While family and friends stayed at home this summer, Cadet Cassandra Porteous, 16, from 2328 RCACC in Flin Flon had bigger plans.
Porteous has been making music in the basic military band course at the Penhold Air Cadet Summer Training Centre (PACSTC), in Penhold, Alta.
The three-week basic band course trains cadets in the instrument of their choosing.
Building on the musical knowledge Porteous already has, the course enables her to spend plenty of one-on-one time with professional musicians and military band personnel.
Taking what she learns from the course, Porteous will be well equipped to serve her school, community, and home squadron with the sound of music.
Porteous has been part of the cadet program for three years.
When asked what being a cadet means to her, Porteous said, “Being a cadet, to me, means being responsible and being a good leader.
“But also having fun doing so, having good experiences and making new friends.”
Cadet Porteous will not only gain valuable skills from the basic band this summer, she will also develop attributes of leadership, citizenship and physical fitness, all while making lasting friendships with her peers in a centre that houses up to 800 cadets at a time.
“Penhold offers dynamic and challenging training opportunities for the young men and women, like Cadet Porteous, who are enrolled in the cadet program,” said Lieutenant Colonel Allan Dengis, Commanding Officer of PACSTC.
“What they learn here is preparing them for adulthood and to be good citizens. The officers of the Cadet Instructors Cadre, members of the regular forces, primary reserve and civilian staff employed here engage with the cadets in a learning environment that is safe and fun.”
The Penhold Training Centre is currently in the last year of its contract with the facilities.
After this year, cadet training will be dispersed to remaining summer training centres in the northwest region.
The cadet program is a national youth development program which aims to grow in youth the attributes of good citizenship and leadership, promote physical fitness, and stimulate the interest of youth in the sea, land and air activities of the Canadian Forces.
