Army, Air and Sea Cadets spent the afternoon of Aug. 11 with the CFB Shilo Fire Department learning different aspects of the emergency service as part of a week long cadet training program. Photo K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.

K-J Millar, Editor
Shilo Stag

A combination of more than 41 army, air and sea cadets blazed through the CFB Shilo Fire Department on the second day of the annual Cadet Activity Program (CAP) Aug. 11.

The cadets from Thompson, Brandon, Shiloh, Dauphin and other areas as far away as Saskatchewan are storming the base for eight days to participate in a range of activities the summer training program offers.

“We get the cadets on a lot of different tours to stimulate interest in different parts of the Canadian Forces,” said Capt. Marcus Paddock, Squadron Commanding Officer from Dauphin and the OPI for the program.

The program includes familiarizing the youth with different services such as the Search and Rescue dog program they spent Friday morning learning about, the firehall, the upcoming orienteering and archery activities they will participate in over the weekend. Also, there will be a three-day field training exercise south of Winnipeg and visits to the artillery and aviation museums.

“Lots of the cadets have interest in this type of work, so we get them on these [exercises],” Paddock said.

It’s the second year for the CAP, with the program already expanded to meet the growing needs. This year, the CAP provides an overnight option so cadets from rural areas can participate. Twenty-five cadets are bunking down in the CFB Shilo “shacks.” The inaugural year, in 2022, was run as a day program.

Hailey Nagtalon is a Cadet Flight Sergeant from 573 Squadron in Winnipeg. She has been an air cadet for five years and holds the role of cadet correspondent liaising with the media and educating the public what cadets is all about.

“For me, [cadets] is about building a sense of leadership at a young age and having a good military-derived program for [youth] to know what other options there are for future careers,” she told The Shilo Stag.

Nagtalon joined the cadet program as soon as she was age-eligible at 12 years old.

“Before the cadet program, I always had an interest in speaking up and using my voice for bigger things. I found out there was an effective speaking program in the cadet [curriculum].”

She said she built a name for herself and her squadron, being able to complete bronze and silver medals in effective speaking.

“I’ve recently been promoted as a warrant officer second class in my squadron. I’m hoping to get either a glider or power [pilot] licence and complete the cadet program as a warrant officer first class taking all my knowledge into the real world.”

A CFB Shilo firefighter shows a cadet how to put on an oxygen mask on Aug. 11 as part of the summer Cadet Activity Program happening around the base and in the area in a week long training camp. Photo K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.

Cadet Flight Sergeant, Warrant Officer Second Class Hailey Nagtalon inspects firefighting gear on Aug. 11 at the week long cadet activity program being held at CFB Shilo. Photo K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.

Cadets from around the province enjoy exercises such as the one at the CFB Shilo Firehall on Aug. 11 as part of the annual Cadet Activity Program. Photo K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.

Cadets from around the province learn how to handle the firehose at CFB Shilo Firehall on Aug. 11 as part of the annual Cadet Activity Program. Photo K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.