Jules Xavier
Shilo Stag
2502 RCACC – Shilo invited Sea and Army cadets from Brandon May 6 for a one-day mini Ex IRON STAG.
“Cadets are coming at nine from Brandon Army and Sea units,” said 2502 RCACC – Shilo CO Capt Connie Wilson, adding cadets would be divided into three groups before heading out to three locations for activities.
“There is going to be stations at Sam’s campground in the bush for morning and then probably under shelter for afternoon that will be survival building and first aid,” she explained. “The bunker [and German] soccer field will be games in morning and team building in afternoon.”
The open lot across from the MPTF saw the 40-plus cadets in attendance working on knots skills in the morning and in the afternoon, moved into the MPTF gymnasium for marksmanship drills.
Each of the groups spent about 45 minutes at each location, breaking for lunch at the MPTF. Activities end around 5 p.m.
At the bush location, participants took part in what you might expect on the first Survivor episode, where they were tasked to build a shelter for three, without the use of an axe or hatchet. Instead, they had to work together and use what Mother Nature provided. There was plenty of fallen tree debris, plus they had access to rope and waterproof tarp.
Besides the shelters, they received instruction from a cadet leader regarding survival skills — build your shelter first, then find water, followed by finding a food source.
Kickball and soccer were the preferred sports choices played on the German soccer pitch, while Sea cadets had an edge on knot work among their Army cadets, but had no problem helping their peers with the intricacies of making an array of knots which could be put to use building shelters at their next station.
Following the shutdown of cadets during the COVID-19 pandemic, this was the first time cadets from the Westman have got together for the mini Ex IRON STAG.
Besides the physical part of the exercise, cadets also participated in a two truths, one lie drill, with the winner of the “best truth” voted on by their peers winning a packaged military meal.
