It‘s been just over ten years since I graduated from the air cadets (WO2, 507 Kentville RCACS), and I‘m looking into joining the CIC. I had tried to join after graduation, but the medical standards for the CIL (as it was known at the time) were as tight as the PRes, and my uncorrected vision was -- and remains -- terrible.
However, after a lot of encouragement from an old cadet buddy who is currently a Capt in the CIC, I went down to the CFRC and asked them whether anything had changed -- and it has. I apparently just need to find a unit with an opening and convince the CO to accept me "as is" -- I‘ll only be instructing cadets, after all, not climbing mountains in Afghanistan.
Anyways, now that you know my life‘s story, how much have things changed in ten years?
I attended the Aircrew Survival Instructor Course in Bagotville in 1991, and it was pretty tough -- we did 5 days with no food in the bush, a 2.5 km cold water swim, timed overnight land navigation exercises, 10 km canoe trip with multiple portages, etc., all in just six weeks.
I taught the next summer at Greenwood, and the regional version of this course was extremely watered down -- no night marches, solo survival treks or isolation camps, only a 1 km swim. Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy.
I would prefer to join an army cadet unit, primarily because army cadets USED to do all the fun things I wasn‘t allowed to do as an air cadet: largebore target shooting, jump course, adventure training, etc. Is this still the case?
I just want to know what I can expect. Thanks!