HMCS ACADIA    

HMCS ACADIA Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre
Ship's badge
CSTC Details
Active	1956 - Present
Element	Royal Canadian Sea Cadets
Region	Atlantic
Location	Cornwallis, NS
Strength	1200 Cadets 150 Staff Cadets 170 Adult Staff
Commanding Officer	Cdr Nancy Chisholm, CD
Official Website

HMCS ACADIA Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre is a Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.

In November 1945, HMCS Acadia was decommissioned from Royal Canadian Navy service and the vessel returned to civilian operations with the Canadian Hydrographic Service.

The name and unit colours of HMCS Acadia were revived in 1956 by the RCN when a new Royal Canadian Sea Cadets summer training centre was established at the naval base HMCS Protector on Cape Breton Island. It was called CSTC HMCS Acadia.

In 1965, CSTC HMCS Acadia was decommissioned when HMCS Protector was closed that year; the Canadian Coast Guard College took over the former naval and sea cadet facilities.

Royal Canadian Sea Cadets would continue to receive training from 1965-1970 at the naval training base HMCS Cornwallis near Digby, and in the 1970s at the shore-based facility HMCS Micmac at CFB Halifax.

On July 29, 1978 the unit name HMCS Acadia was recommissioned for the fourth time (second time as a cadet summer training centre) at CFB Cornwallis, the base which housed the Canadian Forces Recruiting School. CSTC HMCS Acadia occupied a building that had been formerly used for naval communication training. HMCS Micmac was consolidated into CSTC HMCS Acadia at this time.

Despite the closure of CFB Cornwallis as an active military base in 1994, HMCS Acadia continues to operate as a tenant at Cornwallis Park. Each year Annapolis Basin Conference Centre which is current owner of the former CF base opens their doors to around 1500 cadets and staff each summer!

CSTC HMCS Acadia celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006 and constructed a time capsule for the 75th anniversary of the unit in 2031.

Ship's badge

HMCS ACADIA is a commissioned ship of the Royal Canadian Navy that has served for more then fifty years through peace and war. Evangeline is the fictional heroine of Longfellow's immortal epic poem depicting the Acadian expulsion of 1755. The two may seem to have little in common. But, they are joined together in their representation of indomitable spirit.

Today, the spirit of HMCS ACADIA and Evangeline lives on at HMCS ACADIA, a Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Training Centre located in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia. The fictional Evangeline and the name ACADIA grace the crest representing the spirit and determination of the Cadets who attend the training centre each summer.^[1]

Courses

Sea Cadets

• General Training - 2 weeks

• Trade Group I - Bos'n, Gunnery, Music, Sail 3 weeks

• Trade Group II - Bos'n, Gunnery, Music, Sail 6 weeks

• Trade Group III - Bos'n, Gunnery, Music, Sail 6 weeks

• Staff Cadet (Summer Term) 7 weeks

During the first summer the cadet will spend 2 weeks being introduced to the Bos'n, Gunnery, Music and Sail Trades.

During the second summer, Trade Group I cadets spend 3 weeks learning the basic trade of either Bos'n, Gunnery, Music, or Sail.

In Trade Group II, cadets spend 6 weeks learning the intermediate skills in either Bos'n, Gunnery, Music, or Sail.

During their fourth summer, Trade Group III cadets will spend 6 more weeks learning advanced skills in either Bos'n, Gunnery, Music, and Sail. It is during this summer that cadets can take training in Marine Engineering (this course is 8 weeks long), Shipwright, Athletic Instructor.

In their fifth-seventh year, cadets who qualify can apply for a staff position in many fields. Some examples are Flotilla (Engineer or Cook aboard a YAG), Gunnery Department, Boatshed, Divisional Petty Officer, Canteen, Sick Bay, ONS (Over night sailing) Maintenance, Administration and Regulating.

All trades receive training in First Aid, Instructional Technique, Leadership, and Physical Fitness. ^[2]

Army Cadets

• Basic Army Cadet - Military Band (2 intakes, 3 weeks)

Air Cadets

• Music Levels 1-5 (6 weeks)

Reference

1. ↑ http://www.cadets.net/atl/acadia/crest_e.asp
2. ↑ http://www.cadets.net/atl/acadia/trg_e.asp

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original article was at CSTC HMCS Acadia. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. Information concerning use of copyright protected material can be found at the CWwiki Copyright Policy Page.