The first group of cadets from 531 City of Trail Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets, has departed for summer training at cadet centres across the country.
Piper Wehowsky was the first to leave, departing Saturday morning for Rocky Mountain Cadet Training Centre to attend the Introduction to Pipe Band course.
On Sunday morning, four cadets travelled by bus to the Vernon Cadet Training Centre.
Aidian Perepelkin-Redding is taking part in the two-week Introduction to Sports and Fitness course.
Joachim Aquino, Johnethen Phillips and Matthew Morris are attending the two-week Introduction to Drill and Ceremony course.
Later that day, four more cadets flew to HMCS Quadra Cadet Training Centre.
Zoe Belleperche is enrolled in the Introduction to Military Band course.
Tyler Denny, Molly Milne and Nathan Leonard are participating in the Aviation Technology and Aerospace course.
Additional cadets from 531 Squadron will travel in the coming weeks to Whitehorse Cadet Training Centre and CFB Cold Lake Cadet Training Centre.
Two cadets from the squadron are also employed for the summer as staff.
Ryden Wahl is working for eight weeks at CFB Cold Lake, and Jaden Aikman is stationed at HMCS Quadra for the summer.
There is no cost for cadets to attend summer training.
In addition, they receive a small training bonus during their course.
The squadron’s 75th training year will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the Kemball Armoury in Shaver's Bench.
The meeting starts at 6:15 p.m.
The Cadet Program is open to all Canadian youth between the ages of 12 and 18.
It provides opportunities for young people to meet peers from across the country, explore interests like aviation and fitness, and develop skills in leadership and citizenship.
The program is the largest government-funded youth program in Canada, with more than 50,000 participants.
While cadet training is military in structure, there is no requirement to join the Canadian Armed Forces after completing the program.
New cadets can begin their application at any time by visiting registration.cadets.gc.ca.
Adults interested in volunteering with the squadron are also encouraged to get involved.
