information. Fellow Cadets help me out.

Comment with your sujested sites (i have already tried Wikipedia) :seasalute:

What is leadership?

Teh_Jackson — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:44:47 GMT

I've noticed a certain trend among the general cadet population over the years, when they get around the 3rd level of the program. They start gearing up to be leaders. More often than not, were you to ask them what leadership is about the awnser would be "being in charge".

Is that leadership? Perhaps, but only a very small part. A lot smaller than most people would like to believe. Sure, any schmuck can reach PO1 now, but those POs can just as easily be assigned to supply as they could a division, or training PO.

I mean, let me reflect upon where I am now. I'm responsible for the welfare and development, of roughly 50 people, twice a week! Many look to me as a source of guidance. That is eye opening :eek:

Many seniors around the movement may have more to look after, many more less, but those seniors are kidding themselves if they don't think little Johnny newbie isn't looking at his DPO thinking "I want to be there one day"

To quote spiderman, "with great power comes great responsibility"...why do I choose to pass on the advise of those who say I should be a hard ***? Because I don't think that's the be all end all of my position as cox'n. I need to be a hard *** one second, a joker the next and a friend at least once through the night. Providing guidance not because I'm above them, but because I've been there. THAT is what I think leadership is.

Sound off in the comments below, would love to hear different takes, or comments on my thoughts. :seasalute:

My bigest problem

ML88 — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:56:49 GMT

The thing that I find is my biggest problem in the Sea cadet program is when you get very whiney cadets who really don't want to listen to anything that you tell them to do. Let me give you an example, lets say you are stant\ding in front of a division of new entries (or OS's) and you are telling them to steady up and quit talking and moving around they just dont listen. It really just wants to make me rip my hair out. :mad:

Gunners Chain

Green.10 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 23:52:34 GMT

Can someone tell me where I could buy a chain?
Maybe a site to order it from, or a store in B.C. ?

It's not enough?

dbrooks319 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:23:49 GMT

Promotions to CPO2 were two day ago, I was up for them, I didn't get it, that sucked, but it was alright until the kicker. My XO came up to me and tried to explain to me that I should be doing some more stuff to prove I deserve CPO2. This. Is. Crazy. Let me explain to you what it is I do at my corps so you can fully understand my point of view:
Chief Boatswains Mate (Including the duties necessary during coulours and sunset)

Training PO

Drum Major

Attending every event and team with the acception of biatholon

This wasn't even that bad, I thought I'd go talk with the two other guys that had just been promoted and blow off some steam about what he had told me. I couldn't I was kicked out of our Chiefs and POs mess because the new chief and a PO1 who does nothing at our core were having a conversation about next weeks Christmas Dinner, they had been selected to be vice presidents of the mess. This was it. I excused myself from our training building and walked to the heads which is a separate portable. I cried, I couldn't stand it anymore, not only was I told that the work I was doing wasn't good enough to warrant any kind of recognition by my staff, but my officers as well. I sucked it up for sunset ceremony, but I'm not sure I'm gonna make it through the next few months until I may be up for chief again. The last time I felt this way it ended with me having a break down all across my world, at cadets and at school, that resulted in a minor criminal record, and me seeing a psychiatrist, this is really hard to say but, for the first time in a long time, I don't know what to do anymore, help me, please.

Changes.....let's make some.

A.Michaela.C — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 23:08:29 GMT

I don't know about other air cadet squadrons, but I know that mine has been stuck in the past for quite some time. It get's tough sometimes when the answer to every question is "But this is the way it's always been."
Just because it has always been a certain way in the past, why can we not change it now? Why can we not have real answers and real discussions?
I feel that the phrase "this is the way it's always been", is an excuse that is far too often used because it's easier than accepting the fact that you either don't know the answer or are not willing to fight for change.
I respect the fact that there is a such thing as tradition but there is also such a thing as making new traditions. There is such a thing as coming together and fighting for change and prosperity.
As a new cadet in my squadron three years ago I didn't see how stuck we really were, how political wanting to make changes really was. As I started gaining ranks and as the older cadets left and we moved into their place, I got a brutal realization that things were not right.
Personally, I feel that if all I was to ever do in cadets was fight for change so that it would be better for the new generations.....well that would be the greatest accomplishment of my life.
I think it's time to look at the position of an NCO and see it as a privilege, something you earned rather than a right and an excuse to be in control. It's time that we do our research so that we as NCO's understand fully what our role is in the growth process of the younger cadets. We are more influence in their lives than we understand.....don't you think that they should look up to us and want to be like us rather than constantly thinking about how they can get back at us?
It's time for some new ways of thinking.
Remember......they will respect the rank regardless but they will only respect the man unless he earns it.
I'm not sure about you but I want to be respected because of the kind of person I am....not just because I hold a position of authority.

Let's make some changes.

the couch

A.Michaela.C — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:03:10 GMT

......We moved the couch out of the NCO's mess, through the drill practice and outside only to find out that no one can take the couch....
So we moved the couch back up the stairs, back through the drill practice, and back into the mess....
LOL story of my life.:airsalute:

Medal Mounting

Mac Darnley — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 04:58:07 GMT

I have recently been award my second medal and I would like to get them mounted. Is there anyone in the Toronto area that can mount medals?:seasalute:

Random musings. Cadets. Life. Stuff. Yay :D

Chief Wang — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:40:22 GMT

So, it's almost Christmas. Well almost a month away, so not really. Blargh, whatever.

For me, this is a time where I think about everything that's happened over the past year.
I look at the Kelvin Wang of a year ago, and I think to myself, "Boy, you've really changed".
Over the course of the year, I've battled depression and suicidal tendencies, family troubles, cadet troubles. You name it. I've seen it over the last year.

There are times where I just think about the past. Specifically my cadet life.
Six years ago, if you had told me that I would be a CPO2, a proud Gunner and Coxswain, and the most decorated cadet in my corps' history, I would have laughed at you.
After all, I was some short, overweight Asian kid, who was too scared to even talk to anyone.
Six years later, and I'm a completely different guy.
I'm so thankful for what the CCO has given to me.
It's given me friends.
It's given me ups and downs.
It's given me heroes who have changed my life.
Whether it be Duy Tran or Lyndon Eustache or even Mike Lizano, they have all had profound impacts on my life, and I wouldn't be the person I am today without this program.

It even goes to the point that I even have tears in my eyes sometimes, just thinking about all the stories that my former POs and Chiefs told me when I was younger. Listening to their stories and yearning to be just like them so that I could leave a legacy is what I have dreamed of for years and years.
The CCO has dramatically changed since their days. Some people bash the CPU. Others love it.
For me, the cadet program is the cadet program. No matter what happens, I will always be a faithful supporter of this program.

It's been a hard year. And pressing forward towards to being an applicant for RMC, I know that I've worked my butt off to get here. It's been a hard year in which I've seen and experienced so much.
It was a crappy year. That's for sure.
But at the same time, I feel like it's made me so much stronger. From finally becoming a TG3 Gunner to getting owned by every possible Math test, I know that everything will work out in the end. Whether it be ONTARIO's situation or my own personal situation in life, I have faith. :)

Change: for the good, for the bad- we should still be glad.

g.landonbrowne — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:03:19 GMT

I read two brilliant blogs on change one by a very close friend of mine which is here and another by Lt(N) Deck here, and I felt that I should probably add my two cents to this discussion.

I have been in the cadet program for over 5 years now and more than once I have experienced "change". I leave change in quotation marks, because at the end of the day we are all the same, I am still and air cadet as I always have been.

I remember there was a time where we would wear our medals on the left, go all over Canada to attend summer courses and jive at people in different colours of the same clothes. Now however look at what we can experience: meeting people from all around us, going on courses and being the foundation of new traditions, becoming friends with those we once teased, feared and distanced ourselves from.

People call these changes new, but they are merely revisions... As Lt(N) Deck stated there was a time when all cadets wore green, there was no elemental identity but we were all somehow different nonetheless. What we seem to forget is just because our CPU's are all similar now does not mean we are loosing our individuality... Cadets have been taught to fear the changes we are experiencing by the few that remain from a time when the demands of the program were much different than they are now. The cadet program is growing at a substantial rate and we cannot afford to let this growth happen without a few decent changes to ensure the success of future cadets. Times have changed and I personally, am glad that the people writing the CPU's have opened their eyes and realized that the only way forward is to work together.

There was also a time when medals were worn on the right hand side- before they were worn on the left hand side. People often comment on how bad it looks, I am probably one of those people. In truth though we must all concede that they were right to change this back, and that's why we do it. Unfortunately we don't always do it with the best grace.

The cadet program's fear of change has become contagious. Cadets refuse to change their traditions and customs, but why then do we also refuse to pass them on? People always come up to me and ask why things have changed recently... I always reply that it is for the good of the program and that without the change we would not be able to send over half our squadron on summer courses, equip all our cadets with a cap badge, ensure that their own feet aren't cold- even though they could go to the moon in their boots.

People relish what they once had, they convince themselves that less is more. Less isn't more. How is a memory of a past course, a past dress code, or an old pair of worn out boots more? It should be surpassed by the experience of bringing together years of change to create a diverse and enjoyable organization for the youth that choose to participate that's worth more than any tradition, CATO or memory that I have.

How am I lucky that my boots are different from yours, how am I lucky that 4 of the 5 badges on my sleeve will no longer be given out, how am I lucky that I learned everything I know from a grainy blue handbook that now gathers dust on my shelf? The lucky ones are the ones that get to do all the cool activities, that get to go and meet people from other elements, that get to do drill for hours without loosing circulation in their feet, the ones that can have all their questions answered by referring to a few guides in their own time.

So what if you can't do someone else's shuffle? So what if you can't pin your medal above your heart? So what if you can't go to places that have become renowned for their food, their staff and their location? Learn to adapt. Learn to build. Lear to cherish.

But never. Ever. Ever... Forget how to accept change.

Didn't get it, but still running the squadron

the8888 — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:31:07 GMT

On the evening of November 19th 2011, I was severly disapointed to see that the rank in which i worked strenuous hours for had been lost in front of my eyes. One of the other WO2s had recieved the rank of WO1. How do I feel, a little rattled still, I was running the squadron for the past 9 weeks with all the Fsgts and WO2s coming to me for orders and advice 24/7. Sure, I was never a winner of any awards, medals, or anything of that sort, but will that stop me from running the squadron? No, I've been running it even when I wasn't Acting SWO, and the fact that I didn't get it is just allocation for me to be a better cadet in general. I'm not going to lead the parade as squadron commander for my final annual as I so dreamed since my inception as a cadet, but i've come too far in this program to stop now. Why would I let a rank stop me from being the best cadet in my squadron? Just because I didn't win any awards doesn't mean I don't have the best standards in the squadron, it doesn't mean i don't have the strongest leadership sense, it cetainly doesn't make the new WO1 a better cadet than me (of whom I will support to the end of my career), and it doesn't mean that I would have run the squadron any worse than her. All this means is that I am trusted in my position, and I hope that everyone who falls into the same position as me will not quit, the cadets are the important part, your rank means nothing, you have to earn your merit, some of the best cadets in Canada got snuffed. I hope you all understand what your role is as NCO, don't let the decision your CO makes get you down. (P.S. I didn't get a second merit board, and the one i did get for my WO2 promotion I got 1st out of three on, I thought the CO wasn't supposed to make that decision, he completely cut off the decision of the other officers of whom i told decided on me.) Still rattled, but still an SLC grad, the most improved cadet of my squadron.

Signing off,
WO2 Abu-halagah

Change: Don't Fight It or Fear It. Feel it and Fuel It!

Lt(N) Deck — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:22:40 GMT

This blog entry is to reply to some comments made in this fantastic blog entry. You should read that first.

I have been involved with the Cadet program for about 30 years between being a Cadet and an Officer. The training program has changed 3 times (twice on the Sea Cadet side and then across the board with the CPU) during my time. Summer training courses have changed. Places I went to summer training are no longer Cadet Summer Training Centers. Places I sent Cadets for summer training are no longer Cadet Summer Training Centers.

When I started as a Cadet all 3 elements wore green uniforms, the Sea Cadet blues were for ceremonial use only, and we heard from the old timers that a great tradition had died and that Sea Cadets would never be the same again because the uniform changed. Yet today, Sea Cadets still proudly wear the old blues on Ceremonial occasions, mostly at CSTCs as stock has disappeared at units over the years.

I took the Practical Leadership Course in '86. It was 8 weeks long, but some of the course content had changed in the years prior, and it used to be 9 weeks. The old-timers told us that the course would never be he same again, that PL did not mean the same thing because it was different than when they took it. It was still one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. When the PL course changed to 6 weeks a few years later, I was one of the old-timers who said it would not be the same now that it would 2 weeks shorter. Yet the Cadets that I sent on the course still had one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. A few years later again, the PL course was ended. I had the privilege of visiting the course at QUADRA, where one of my Cadets was having one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of her life. There were many old-timers there that summer, lamenting the end of the course, and cursing the changes that ended it. Yet they and I all got up at 5:30 in the morning during our visit, and jetty-jumped with the last batch of PLs, to be part of that final experience.

The 3-year Gunnery course became the de-facto "elite" course at QUADRA and other Sea Cadet camps. Gunz 3 grads were the "hardcore of the hardcore", as we PLs were back in our day.

As an Officer, I also started in a green uniform, and was very happy to move back to a navy blue one early in my career, just like the old-timers (pre-CF-unification) wore.

As an Officer, I have seen so many regulations change, policies brought in, revised, scrapped and replaced. What most of you know as CHAP was new a decade ago. Before that was a hastily brought in program that filled the gap until CHAP was developed. Before that...there was nothing specific besides the divisional system and common sense to address or prevent problems (which obviously did not always work.) Now CHAP is gone and PSRY is in its' place.

We used to do everything on paper. Then those of us with early computers and printers started setting up Cadet stuff. As a Cadet, I did our unit phone lists, memos, training plan, training aids etc on my home computer, first on my Commodore 64, then on my 8088 Windows 3 PC. When we got some PCs at the Cadet unit courtesy of the local base, I remember creating memo templates, in Word Perfect, training schedules in Lotus 1-2-3, admin databases with phone list and mailing list reports in Paradox database software. I remember in the pre-internet days, some enterprising Alberta Detachment staff set up a computer bulletin board so those of us with computers, modems and tech know-how could log in, communicate, share documents, etc. It was a lot of fun to share with other units how we had each set up documents, spreadsheets, databases for managing training and admin. I remember the first painful implementation of the CadetNet email system. I remember the first attempt at a National standard for websites (the old HTML templates.) That was replaced by the current Ektron CMS based system, which has been painful at times too. I remember when the first version of Fortress rolled out and became a National standard and requirement for Cadet personnel database management. Now we are at Fortress version 2, and that has been painful at times too.

What courses will there be in another decade? What training centers will close, what new ones open? What will replace PSRY? How many CATOs will get re-written, scrapped, superseded, or dropped? What new computer process will they require us to painfully transition too?

In 30 years, I have seen a lot of changes. But this program is still the most amazing and rewarding youth program in Canada. The Cadets of today are scoffed at by the Cadets of yesteryear for not being as hardcore as they were. Those Cadets will turn around and do the same thing in 5 or 10 years. And yet, the program will still be here, and still challenge youth to be the best they can be.

I always tell younger / new Officers and volunteers that their longevity in this organization will be directly related to their ability to adapt to and roll with the inevitable changes they encounter. Because they WILL encounter change, guaranteed. Roll with it, work with it, fuel it for positive implementation. Don't fight it, don't fear it. Feel the change, and fuel it. You don't always have to like it, but you can make it work better.

KD

SIC- Survival Instructors Cours, IES- Instructeur en Survie

W2C�t� — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 01:53:07 GMT

Bon, je vais commenc� en Fran�ais je traduirai par la suite en anglais.

First, I will start by French, and I Will translate english later.

Y a t'il parmi vous des membres de la grande famille du IES, o� avez vous suivis v�tre cours(Bagotville(Lac s�bastien pour les anciens), etc. v�tre ann�e, v�tre escadron de camps, votre section, l��v�nement le plus marquant de votre camps, v�tre meilleur souvenir. v�tre escadron d'appartenance et v�tre grade. Ou si vous voulez faire le cour d'instructeur en survie et vous voulez des trucs.

Are there any members of the family of SICwhere did you follow your course (Bagotville (Sebastian lake to the old ones), etc.. Your years, your squadron of camps, your section, the event most marking of your camps, your best memory. your home squadron and your grade. Or If you want to follow the survival instructor cours and you want some tricks.

Amicalement V�tre, Friendly your

Adjudant Deuxi�me Classe Mathias C�t� Warrant Officer Second Class Mathias C�t�

:airsalute:Escadron 607 Drummondville, Drummondville 607 Squadron:airsalute:

Compiling compilers

Niteshifter — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:40:52 GMT

Recently, I've tasked myself with making a compiler. For those who are into programming, this is a whole new world to get into. I've found that compilers are a lot different to go through than applications or games. With a small application or game, it can be broken down into 3 steps: Events, Game mechanics, Render, rinse and repeat. Knowing this, everything from an iPhone app to a computer game is very easy break down what goes where.

Compilers are a different story. You have a tokeniser, parser, writer, symbol table and the actual compiler to hold it all together. What happens in a compiler is you give it the file, then it takes the file and puts it through a tokeniser and changes each individual keyword, symbol, number, etc into a token, but it does this one character at a time. Each token is passed to a parser which will identify this token for what it is based on it's location, type, name etc. There are several algorithms out there so this step isn't as hard as you think it is, as long as all the tokens are in the right place, no errors will happen (if there's a token in the wrong place, that's what a syntax error is).

The parser will then pass a token, or several to the writer which will basically write the computer code into the executable file. The writer uses what's called a symbol table, which identifies every variable, it's type and location. If the variable exists, it'll be able to write the variable code into the file, if it's not there, that's when you get the out of scope error.

The compiler part is pretty much the part that tells the tokeniser what the input file is, tells the writer what the output file is and starts the whole thing in motion. Like a game or app, it comes in modules, but the one thing that's different is in games or apps, the render, game mechanics and event parts don't actually depend on eachother. The work somewhat separately. The thing with compilers is the writer relies on the symbol table and parser and the parser relies on the tokeniser. So when writing one part of the compiler, you need to make it so that not only does it run, but it's also ready for the next part to control it.

Wedge

Charman — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:04:07 GMT

is there anything in the CATO's that states that cadets must remove their wedge when sitting down

Shoulder flashes

bourque — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:07:50 GMT

Does anybody whant to trade shoulder flashes because i am from canada and i have a collection and i woulhd like to have some from around the world

A song for the soldiers

Joshua2597 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:42:43 GMT

Originally Posted by Joshua2597

So this was made my family. My great Grandpa is the WW vet. Also the song was sing by my aunt's band

New ranks, new posisions

cdennis — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:30:53 GMT

Well, its been a while since i posted anything new! This is mainly because of the increase in school work for me! XD I would like to congratulate my brother Joshua Dennis, on his new promotion to Warrant Officer 1st Class! He has worked hard ofr the rank, and i know he will be a fine WO1!:dance:Our sqd went gliding two weekedns ago, and our new lvl 1's had a great time! We also had the chance to power flying, thanks to our pilot, Cpt Beaton. S, our CO! Thank you ma'am for such a great flight! And thank you to Fsgt Dalton, and Fsgt Smith, for their great glider flights and co-operation! Also our yearly clean up of the Fairview Legion Branch 142, located in Halifax Nova Scotia, has our Legion sponser looking really clean for this upcoming remeberence day events! Thanks to all cadets that attended! You worked really hard! I would also like to

UHHH? VERNON CAMP CaDeTs up in here?

Mannkorf — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:48:20 GMT

Still haven't found anyone ^_^
Where are you guys?

MARKO?

Work.. work.. work..

jsollows2 — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 07:24:07 GMT

So many things happening in my squadron right now! Teaching 2-3 classes a week, teaching effective speaking, commander of the drill team, in ground school, doing range shoots, and managing the band, and flag party. Sometimes it feels like im carrying the squadron =P Oh well. Squadron's nominating people for glider and power this thursday soooo that should be fun =) Weed out some of the.... not-so-qualified people. Anyways, talk to y'all later

Who has 2 thumbs & is new? This female

Mannkorf — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:02:27 GMT

Im new, Sgt Destiny Korfmann From 2276 RMR Fort.St.John BC.
This website seems amazing, love meeting new people! and hooking up with the old
:If you know me or live near by would love to get in touch!
Bandy forevea at heart :D