Just a reminder that the aviation subject review will take place tomorrow night in google classroom from 1900 to 2000. Those cadets who have contacted Capt. Lemoine to set up an 809cadets.ca email address should have received an invite to the review. PLEASE CHECK YOUR 809cadets.ca EMAIL. You’ll need to log into the google classroom with your 809cadets.ca email address as well, and enter your google classroom code as per the invite.
For those of you who haven’t contacted Capt Lemoine, and want to take part in tomorrow night’s review, please contact him as quickly as possible.
Let me know if you have any questions. My email address is dan.couroux@809cadets.ca
As I’m sure most of you are already aware, the announcement came out yesterday that the Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers program has been suspended until 31 August 2020. This wasn’t the news that any of us were hoping for, though it makes complete sense when we consider the circumstances we find ourselves in as a society.
For those of you who haven’t already heard the announcement from BGen Cochrane, the Commander of the National Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers Support Group can be seen here:
The loss of the remainder of the 2019/2020 training year is hard to take, and the loss of our summer training program even more so. That said, this does not mean that we’re just going to sit and wait to see what happens next. This has never been our approach and we’re not going to start down that road now. A number of things need to be addressed immediately, like:
What happens with Merit Review Boards (MRBs) for Warrant Officer Promotions? These are still on the table, though they will be conducted virtually.
What happens to our Squadron Awards Banquet and the Annual Ceremonial Review (ACR) now? The actual ceremonies are off of the table, but the awards are still being calculated and tallied. When they’ll be announced/presented is up for some discussion amongst the staff and SSC.
What happens to our training year? All cadets will be marked as having completed their training year. We’re still going to run through a few exercises like the Combined Aviation Subjects review and exam as an optional activity, just because this knowledge is highly recommended for all L3/L4 cadets, especially those who are interested in pilot training next summer.
What activities can we participate in while we’re isolating? That’s still under some discussion, but we’re going to have some answers on this soon. We’ve got our current Anniversary Pin competition underway already and have some more in mind. We may also be able to adapt some activities such as the Aerospace Club to an on-line format. Movie watch parties and gaming guilds are possibilities too. If you have any suggestions or want to run something yourselves, we’re open to input from the cadets and parents as always.
This is our opportunity to come together (virtually) and show leadership by presenting a positive attitude through all of this. This too shall pass. When it does, we all need to be able to look back on this and know that we did something to make it bearable to ourselves and our peers.
We won’t let this situation break us. Like the phoenix in our squadron crest, we will rise from this… immortal.
J. Lemoine
Captain
Commanding Officer
809 Newark RCACS
Immortal!
The COVID-19 concerns have reached the point where our National Commander, Brigadier General Cochrane, has ordered a suspension of the entire cadet program throughout the country for the next three weeks. The full text of his decision can be found below.
This cancels the social night that was proposed for next week and all mandatory and optional training up to 3 April 2020. Pending further development, we’ll be back for optional training night on 6 April 2020.
In the meantime, stay home and stay safe. Updates will be sent periodically over the next three weeks as more information becomes available.
J. Lemoine
Captain
Commanding Officer
809 Newark RCACS
Immortal!
Sent on behalf of BGen D.B. Cochrane, Comd Natl CJCR Sp Gp
CANCDTGEN 012/20
CADET PROGRAM CANCELLATION (3 WEEKS)
Refs: A. CATO 14-06 Training or Recreational Trips
B. CANFORGEN 039/20
C. 3350-Op LASER 20-01
D. CANCDTGEN 010/20
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.
The National Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers Support Group (Natl CJCR Sp Gp) has been directed to adopt an aggressive posture to minimize personnel risk of exposure and to prevent the CAF and cadets from becoming a transmission vector. As such, CANCDTGEN 010/20 was released on March 12, 2020 issuing amplifying direction related to the execution of Cadet and Junior Canadian Ranger (JCR) activities, and preventative measures to better protect CAF members, cadets and JCRs and their families from COVID-19.
The safety and welfare of all who participate in our programs is always our top priority, as such we take very seriously our responsibility to protect cadets from any real or apparent health or safety concern.
The Natl CJCR Sp Gp is collaborating with Department of National Defence and CAF as well as with other federal departments in order to maintain proper situational awareness on the COVID-19 situation in Canada and globally to synchronize interdepartmental response under the lead of Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. As a result, the situation is continuously being monitored and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
As I’m sure you’re already aware, there have been a number of precautionary measures put in place to ensure that COVID-19 does not spread uncontrollably through the population.
The cadet program, being mindful of the well-being of our cadets, is taking similar measures. At present, this means that we are still conducting our mandatory and optional training nights, but most other activities have been suspended.
For the moment, this means that senior cadets who have been participating in C7 familiarization should NOT attend the SAT session at the Lake Street Armoury. This has been postponed to a later date to be determined.
We’re expecting to receive further clarification on local activities tomorrow. Once we have that, we’ll put together an update on how that affects our upcoming training nights.
Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email or phone.
J. Lemoine
Captain
Commanding Officer
809 Newark RCACS
Immortal!
Here are the particulars for the L3 and L4+ cadets who have signed up for the 358 RCSCC Instructional Techniques workshop on Saturday at Niagara College. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me directly.
Here are the details for the L3 and L4+ cadets who have signed up for the 358 RCSCC Leadership workshops tomorrow at Niagara College. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me directly.
For those cadets who have an interest in learning more about public relations, specifically in terms of promoting the squadron and the cadet program in general, the following workshop is available. If you’re interested, please let me know as soon as you can.
The NGTA cadet correspondent workshop will be held from 16-17 Nov 2019 at RCSCC Iron Duke, located at 451 Elizabeth Street, Burlington ON L7R 2L8.
The deadline for registration has been set at 12 Nov 2019.
Priority for cadets should be:
cadets should be in their third or fourth year,
have skills in communications, and
be positive examples of the program in the public eye.
Cadets will learn to become storytellers and program ambassadors for the local squadron to strengthen your local public affairs (PA) goals, and have opportunities to support their Area Unit Public Affairs Representative (UPAR) and local competitions.
Cadets will be own means to and from to venue each day.
Lunch will be provided.
J. Lemoine
Captain
Commanding Officer
809 Newark RCACS
Immortal!
I’ve just received the results from the Zone 7 Marksmanship Competition on Saturday. Our team came in 7th out of 14 teams, which is a great showing considering the limited practice time that we had available. Congratulations to everyone on the team! Thanks to CV Carbone, Lt Russell, and Capt Palumbo for helping to bring it all together. Special thanks also go to OCdt Couroux for hauling air rifles from place to place before competition day.
Due to last week’s weather-related cancellation, we’re picking up this week with the same schedule. We’re going to forego the CO’s Parade in March in the interest of getting more training done.
Also, we’re in the last week before March Break and I’m working out a few possible activities for the week. I’ll be speaking with cadets on Monday and Wednesday to determine availability before putting together a final schedule.
I’m happy to report that we had a successful aviation exercise at the Cadet Youth Development Centre in Waterloo this weekend. We had to cut the trip a few hours short due to weather considerations, but it that didn’t take away from everyone’s education and enjoyment over the weekend.
Captain Palumbo can’t make it out on Monday, so instead of splitting the optional training night between the Drill Tem and the Marksmanship Team, we’re going to do a full two-hour session for the Drill Team. The Marksmanship Team will get a full two-hour session of their own on Thursday night in preparation for the Zone 7/8 Marksmanship Competition on Saturday. We don’t have access to the HQ for this, so we’ll be doing a Throwback Thursday and returning to an old HQ location and using the Old Virgil Public School Gym for the evening.
Congratulations once again to our Effective Speaking Competition winners and thank you to all of the cadets who participated. All of you made for an insightful and enjoyable evening for everyone who attended. I believe Mrs. Mehrotra was overheard saying that this was her favourite event of the year and I’m sure she’s not alone in that thinking.
I hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend. With that in mind, I’d like to remind everyone that there will be no training on Monday, 18 Feb. We’ll be back for regular training on the 20th, and we have a packed week from there. Thursday, 21 Feb will be a full night of practice and try-outs for the Marksmanship Team. Friday the 22nd to Saturday the 24th is our spring Aviation Weekend at the CYDC in Waterloo, and we’re back to Drill Team and Marksmanship Team practice on the 25th.
Heads-up for all cadets and parents/guardians. I’ll be working on final planning for March Break Activities next weekend and would like a rough idea of how many cadets will be participating. If you’re going to be in town and want to come out for some March Break fun, please let me know on Wednesday.
