Tradition

[Welk]

I mather to know if there is still any tradition in your own unit? If you do, what is the importance of those tradition in the cadet's head? Because my squadron uised to be a very powerful tradition unit, at least, at some level. But years after years, the tradition started to be lost.

We have a Staff initiation and staff party (Officier not informed of course...)
We have a "ceremonie" (in staff party) for a leaving Cadet Commanding Officer
We also technicly have other staff tradition that haven't been used for a while but that people know.


For the Squadron itself... we have squadron name (but they changed 3 times since they were instaured 4 years ago) We had flags... but as name chagned... falg didn't follows. Aside that, we don't have squadron dance. I'd really like to know what YOUR tradition are.

And anyone here know the drum major tradition? (I do, never done it... but I'll share it with you in a few days if none post it before... well, I don't know it this is done elsewhere than Québec.. but it was done in some squadron in Québec)

So what are your tradition?

[KarlSchultz]

We had a tradition that inclouded ALL newly promted WO2's and then again if you were promoted to WO1. and any out going Senior NCO's. This tradition involved weekend FTX's at Worthington.

Fun cold stuff.

[Gungod]

We have a Staff initiation and staff party (Officier not informed of course...)

Be very careful about what you write! Initiations are a very big no no! As per CATO's!

[Carter]

[QUOTE=Welk]And anyone here know the drum major tradition?
QUOTE]

What kind are you looking for?

[etowncadet]

All retiring cadets have their opportunity to command their last parade, complete with a march past, then they give their speech, the squadron and cadets give them a present, and sent on their way.

We also, as a tradition, sing happy birthday to every cadet we get word of their birthday... as they stand in front of the entire squadron

Pink... that's all I can say... just THINK PINK... is another squadron tradition...

[Welk]

Sorry to have mention initiation... but actually, I didn't said anything about what it includes... so nothing properly bad about this. (and officers still know a bit... some of them has been staff before... so)


As for the Drum Major tradition... the one I know can't really be mention over a forum. It include have some "item" in the mace during the drum major reing.... and using those "item" on the night of their last parade...

[SLt T. Clausen]

Sounds childish and immature to me.

[Peregrine005]

We don't really have many traditions in my unit, mainly because we had so many new people join.

[RegularGuy]

Tradition eh? I am not here to knock your traditions, but only to give some advice. All is well when we discuss traditions, or develop a dance for our squadron, course, or training centre in the hopes that it will become a tradition for years to come, but look beyond it. The strongest traditions are of two sorts. The kind everybody knows, and the kind only those involved know. Instead of trying to develop new traditions, which are often false traditions copied from long standing ones of another unit, learn about the long standing, or lost traditions of your unit or organization. Throughout the years post amalgamation, (for those of you who know what that means) the Airforce lost a lot of traditions. I challenge the Air Cadet Movement to learn and revive some of the old, lost traditions of the organization which guides them. Find an old Airman and have him teach you to play Crud. It's a great game, and a long standing, nearly lost Airforce tradition. The Airforce is shrinking, and through constant restructuring, and force reduction, is at peril or losing some of these traditions. Solid and unique traditons build esprit de corps, professionalism, and overall effectiveness. Again, be careful not just about discussing initiation, but about carrying it out. Often for those involved these take the form of pride instilling rites of passage, but from the outside or for those comming into a group from the outside, they may be something sinister, humiliating, or even a human rights violation. You don't hear much about it in Cadet Land, but the Somalia Inquiry changes things throught all of the military. Do some reading about the "Somalia Incident" and the leadership and morale failings in 2 Commando of the Canadian Airborne Regiment, there's a lot there, and a lot can be drawn back to "traditions." This is an extreme example, but maybe the condom in the mace (i have no previous knowledge of this before today, but you could have been more discreet) is the kind of tradition that promotes values contrary to the good conduct and discipline that are expected of you, and that you expect of your subordinates.

[Welk]

Actually, we use to play Crud at our squadron whenever we have a pool table on our hand.

As for the Mace thing, I didn't actually did it, and the past 4-5 drum major before me didn't either. But the knowledge of that tradition passed. As I've heard, the reason this stopped is that someone dropped the mace on parade and the mace opened. I let you imagine the rest. I should also have written "itemS" because there is more. I didn't beleived in this tradition and that is why I did not have done it. I've still tranfer the knowledge about this one to the highest ranked staff of the band.


As for the old tradition, I remember the Airman Grace, the High Flight and many other tradition. All the mess tradition are still here. The Christmas dinner, Mess diner... we do mess dinner at our unit.

For the drum Major, it seems to have become a big thing here and that wasn't my goal. I just wanted to know if some unit had DM tradition? Such has graving your name in the mace after your reign ( we dont do this, but I know some unit that does)... I just wanted to know about this. I wanted to know what are the importance of tradition in units... not starting a debate about it. At my unit, tradition was a big part when I joined and now take less importance. But there are still some tradition.

Just look at SLC... this is the best exemple of tradition camp I can give. Most people I know that went there came back telling they didn't learned that much, but what a tradition camp this is. I know some SLC tradition and there are some stupid tradition that doesn't promote the behavior that you should have ie: the last parade tradition... Anyway, does that make this tradition really stupid? I think that what makes a tradition is that it isn't written in official book. When it is written, we call this procedure. When something is done and not asked to do it this way by official book, it is tradition. I don't think that there is actually a official Crud book, but people does play crud and know the "rules".

I didn't aimed to copy other's people tradition, because we still have lots of long lasting tradition at my unit. I just wanted to know what is the importance of those kind of tradition in your unit. Thanx.

[RegularGuy]

Now that you mention the mess, i have one for you. I'm sure you're familiar with the layout of the tables for a mess dinner, especially an airforce one. (for those unfamiliar)Head table at the front, lengthwise, and perpindicular to it, several long tables, layed out in 3 rows with each row touching the head table, and each table in the row touching the one next to it. This, at a large function, means that a hundred or more people can pass anything without it being seen by the VPMC's at the far ends of the rows, especially during a speech that drags on way too long. Let's just say linen napkin chain.

[RegularGuy]

and the kicker is, its usually the oldest, and youngest member present who are left to assist the mess staff/caterers with taking apart your creation. This is just one of many traditions throughout the military that seem like a shaft at first, but encourage a dialogue between the old and the young, allowing for mentorship, and passing on other traditions.

[<Pilot_in_Command>]

Another mess tradition that I am familiar with is stealing the gavel from the MC as well as passing notes around. But remember, being discrete is key.

[Ching]

I like the good ol' "Alarm Clock Under the Chair" trick at mess dinners... lol, they tried that at my squadron's last mess dinner, but the clock wasn't loud enough, hardly anyone noticed.

[Zipperhead]

Find an old Airman and have him teach you to play Crud. It's a great game, and a long standing, nearly lost Airforce tradition. The Airforce is shrinking, and through constant restructuring, and force reduction, is at peril or losing some of these traditions.

I assure you that this game of skill and tactful elbows to the gut is alive and well in Airforce Messes. All you need to do is visit a CF Mess when members are present and a game is usually abound.

[condor888000]

Another mess tradition that I am familiar with is stealing the gavel from the MC as well as passing notes around. But remember, being discrete is key.

We had a tough time at our last dinner. Not enough people were there to make it easy. It was stolen once and another plan was stopped after the MC kept it in her tunic for the rest of the dinner!

[whitefang]

well, at 12 squadron, whenever a female ages out, they get a dozen roses, get it, a dozen is 12, we're 12 squadron, ha ha, meh

[Carter]

how about a guy?

[Ching]

well, at 12 squadron, whenever a female ages out, they get a dozen roses, get it, a dozen is 12, we're 12 squadron, ha ha, meh

awwwwwww

I want a dozen roses...

[condor888000]

When any one leaves, we have a little speech with most of their misadventures at the sqn. We also sing "Lost That Loving Feeling" if a Wo1 or WO2 leaves. That's about all the "official" ones. But only Seniors at 51 know the remainder.