WINTER EXCERCISE – 3-4 FEBRUARY 2024
Cadets who have signed up for the last-minute winter exercise at Camp Cadou this weekend should meet at AY Jackson at 7:45 AM on Saturday. The bus will leave at 8:00 AM. Dress is civilian, weather appropriate clothing – wear sweatpants or track pants, not jeans, as jeans stay wet and don’t keep you warm.
The kit list is as follows:
- Water bottle
- Winter coat or wind/waterproof jacket and sweater
- Snow/rain pants
- Winter boots
- Toque x 2
- Mitts x 2
- scarf
- Long underwear or leggings x 2
- Long sleeved tshirt/long underwear top (short sleeved tshirt is okay too) x 2
- Sweater/hoodie x 2
- Sweatpants or track pants – not jeans – x 2
- Warm socks x 4 (wool preferred, or thick athletic socks)
- Underwear x 2
- Indoor shoes/slippers
- Pyjamas
- Any necessary medications, including epi pens as needed
- Sunscreen/lip balm
- Toiletry kit (hairbrush/comb, elastics as needed, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, washcloths, soap)
- Pads/tampons as needed
- Sunglasses
- Flashlight/head lamp
- pillow
- Optional: board/card games, sleeping bag
- There is no cell service at Camp Cadou
- Prohibited: knives/weapons, flammable items, drugs/alcohol, food in cabins.
Sleeping bags and liners, parkas, winter boots, snowpants and mittens will be available to borrow but I can’t guarantee sizes – so bring them if you have them, but there is no need to go shopping if you don’t have them.
MARKSMANSHIP
The marksmanship team tryouts will take place on Saturday February 3, from 0900-1100 at Kanata Legion Branch 638. This tryout is open to any cadet who has participated in marksmanship with the squadron – whether they have competed previously or not. There are 15 spots available on the team, plus spares. Team practices will continue on Saturday mornings at least until the zone competition on 9 March.
Questions should be directed to 2Lt Espinosa via Teams.
Beginning Sunday February 4, there will be marksmanship practices – open to all cadets – on Sunday afternoons from 1230-1530, at Hangar 11 (190 Clear Skies Private). Attendance, including by members of the marksmanship team, is optional. Comfortable civilian dress.
CO’S PARADE
Wednesday 7 February is CO’s parade. Cadets should wear their blue uniforms. This month, the Gronk will go to the flight who has put the most effort into the full Windsor knots in their ties, and their hair and overall grooming. There will be presentations and promotions, and as always, parents are welcome to attend. The CO’s parade will start at approximately 2030h.
SUPPLY NIGHT – 6 FEBRUARY 2024
We will be running a Supply Night next Tuesday, February 6, from 6:30-8:30pm, for new cadets or returning cadets to get their uniform or exchange/get any part. You will get what is available in stock, or we will have to order it.
Please fill out the Form below and wait for confirmation of your placement via Teams.*Only fill out the form if you can be present.
We will accommodate as many as we can on that night, but we will be offering other Supply Nights at a later date.
FIRST AID TRAINING – RESCHEDULED TO 25 FEB 2024
The Emergency First Aid Training which was previously scheduled for 21 Jan 24 has been rescheduled to 25 February. It will take place at Connaught Ranges. The exact timings are to be confirmed.
All cadets who had registered previously have had their registration carried over. If they are not able to attend the new date, they should indicate this via their chain of command. If a cadet who had previously not been registered would like to attend the new date, they should indicate their interest by signing up at this link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=-2oSqwzmL062z8c1DHbchL-49U04e_9OsB-T413GuchUMjRCWUkyU0RBTkQwQjI5SjZVQzc0MEpCWS4u
WINTER SURVIVAL EXERCISE (FTX) 23-25 FEB 2024 — LEVEL 2 AND UP
872 Squadron has been given the opportunity to fill some empty spots on a winter survival exercise (FTX) with other Ottawa squadrons on the weekend of 23-25 February at Camp Cadou, which is on the far side of Gatineau Park. Transportation will be provided.
Note that the Emergency First Aid course has been rescheduled to 25 February, so cadets will not be able to attend both activities. If a cadet has previously registered for the First Aid course would like to attend the FTX instead, please notify the chain of command so we can fill the First Aid billet.
Cadets do not need to have experience with winter camping to participate – it will be a lot of fun, learning new skills alongside cadets from all over Ottawa!
https://forms.office.com/r/59u0kEuFaB – Sign up using this form. The exact number of spaces available will be confirmed in the next few days. We expect there to be room for approximately 20 cadets. If there is a lot of interest, we will see about whether there is room for more.
Unfortunately, level ones may not attend this time, but the whole squadron will do a winter exercise NEXT winter.
CADET SAFETY
As a reminder, cadet safety is paramount. With the darkness at this time of year, less than ideal road conditions, and the dark colour of the uniforms, cadets are not easily visible when outside. Therefore, we ask that cadets ensure they practice situational awareness and safe practices when crossing the road when being picked up/dropped off, and that parents and guardians keep an eye out for cadets, vehicles, and other obstacles when dropping off and picking up cadets. The parking lot is a busy place with a tricky entrance and exit, and we have had notifications of hit-and-run damage to parents’ vehicles – so we understand wanting to park on the street, but we are concerned that with cadets focusing on getting to the vehicles, someone may be hurt if we are not more careful.
STEWARDSHIP OR OUR SHARED SPACES
It was regrettably brought to the staff’s attention that some cadets have vandalized our training location, AY Jackson SS, on Wednesday, 18 October. This was a repeated issue last training year, and it is extremely disappointing to hear that this behaviour has begun again.
Cadets are reminded that they have signed and agreed to a Cadet Code of Conduct, including ‘Set a positive example by your conduct and be kind and considerate of your actions and behaviour on others’; ‘be respectful of the environment and your surroundings’; and ‘…report any wrongdoing to an adult staff member as soon as possible.’. Breaches of this code of conduct will be tracked and handled in an escalating manner:
- Verbal warning
- Cautionary Notice
- Written Warning
- Administrative actions up to and including removal from the cadet program. Any of the above disciplinary actions may be accompanied by a suspension of privileges.
In addition to the code of conduct, we are also bound to the lease agreement on AY Jackson. Our Squadron Sponsor Committee works hard to secure training locations for us and to raise funds to pay for them. Aside from the extreme disrespect shown by disregarding this effort by vandalizing the property, it places the whole squadron at risk: if our lease is terminated, we do not have a training location. As it is, we struggle to find adequate space to accommodate such a large squadron, so we cannot afford to risk losing such a precious commodity by allowing this misconduct to stand. You have agreed to behave in a way that aligns with the values of the CJCR and abide by the laws of Canada. You will be held to that standard.
We all share stewardship of our shared spaces. Never pass a fault. Make good decisions, and practice bystander intervention when warranted.
PICKING UP CADETS FROM ACTIVITIES
A reminder that parents and guardians must pick cadets up from activities on time, or make alternate arrangements. Staff members may not leave until all cadets are picked up, and cannot drive cadets home. As winter approaches, lateness becomes more of a concern as we are not allowed to stay inside the rented facilities past the end of the rental time, so cadets and staff must wait outside.
CADET365 LOGINS
As we were reminded last week, 99% of the squadron has CADET365 accounts. Lt Kelly sent out the login credentials to all cadets again this week. They were sent to the email addresses on the cadets’ registration forms. 20% of cadets have never logged into CADET365, so they and their parents should check their email inboxes and spam folders for the login credentials.
For any difficulties with CADET365, cadets should contact their flight commanders, who will either assist or seek assistance from the IT NCM, WO2 Brown, and/or Lt Kelly.
COMMUNICATIONS
Most new cadets will see credentials for their CADET365 accounts arrive in the email address provided on their registration forms starting this week. It may go to junk mail, so keep an eye out.
A reminder that these credentials may not be shared: they belong to the cadets to whom they are assigned. Parents may ask questions on the Facebook group or by emailing the staff or sponsor committee. Further, staff members may only contact cadets via telephone or on CADET365 (email or Teams), and adults who are not staff members should only contact cadets via the Commanding Officer.
Flight Commanders are working hard to ensure that their flights are kept informed, and tracking which cadets have not yet been granted CADET365 access and who therefore need to be contacted personally each week.
DESIGNATED PRAYER SPACE
For cadets practicing the Muslim faith, who wish to do their evening prayers, we have a designated the use of classroom 213 during ‘long break’ each week. Cadets may use that space without needing to seek approval, but are reminded to ensure it is left in the state it is found.
On other cadets exercises and activities, they are always welcome to excuse themselves to pray, but may wish to indicate to an officer the need for a designated space.
During religious festivals where fasting is practices. all cadets are welcome to bring food to break their fast, rather then needing to stay home to do so.
Published 1 Feb 2024 2230hrs