Franklin D. Roosevelt asserted “we cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” This speaks to one of the hopes that parents have for their children. It is also the focus of education. We want to do our very best to create conditions that nurture, engage, and prepare our youth with the competencies and resiliency needed to embrace future challenges. We know however, that learning also transpires outside of formal schooling.
Clubs, teams, volunteering, and service projects provide opportunities for our youth to hone their leadership skills. As a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, I am particularly cognizant of the many area cadet organizations, air, army, and sea, that offer rich and robust competency-based leadership experiences for youth aged 12-18.
When my children indicated that they wanted to join Army cadets, I was pleased to learn of the many great cadet organizations that exist in St. Albert and area. Joining at age 12 and remaining highly engaged in the 3069 1st Field Ambulance Corps until ‘aging-out’ at 19, the leadership skills and opportunities for personal growth were tremendous and included an array of experiences from local skill-building field exercises, to summer camps in Alberta and B.C., to international cadet exchange trips in England and France. Being away from home for a few weeks in the earlier summers, increasing to six to eight weeks in latter years, has fostered independence and maturity. There was no cost to incur, in fact, they earned money at camp.
Far more valuable were the many friendships forged and opportunities to engage in meaningful service work. The commitment to a weekly meeting and a couple of training exercises each month promoted a sense of responsibility, which grew as years went by. Promotions, fitness and marksmanship badges, and other acknowledgement of progression reinforced the notion that with hard work and perseverance, goals are achieved; new pathways and opportunities emerge.
Nelson Mandela said that “the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.” His message reminds us that education is an investment in our children; an investment that we must not take lightly. Cadet organizations have a rich focus on citizenship and service. While I agree with the premise of Mandela’s adage, I would argue, based on first-hand observation, that so many of our youth are leaders today.
My sons’ experiences with the 3069 Army Cadet Corps have been instrumental in their development and growth as leaders. I wish to express my thanks to the officers, parents, and volunteers who do their very best to support our cadet programs. I also thank the area support teams and the Royal Canadian Legion for their ongoing championing of cadet initiatives. I especially thank the command team of 1st Field Ambulance, a regular force unit at CFB Edmonton, for supporting the 3069 Corps.
From a parental perspective I can attest that the seven years my children invested into the Army cadet program has paid dividends. I am thankful that the Canadian government continues to support this program and wish more youth would consider giving cadets a try! It is such a worth-while organization, one that prepares our youth for their future.
For more information on cadet programs visit: http://www.cadets.ca/en/join/cadets.page
Tim Cusack is an educator, writer, and member of the naval reserve.
