Recruiting 2020/2021

Are you interested in joining 517 F/Lt Graham Squadron. We are accepting new cadets on a year round basis.

To join the cadet program

1. be at least 12 years of age;
2. not have attained 19 years of age;
3. be a legal resident of Canada
4. be medically, physically and psychologically fit to join Cadets and participate in related training and/or activities;
5. be covered by a government or private health insurance plan;
6. be of good moral character;
7. be acceptable to the cadet corps or squadron Commanding Officer.

Due to COVID 19 precautions we are asking that individuals who wish to sign up their children please contact via email at 517fltgraham@gmail.com or 517Air@cadets.gc.ca, our Admin O will gladly send you an application and answer any questions you may have.

During this time our phones and messages are not being monitored.

Capt Rhonda Bull

Commanding Officer

Wearing of Cadet Uniform.

Just a reminder to cadets that you are not authorized to wear your cadet uniforms in public, for example acts of Remembrance or Air shows etc.
This may come up for future reference. Please remember that all in person activities have been cancelled till August 31.
Clarification – You can still wear your uniform at home for Virtual parades, Virtual ACR, Acts of Remembrance in your own home or property!
Capt Bull

Great Job Cadets on Virtual FTX!

Great Job yesterday in our Virtual FTX! We had over 40 cadets on Zoom and over 88% of our Squadron participated in someway, pitching a tent, forts, MRE’s or Zoom.

Thanks to the cadets who created videos for the event.

Congratulations to our newly promoted WO 2nd Class, Tanisha Galway, Nathan Gray, Daphnee Ouellet and Bell Smith, also Congratulations to WO 1st Class Alexanne Ouellet on her 6th year Bar and Rosette. Thanks to the parents who helped out with the promotions so they were a surprise to the cadets. Special thanks CI Paul Gray, for being our host and technical expert!

Capt Bull

Please check out our FB page where all our pictures and videos are posted.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/517FLtGrahamRCACS/

 

 

 

April 25, 2020 Announcement 2

 

We are conducting a Virtual – Field Training Exercise. We will conduct this activity collectively (all at the same time) on Saturday May 9, 2020.

• Seniors will be posting some simple lessons via video on Facebook for cadets to watch.
• To make this activity as close to the real thing cadets can pitch a tent in the back yard and sleep outside (with parental permission) If you do not have a tent or do not wish to sleep outside, build a blanket fort in your bedroom, living room. rec room, wherever you have the space then take your sleeping bag and camp out for the night. Take a pic and post it to show others what your sleeping quarters look like
• To make this even more authentic, staff are willing to do a no contact drop off of an MRE for cadets to eat. We can do drop offs between Middleton to Aylesford. Anyone outside those areas, please let us know and we will try to make a special arrangement.
• WO1 Alexanne Ouellet, will be posting a lesson on how to make a camp craft out of things in your yard or around the house. We will host a another Zoom video conference that evening to where you can show your creations!
• We cannot do these things in person so we would like to do something fun. Please remember this is completely voluntary to participate.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE AN MRE, PLEASE COMMENT BELOW SO STAFF CAN COMPILE A LIST OF CADETS AND ADDRESSES. IF YOU HAVE MOVED OR NOT AT THE ADDRESS WE HAVE ON FILE, PLEASE SEND A MESSAGE WITH THE CORRECT ADDRESS. WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE DATE ON WHICH THE MRE’S WILL BE DELIVERED.

517fltgraham@gmail.com

Lets have some fun with this.
Capt Bull

April 25, 2020 Announcement 1

 

We have come up with some ideas to keep in touch with the cadets. We would like to host a Zoom Video Conference with the cadets.

If parents are not comfortable with this, they can sign in and sit in the background to see what their child is doing. This of course is completely voluntary. However, because we will paying to use a particular format we would like to know how many cadets would be interested in participating.

If you are interested please send a message to the Squadron at   517fltgraham@gmail.com

Regards

Capt Rhonda Bull

Camp Hill Veterans

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. the staff have reached out to the public in hopes that we may be able to still do something special for the veterans of Camp Hill in the form of thank you letters and or cards/postcards.

The only caveat is that this is really short notice and mail should all make is there NLT 30 April in case there may be some contamination.

If you would like to participate in this effort, please mail your cards/postcards/letters ASAP to the following address:

Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building Room 2411
5955 Veterans Memorial Lane
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3H 2E1

Thank you so much on behalf of our Veterans…

Update to Programming April 15, 2020

As always I said I would share information as it is made available. This afternoon the following announcement was made by Comd Natl CJCR Sp Gp.

Comd Natl CJCR Sp Gp has made the decision to cancel all in-person activities related to the Cadet and JCR programs through to 31 Aug 20.

This includes, but is not limited to local training, corps and squadron trips, cadet summer training and activities. There are no exceptions to this decision, including any summer training courses or scholarships – such as Glider or Power Pilot Scholarship – already offered. Cadets who still meet the requirements for any course or scholarship they were offered are encourage to apply when the Cadet Program resumes for the 2020-2021 training year.

Cadets will not be penalized for missing the remainder of the 2019-2020 training year, and will be credited as having this year’s training completed.

These were difficult decisions to make and were made with the health and wellbeing of our cadets and personnel and their families as our highest priority. And although this is disappointing news, the situation provides its own opportunity to further reinforce our program’s key principles: by choosing to pause our programming we are demonstrating leadership; by staying home we are acting as good citizens; and through these actions combined we are all doing our part to serve our country during this unprecedented time.

We will continue to find meaningful ways to keep cadets engaged and motivated about the cadet programme. Virtual participation will be optional, there will be no penalty or disadvantage if cadets are unable to attend,

If anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the staff.
Captain Rhonda Bull
Commanding Officer
517 F/Lt Graham RCACS

Update March 28, 2020

Good Morning Cadets, Parents and Guardians,
Some further information was released last evening, a decision has been made to extend the cancellation of ALL CADET ACTIVITIES, including local training until 30 April, 2020. Prior to Thursday, 30 April, 2020, further direction will be provided, including the potential for this cancellation to be extended.
This pandemic is unprecedented territory, for all concerned. All that we can ask is that you stay safe, practice social distancing, and stay home as much as possible, and alway wash your hands.
Let to out part to keep each other safe.

Stay Safe
Capt Bull

Attention, Cadets, Parents and Guardians

In response to developments in the outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Natl CJCR Sp Gp has CANCELLED ALL CADET ACTIVITIES, including local training, for three weeks effective immediately. Prior to Friday, April 03, 2020, further direction will be provided, including the potential for this cancellation to be extended.

Our next possible Training night would be Monday April 6, 2020.

I will keep you posted as the situation develops. Stay safe.

Capt Bull

Band and Drill Competition March 2020

As per RCSU policy;

Ref: A. SharePoint Message, “COVID-19 impact on RCSU ops and activities”, 10 Mar 20

B. email message “COVID-19 impact on OPS” from CO RCSU(A) 10 March 2020 (Attached)

Good day,

Per the above references, a decision has been made to cancel the various Band and Drill competitions slated for March 2020, as a precaution amid growing current public health concerns.

Decisions to cancel or postpone activities are never made lightly, and in these cases have been made to protect the health and well-being of cadets, their families, and CCO staff from unnecessary risk of exposure and the possibility of quarantine or self-isolation.

On March 9, in response to higher headquarters direction, the Natl CJCR Sp Gp updated its response to the COVID-19 concerns, cancelling all international trips (including travel to the USA) and directed RCSUs to review all ops and activities that require travel and make appropriate recommendations. As can be reviewed at the reference above, RCSU(A) informed our decisions based on key criteria to which Band and Drill competitions are impacted by most notably travel through major transit hubs and the requirement for large gatherings of cadets and staff for non-essential training activities.

Although competitions can be unique and rewarding experiences, it was determined conducting non-essential activities, that required travel such as the band and drill competitions do, was contrary to our mission at this time of ensuring the health and well-being of those participating on our program.

We understand that this is disappointing, and that the timing is not ideal; however, this decision has been made with the health and well-being of our cadets, their families, and our staff as our primary focus.

I would like to also extend a thank you to all of the staff that was involved in the planning and preparation of these events over the past month as these activities were well planned on short notice with minimal resources. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed and your work efforts are valued and appreciated.

In light of the recent events, Drill Practice for Monday Mar 16 and Wednesday Mar 18, will be cancelled.

Capt Bull