Friday evenings, a group of teenagers meet at the Peterborough Armories as members of the local Royal Canadian Army Cadets.
They have already been to the regular cadet meeting on Tuesday where they participate in activities such as land navigation studies, citizenship, leadership, effective speaking, outdoor survival, drill, sports and more. The Friday group is an elite segment of the program and who come together to focus on marksmanship.
During the first few weeks of the marksmanship program, cadets come to practise their skills and discipline vying for a spot on the two five-member teams. Those selected will spend three hours each Friday night learning to use air rifles with pellets shooting at targets with circular markings.
Julia Howcroft of Bailieboro and Julia Horner of Millbrook are among the competitors hoping to secure a spot on a team this fall. Their chances are excellent as they are both skilled marksmen who immediately connected with the sport. Last spring both girls participated in a range competition hosted at the army base in Trenton. For the younger Julia, the fire was lit. They both qualified to participate in the summer program offered at Connaught National Army Cadet Training Camp outside Ottawa last year, where three to nine week programs are provided to 500 cadets each summer.
In grade eight this year, Julia Horner spent three weeks at the camp in the Basic Marksman Course, where she learned the fundamental skills of air marksmanship including theory, technical and practical skills. She loved it.
At seventeen years of age Julia Howcroft has established her reputation as a gifted marksman, bringing home individual and team awards at local and regional competitions gold and silver. She spent six weeks at Connaught in the Fullbore program, developing the attitude, skills and subject knowledge required to take her competition to the next level.
Both girls enjoy the program, despite its discipline and rigor. Their ultimate goal would be to make the Royal Canadian Army Cadets National Rifle Team where they would have the opportunity to compete in the United Kingdom. This year they will participate in local competitions focusing on marksmanship and biathlon skills.
For these soft-spoken young ladies, the marksmanship program has allowed them to develop confidence and leadership skills while honing their shooting skills. Their friends may be surprised by their choice of extra-curricular activity, but the consensus at school is that it’s cool.
It’s more than cool, it’s a game changer for some. With an emphasis on values including discipline, loyalty, respect and integrity, the cadet program produces mature graduates with a highly-developed sense of respect: for themselves and for others. That skill will differentiate them wherever their future takes them. KG
