The Dispatch, Issue #26, 31 March, 2013

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The Rotary Club of Oshawa

Issue 26

Week of Mar 31, 2013

There will be no regular training parade on Monday evening due to the Easter Holiday

However –

The Squadron will be holding a movie night Monday evening at the hall for those cadets who may wish to attend.

The movie will be the feature film “Gettysburg” an epic civil war battle that shaped the future of the United States.

A reminder that although there is no extreme foul language or sex or nudity scenes, this is a violent movie with battlefield scenes.

If you feel that you may be uncomfortable watching this, please do not attend Monday.

In case cadets have forgotten the battleground at Gettysburg is one of the destinations on our Squadron’s year end trip.

Cadets of the Week

Promotions To The Rank of

Leading Air Cadets

Glassy Boot Award

Honourable Members

F/Cpl Barton, F/Sgt. Hembruff, Cpl Milne, WO2 Bauer, F/Sgt. Boyden, F/Sgt. Katzer, Cpl. Hancock, F/Sgt. Chandler WO2 Smith

F/Sgt Bliss, Sgt Mogosh, Cpl Hewett, F/Cpl Shaw, Sgt. Keller, Cpl Zdebiak, F/Cpl J. Ehrt, WO2 Neill, F/Sgt Sheppard, Sgt Sam, F/Cpl Abraham, Cpl C. Swatridge, AC J. Hancock, F/Cpl D. Lloyd, F/Cpl C.Brandow, Cpl M.Achan, F/Cpl V. Singh, Sgt Nemeth, AC F. Chandler

Ganaraska Forest Centre

Here are a few more photos from last weekend’s training weekend in the forest. There was not only map reading and signal fires but some sports were added in to provide a little variety.

Thoughts From The Treadmill

As the last long weekend of the cadet year draws to a close, I look back at a cadet year that has flown by. They say as you get older time seems to move faster, I think it is also due to the fact that we are so busy. I must once again put out a public thank you to all of the staff and volunteers who make this such a successful squadron.

A couple things have popped up that have me thinking this week. It has come to my attention that there are some grumblings about selections for different activities and promotions. Our selection process for promotions and placing priority for cadets to attend summer training has been dissected in the past after complaints of favouritism. We track attendance for several reasons; one of the main ones is that we can determine who has been most active in the squadron. These people are generally the cadets that are selected first to attend summer training. If you feel that you have not been treated fairly, please check your numbers on the achievement point list and if there is something missing, talk to the person in charge of the activity you think you should have received points for.

As for promotions, the military sets all of the guidelines for promotion up to the rank of Sergeant. The squadron has more input for Flight Sergeant and Warrant Officer promotions. Once again, if you feel that you should have been promoted and weren’t, please speak to Captain Weigel who is the Operations Officer, or myself. We do not take the promotion process lightly. There are a lot of discussions and processes to go through for all senior promotions. It is my policy that I will not promote someone who I do not have a job for and I do not make gifts of promotions. If an individual is promoted it is because they have shown themselves to be ready for the next step of leadership within the squadron and fulfilled our prerequisites, this includes our in house Senior NCO Course. If you do not complete the course, you will not be promoted.

I will not allow a case of sour grapes to affect the morale and smooth running of the Squadron.

Congratulations to the marksmanship team, I received notice last week that the score they achieved at the zone shoot was high enough for them to advance to the provincial marksmanship competition. This will be held next weekend April 12, 13, and 14. GOOD LUCK.

Finally, a quick note wishing the Duke of Edinburgh program participants a safe weekend coming up for their Bronze Award expedition. Thanks to CI Di Loreto and Captain Chandler for leading the way on that.

Stay Safe and Have a Great Week,

Major Bliss

Aviation Photo Of the Week

Canada Air CL 415 Water Bomber