Who Are We?
The Canadian Cadet Organizations (CCO)
The Canadian Cadet Organizations help develop skills that will help youth transition into adulthood, from good citizenship, leadership, and a focus on physical fitness, Cadets have experiences that you don’t find anywhere else.
Sea Cadets learn seamanship skills, including navigation and how to sail. Army Cadets participate in expeditions, trekking, orienteering and abseiling. Air Cadets focus on aviation related activities including flying, gliding and studies in aerospace.
- Invite all Canadian youth – Cadets and JCR programs are open to all youth age 12 to 18 that are Canadian citizens or are authorized to reside in Canada. Although, the program is expected to be physically and mentally challenging, there will be no artificial barriers developed which preclude participation based on gender, race, culture, religion, education, socioeconomic status or ability. The programs will make reasonable efforts to accommodate.
- Instill Canadian Military Values – The development of the Cadet Program is guided by the best of Canadian military values and ethics. These values include respecting the dignity of all people, serving Canada before self, and obeying and supporting lawful authorities. Additionally, cadets will gain better appreciation of the specific values of duty, loyalty, integrity, courage, stewardship, and excellence as expected of all Canadian Armed Forces members.
- Develop Citizenship, Leadership, and Fitness – the Cadet program helps participants progressively develop into adults who contribute positively to Canadian society as leaders, while instilling a lifelong appreciation of health and fitness.
- Balance Safety and Challenge – Youth and their parents will have confidence that the activities and events the Cadets deliver are challenging, yet safe. They will also be confident that the adults leading the program are of unquestionably high moral characters and are focused on the development of the Cadets.
- Leave a positive lifelong impact – Whether youth stay with the program for many years or for just a few weeks, it is imperative that they remember the experience positively to help guide their development as productive Canadians.
Cadets are supervised by members of the CAF in the Cadet Organizations and Administration Training Service (COATS) most of whom are among the 7,500 members of the Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC), a branch within the Reserve Force of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Air Cadets is fun!
What is Air Cadets? Air Cadets is a nationally funded program for youth ages 12-18. Each week we meet to parade, practice drill, and learn things like how to fly or survive in the woods, Aviation, Aerospace and more! Weekends are when we take part in local activities such as FTX , gliding days, Familiarization Flying Community Service Ceremonies and more.
Why Join Air Cadets?
Cadets is open to anyone between the ages of12 and 18. Feel free to come out and see if cadets is for you. Air Cadets Is a great way to have fun and make friendships that will last a lifetime. It builds character, leadership skills and provides opportunities like summer training camps. Interested in flying or want to earn your pilot's license for free? Enjoy wilderness camping or want to learn how to survive on your own in the bush? Enjoy being a part of a team, doing things together? Have an interest in precision target shooting, space, astronauts, and aerospace? How about fitness and healthy living? If you answered YES to any of the above, cadets has something for you!
How Much does it cost?
There is no initial cost to joining. Through a combination of fundraising and funding provided to us by the Department of National Defense, the cadet program is one of the only programs in Canada for young people that costs nothing at all! The uniform, your training, your weekend activities, and even summer training camps are covered. We only ask that you help the squadron in fundraising whenever you can.
We accept new recruits throughout the training year from September - June.
