The Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Admiral Mountbatten in Sudbury are looking for youth participants to join the program after a bit of a hiatus because of the pandemic.
The corps is a part of the Canadian Cadet Organization, a funded program for youth aged 12 to 18 across the country to get the chance to learn about seamanship, sailing and traditions of the Royal Canadian Navy.
The local cadets program is funded by the federal government as well as a local sponsor – which makes the program completely free for youth members, including uniform costs.
When Chief Petty Officer Second Class Kelton Bryson joined the program, he was only 12 years old. Six years later, he’s still in the program with friends and memories to last a lifetime.
“It's been a lot of fun,” Bryson said. “I've met a lot of new people, and I've gotten to experience a lot of things that I never imagined I would, like getting to spend the summer in Kingston at the Royal Military College was super cool,” Bryson told Sudbury.com.
Stephen Lambert, the unit public affairs co-ordinator and band officer/ Lieutenant of the corps said that anyone who wishes to join, can join. Lambert said the program is diverse and open to anyone.
“Plus, it teaches you responsibility and teaches you the fundamentals of leadership and teaches you how to interact. And it's open to everybody, which is great,” Lambert told Sudbury.com in an in-person interview at the Sudbury Armoury.
The Sudbury Armoury is where the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Admiral Mountbatten meet Monday evenings from 6-10 p.m as a part of the mandatory training and other activities. The program usually runs from September to June, just like a regular school year. The summertime, however, presents cadets with opportunities to go to a different city for summer activities and programs.
“So they can go to the Kingston cadet program. There's also a cadet training centre in Vancouver Island … and I believe there's a camp on the East Coast still,” Lambert said.
Lambert also mentioned that there is also an international exchange program where cadets have the opportunity to spend a summer abroad. Although the cadets program provides various different types of training (from fitness to sailing) Bryson’s favourite part of the program is the band and musical learning.
“I've gotten to learn how to play music, completely free. And I've gotten to meet so many people. For example, a couple years ago, we did a joint band with the sea cadet corps in the Sault (Sault Ste Marie) and through that I got to make friendships with a bunch of people, and getting to perform is super fun,” Bryson said.
The young cadet also told Sudbury.com that the friends made with the cadet program are some of the strongest bonds he’s forged.
“I definitely like the bond that I've built with my friends here – It has become super strong. We spent so much time together that even my friends that have aged out, we still keep in touch, like super frequently. So we've become super close,” Bryson said.
For those interested in finding out more about the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Admiral Mountbatten, please visit the website here.
