Saw a bunch of cadets today....

[tree hugger]

They were all in their uniforms going through the mall.  I saw a couple of guys wearing the NCM engineer cap badges....are they allowed to wear that on their berets, after all they are only cadets?

 

[tree hugger]

...and, why were they all dressed up in uniforms at the mall on a Saturday afternoon?

 

[D-n-A]

If their affiliated unit is that of an engineer unit, then they can, I've seen some cadets who were affiliated with an MP unit, they wore the red berets an MP capbadge, also I've seen cadets wearing the artillery capbadge.

They may have been dressed up in their uniforms because they were doing a recruting drive maybe? Or something else with the cadets.

 

[Jarnhamar]

They could be recruiting or doing some type of money-donation drive.
In kingston i see cadets there all the time doing volenteer stuff.

 

[tree hugger]

Thanks guys, just seemed a little funky to me.

 

[Zoomie]

When Cadets are attending summer training (aka camp) they are permitted to go off camp for an afternoon of shopping.  They are required to wear their uniforms while doing this...

 

[Excolis]

"just cadets"  i hate when people use that term.  they might just be cadets, but many of them are future weekend warriors.  reservs start at 16 cadets end at 19.  so some of are cadets are older than your soldiers.  just a pet peeve....

 

[combat_medic]

They are just cadets, as we are just reservists, or just soldiers. Whether or not some of them might consider become soldiers in the future doesn't change the fact that they are still cadets, no matter what their age, cadet rank or experience. Ever seen a cadet try to pull rank on a serving soldier? It typically doesn't go over well.

 

[nULL]

Do you live in Nanaimo? I was working in the mall on Sunday and the place was flooded with them. Some of them seemed quite old, so I had them pinned as air cadets.

 

[Scott]

They are just cadets, as we are just reservists, or just soldiers. Whether or not some of them might consider become soldiers in the future doesn't change the fact that they are still cadets, no matter what their age, cadet rank or experience. Ever seen a cadet try to pull rank on a serving soldier? It typically doesn't go over well.

I have seen this and it usually ends with threats of "pounding children into the ground like tent pegs" I believe that was one of the quotes used by a friend of mine.

The cadet system is good, after learning about the unit affiliation I think that it is a good idea, gives them a sense of pride and identification among other cadets. Whenever I used to see our local group around I would watch them closely and make sure that they were representing the uniform and my hat badge correctly. I know that their CO drilled it into their heads that they had better behave in uniform or suffer consequences, for the most part they did. Sure, every now and again one or two get carried away, but that is because they are not educated enough about their system, that's all.

Just thoughts

Cheers

 

[Excolis]

They were all in their uniforms going through the mall.  I saw a couple of guys wearing the NCM engineer cap badges....are they allowed to wear that on their berets, after all they are only cadets?

this is what i was refering to.. cadets hav the right to wear their affiliated regiments cap badge.  i just didnt like the tone..it was like he was saying they are only cadets, why would they be allowed to wear the insignia.... 

 

[NavyGrunt]

I think his problem may be with the fact that 'we' have to earn our badge while they 'get' it for nothing. We have to go through a period of nothing on our berets. Why should Cadets have something without earning it?

 

[Michael Dorosh]

They are just cadets, as we are just reservists, or just soldiers. Whether or not some of them might consider become soldiers in the future doesn't change the fact that they are still cadets, no matter what their age, cadet rank or experience. Ever seen a cadet try to pull rank on a serving soldier? It typically doesn't go over well.

And you're "just a girl", whether or not you might become a man in the future (at taxpayer's expense) doesn't change the fact that you are still a female, no matter what age, rank or experience...

Sounds stupid when you put it that way, doesn't it...

A little credit where credit is due.  I've seen Regular Force guys in their uniforms in shopping malls, too.

Perhaps you are "just a reservist", I'm not "just" anything.  Pride goes as far as credit, or should do - if you can't give yourself credit, no one else will do it for you....

 

[Michael Dorosh]

I think his problem may be with the fact that 'we' have to earn our badge while they 'get' it for nothing. We have to go through a period of nothing on our berets. Why should Cadets have something without earning it?

Cadets learn to drill, march and salute the same as you - what more does one need to do to "earn" it, in your opinion?  They also don't get paid for evening parades or annual training - I certainly never did, anyway.  Much different from the reservists.  So if you ask me, the cadet who volunteers his time has every right to be as proud as his older (or in some cases, as pointed out, younger) Reserve counterpart who gets handsomely paid for what he does.

 

[stukirkpatrick]

Well we are treading on thin ice here again...(regarding militarization of cadets debate)... but the basic purpose of the CF as an occupation, is to defend this country, its rights and its citizens, through training to use force.  Cadets do not receive this kind of instruction (thank god).  The military's basic purpose is not to drill march and salute.  Reservists/soldiers earn their capbadges through training to fight a war, or supporting those who do, not just by praticing drill. 

Just my opinion.

We don't expect to drill our enemies to death  ;D

 

[NavyGrunt]

Im not getting into a pissing contest Mr. Dorosh. I was trying to see the other side of the coin.  If cadets need a cap badge than maybe there should be a cadet cap badge. At any rate being a person who had a cadet attempt to ride me about not calling him 'sir' when we passed in the hallway Im of the firm position that not enough is done to seperate the two. If he is so proud of his cadet uniform give him a cadet cap badge and it should be all sunshine. Of course we know that wont fly because they all want to be more 'military'. To further my point I offer this Mr. Dorosh if they have so much pride in their outfit why would they wear someone elses badge?

 

[alexk]

All three types of cadets have a cadet capbage  but the Army cadets can wear the capbage of their affiated unit with permision of the co of that unit, its not somone elses capbage, i feel  as part of the ONTR unit im a senior cadet , a volenteer at the regimental museum and a steward in the officers mess. Thats about as close as ile ever get to the regiment, im going infantry  >

 

[combat_medic]

Michael: It's not like I can take off my "girl uniform" at the end of the day and can stop being a girl. Nor can I hand in girl membership card and suddenly become androgynous. It's a pretty ridiculous statement and not really a good comparison.

A cadet is a cadet, and should be treated as such. A soldier is a soldier and should be treated as such. If I said that I wanted to be a policeman someday, does that mean I can arrest people and carry a handgun in public? I would certainly hope not. Getting peeved about being treated like cadets because they might be soldiers one day is equally ridiculous.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Cadets DO have their own cap badge - the equivalent of our corn flake, I wore it my first two years in Cadets.  It is a maple leaf with RCAC on it.  Once I learned a "trade" - ie qualified as a piper - I began to wear a regimental pattern badge.  I also paraded with the regimental pipes and drums as an augment for ceremonial parades.

I see nothing wrong with them wearing the cap badge of their affiliated units - in the Calgary Highlanders, their cap badge is gold, which is worn only by recruits in the regiment, and the cadets.  Qualified soldiers in the Regiment wear bronze, NCOs and officers of the Regiment wear chrome or nickle (silver coloured) as do all musicians.  My only advice would be for other regiments to do the same thing if it really bothers them that their cadets wear the "same badges."

What is the point of a cap badge to begin with?  It is not a trades badge and does not designate a trained soldier, it represents membership in the regiment, or to go beyond that, the regimental family.  Trades badges are worn on the sleeves and combat veterans are discernible by the campaign ribbons on their DEU.

I may be missing combat_medic's point, I am at work and not reading very carefully...I thought the issue was that some cadets were seen wearing their uniform with pride, and others were deriding them for being "just cadets."  I wouldn't have much respect for anyone who said they were "just" anything.  I remember an NCO telling me once I wasn't really in the Army, "just" the Militia.  Never been in a war, don't plan to, but then again, if I was intended to I wouldn't be in the Militia....now would I.

 

[tree hugger]

I think his problem may be with the fact that 'we' have to earn our badge while they 'get' it for nothing. We have to go through a period of nothing on our berets. Why should Cadets have something without earning it?

That was my point.   Here at CFSME, officers do not get to wear the engineer cap badge until completion of phase III training, ncm's don't get theirs until their QL3.

this is what i was refering to.. cadets hav the right to wear their affiliated regiments cap badge.   i just didnt like the tone..it was like he was saying they are only cadets, why would they be allowed to wear the insignia....    

That was my tone...just didn't think there was anything politically incorrect about it.   Maybe MY "girl uniform" is getting in the way!