October 7, 2005

By Daniel Mark Wheaton

If you drove through Slemon Park last Sunday morning, you may have caught sight of several bodies moving slowly through the grass, or individuals holding maps and pointing compasses. Saturday night, you might have seen a campfire in the distance near where a group of youth were sneaking through the woods during a nighttime game.

Members of 148 Charlottetown Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) participated in a field training exercise that weekend at the former air force base just outside Summerside.

The 28 cadets who attended spent the weekend learning and reviewing bushcraft, map reading, and compass skills.

Cadet Josh Misener of West Covehead joined the corps in September. He had wanted to become an army cadet since he was four or five years old but had to wait until he was old enough to join.

“I’ve just been interested in all the army stuff,” he said.

He enjoyed the weekend because it gave him the opportunity to meet new people.

“And I got to sleep outside in a tent. I learned how to do hand signals, how to set up army tents, and how to run and walk like an army person.”

Cadet Kayleen Carpenter of Stratford joined the program after watching her older sister earn badges and come home with stories about cadet activities.

Her favourite parts of the weekend were the campfire Saturday night and the hikes.

“I’ve learned signals and how to put up a tent,” she said. “And that six people can’t sleep in a four-man tent.”

For Cadet David Hood of Charlottetown, the highlight of the exercise was learning the leopard crawl.

“You get on your stomach and you just squirm to move, on your elbows and knees.”

Hood had already been in army cadets for two years and returned because of how much he had enjoyed the previous training year. His favourite activity from the previous year had been a long cycling trip, and he hoped the corps would organize another one.

Throughout the weekend, the cadets ate individual meal packages—better known as army rations.

Hood wasn’t a fan.

“The rations are gross.”

Misener disagreed.

“I think they’re really good.”

Carpenter offered a compromise.

“They’re good unless you get the omelet. But the best one you can get is spaghetti.”

All three agreed on one thing: the treats hidden inside the ration packs—cookies and chocolate bars—were the best part.

Captain Peter VanIderstine, Commanding Officer of 148 Charlottetown RCACC, said he was pleased the corps held the exercise early in the training year. The warm, dry weather provided ideal conditions for teaching the field skills the cadets would build on throughout the year.