Air Cadets seeking new members

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

High Prairie Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron No. 539 2nd Lieut. Verna Ogg takes her new role very seriously. Ogg is recruiting new cadets to maintain the minimum of 20 for the program. She also needs a training officer and a standards officer. The training officer keeps each cadet’s training record up to date to track their training progress and verifies that they have qualified for their level. No information is available about the standards officer. Seven youth attended the squadron’s first meeting at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall on Sept. 5. Ogg explained some of the things she will be doing with them in 2007-08. Ogg will go to the schools and talk to students of cadet age (the minimum is 12 and the youth can remain with the Air Cadets until they turn 19) to promote the squadron. Ogg says there is no cost to join and the uniforms and equipment are free. In addition, parents have to do only a minimal amount of fundraising, as the Royal Canadian Legion sponsors the squadron. “We (the 539 Squadron) welcome any children who would like to join and any help offered by the community of High Prairie,” she says. Ogg is new to the program having taken over late last year after the untimely death of Capt. Sheila Hiron. She will be learning on the job but has experience with the Army Cadets in Smoky River and Slave Lake. Cadet Gerald Paddon is entering his third year with the squadron. His father was in the Sea Cadets and his grandfather served in the Royal Canadian Navy for many years. They encouraged him to join. “It’s fun and the camps are enjoyable,” Paddon says, adding that he likes going to the Survival Air Camp to learn new skills and make new friends. Paddon encourages other youth to join. The squadron meets at the Royal Canadian Legion every Wednesday evening. The exception is the third Wednesday of the month, when the group meets elsewhere for sports and drills. Contact Ogg at 536-7102 for more information about High Prairie Air Cadets, or to volunteer for the standard officer or training officer roles.

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