Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

2305 ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGERS

Kamloops Army Cadets celebrate annual Ceremonial Review

Jun 3, 2019 | 5:43 PM

KAMLOOPS — Established in the late-1800’s, the Canadian Cadet Program still offers valuable training in a wide array of skills to young Canadians, free-of-charge.

On Sunday, the 2305 Rocky Mountain Rangers Royal Canadian Army Cadets held their annual ceremonial review.

It’s an event that marks the end of the company’s training year. It’s also a chance for the Cadets to be recognized for the accomplishments before they undertake the summer training opportunities available through the program.

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It was a proud afternoon for around 50 cadets and their families on Sunday. The 2305 Rocky Mountain Rangers Cadets held their annual ceremonial review.

“[‘It’s] recognizing that they accomplished a year’s worth of training,” Commanding Officer Captain Christine Stillborn explained. “A lot of our cadets are off to summer training opportunities as well. Being part of the annual ceremonial review is sort of their send-off to their summer training opportunities.”

The review begins with a parade, which is followed by an inspection. This year, the company welcomed an exceptional alumnus to lead that inspection.

Image Credit: CFJC Today

“Being part of the cadet program gave me the right grounding for me to form the right opinions and forge in the right direction,” Rocky Mountain Rangers Army Reserve Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Amadeo Vecchio told CFJC Today. “It set me up for success.”

Vecchio once served in this very same cadet company. He’s gone on to serve in Afghanistan and helped train the Iraqi National police force. According to Vecchio, the skills youth develop in cadets will provide them a solid foundation moving forward.

As the skills improve, the cadet’s confidence grows. Preparing them for whatever path they choose in the future.

“They take the skills and opportunities they learn here at the program, and even if they don’t join the military afterward, a lot of my cadets are applying to be RCMP members,” Stilborn said. “They take those hard skills and those soft skills and bring them into their civilian life afterwards.”

Many of these cadets are now looking forward to a variety of summer training opportunities, which each of them has earned throughout the year. Those opportunities, including a trip to Europe, are provided at little to no cost to the cadets.