Want to be a Lightning Hawk?
The chance to see what it takes comes this Saturday, Sept. 12 when the 746 Lightning Hawk Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron hosts an open house.
The squadron invites youth between 12 and 18 years of age to attend from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the 746 Squadron in Hangar 5 on the grounds of Langley Regional Airport, near the Canadian Museum of Flight.
Those interested in joining will have the opportunity to talk to cadets about their experiences.
This will be the first day that registrations will be accepted for new cadets.
Due to program popularity, space is limited and a wait list will be established.
New cadets will be contacted off of the wait list in the order in which they applied.
To be eligible for membership in the RCACS, a candidate must:
• have reached his or her 12th, but not 19th birthday;
• not belong to another cadet unit;
• be either a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or landed immigrant;
• be able to attend weekly training (746 Squadron meets Thursday evenings from 6:15 to 9:15 p.m. between September and June)
Youth intending to apply should bring a Care Card, birth certificate, proof of citizenship or landed immigrant or other legal entry status, and have a parent or guardian on hand to sign documents.
For more about the program visit www.746lightninghawk.com.
About the cadets
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets is a federally-sponsored national program foranadians ages 12 to 18. The purpose is to develop in youth the attributes of leadership, engaged and active citizenship, and physical fitness.
There are more than 450 squadrons across Canada with roughly 23,000 air cadets enrolled in the program.
You may find further information about The Air Cadet League of Canada by visiting www.aircadetleague.com and the national Cadet program at www.cadets.ca
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(Rima Dickson photo) The 746 Lightning Hawk Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron at its 746 Squadron at a recent annual ceremonial review. The squadron is hosting an open house and registration this Saturday, Sept. 12 at its hangar at the Langley Regional Airport.
Summer to remember
It’s been an exciting summer for 746 Lightning Hawk members, commanding officer Major Matt Dykeman said.
Many cadets were accepted to participate in camps and activities this year, with 57 of the 746 Squadron Air Cadets taking part in summer camps funded by the Canadian Department of National Defence.
Three Langley cadets graduated from the prestigious provincial Power Pilot Scholarship Program with their Transport Canada Power Pilot License: Flight Sergeant Nicolas Ouellette, Flight Sergeant Jeff Yoon, and Sergeant Stephen Walters.
Walters also received the Doherty Award for the top cadet at Coastal Pacific Aviation in Abbotsford and a bursary from the Air Force Association of Canada.
Other noteworthy achievements:
• Flight Sergeants James Liu and Tim Ro graduated from the provincial glider pilot scholarship program at CFB Comox with their Transport Canada Glider Pilot License.
• Flight Sergeant Narissa Taylor attended the six week National Scholarship Program on Advanced Aerospace in St. Jean, Quebec.
• Warrant Officer First Class Lucy Poirier travelled in Switzerland for three weeks with the International Air Cadet Exchange.
Cadets in the pilot scholarships, national scholarships, and international exchanges undergo a rigorous selection process including a ground school qualification examination (pilot programs), an application, and comprehensive panel interviews.
• Two cadets, Warrant Officer Second Class Michael Montano and Flight Sergeant Jodi Cheung worked in staff positions at camps.
Montano was in North Bay, Ont., at Canadore College where he was appointed to the most senior cadet staff role and received the Commander’s Coin for his contributions, while Cheung worked at Canadian Forces Esquimalt, Albert Head.
• A total of 15 cadets from the Squadron volunteered their time in July at the Arlington Fly In, a Washington State air show.
(Special to the Langley Advance) Lucy Poirier hgas stepped down after seven years in air cadets to launch her aviation career. Future air cadets have an opportunity to attend the 746 Lightning Hawk Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron’s open house and registration this Saturday, Sept. 12 at its hangar at the Langley Regional Airport.