Almost halfway through the year now, and as the shortest day approaches Cadets need to remember to wrap up well: a white t-shirt or thermal vest is acceptable to wear under the shirt as long as it is not visible, and raincoats, parkas and gloves may be worn whilst transiting to and from activities in uniform. The Training Plan is deliberately structured to focus on indoor/theory lessons at this time of year, rather than drill or outside activity, for this reason. However, the theory of RATEL (radio telephony), bushcraft, leadership and navigation requires practical application if Cadets are to properly learn and retain the skills, and it’s great to be able to to confirm that the previously-mentioned Exercise FRIGID MERMAID will be going ahead on Friday 8th – Sunday 11th July. Cadets have been issued with a notice and equipment list (copies are available on our Facebook page if needed), with a permission slip soon to follow. It is important to note that the prescribed fee of $78 is a maximum, and is likely to fall due to subsidy by the Unit Support Committee, thanks to grants and donations from our supporters. For those wondering where this money goes, the bulk of it is food for hungry Cadets (camps have a tendency to bring out quite an appetite!), followed by accommodation and costs related to some of the more exciting activities. When the permission slip is issued, the faster it can be returned the better, as numbers need to be calculated for accommodation booking, food and transport – if there are many late returns, parent help with transport may be required, as the RNZAF, who kindly lend their vehicles free of charge, require bookings to made weeks in advance.
In other news, the rifles have been cleared as safe, and the long-delayed (much to the disappointment of some Cadets!) shoots should now be upcoming. The Stores Officer has voiced a timely reminder of the value of ATC uniforms – these are RNZAF-issue, and will be quite expensive to replace (well over $200), so Cadets need to ensure they are careful with them, and the Stores Officer has suggested investigating the possibility of insuring them. The RNZAF provides a bus service for Cadets in Blenheim at no cost, so it is only fair Cadets help the driver by ensuring they stand under streetlights when waiting for the bus as the uniform is hard for him to spot in the dark! Finally, as stated in last week’s Routine Orders, Cadets do need to remember to bring writing materials (a pen and refill paper or an exercise book) to parade nights – failing to do so may result in a disadvantage due to lack of notes, as many subjects are used practically in the field (RATEL, bushcraft, tramping skills, navigation) or in later lessons.
As the end of the term approaches, some Cadets are awaiting the results of their nomination for the Junior Leaders Course, and the staff are hard at work organising camps, tramps and other activities for Term 3 2011 – all part of why Cadet Forces are recognised as New Zealand’s youth organisation of choice!
