Submitted by 81 Hampton Gray RCSCC
Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Alexander Mohr has been involved with the Navy League and Sea Cadet Program for eight years. He started as a Navy League cadet at the age of nine because he had an interest in the military and continued on into the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet program when he turned 12.
The cadet program has given him an opportunity to learn about and develop skills in drill. This is one of his favourite activities as a cadet. Drill teaches discipline and requires learning different movements as part of a team. Mohr enjoys the synchronous movements and the history behind them, from participating in Ceremonial Guards to local Remembrance Day activities and parades.
Through the cadet program, Mohr has had additional training opportunities to develop his drill skills. In 2019 he attended a summer training course at HMCS Quadra Cadet Training Centre at Comox that specialized in drill and ceremonial training. He met other cadets from across Canada who shared the same interest in drill and made lifelong friends.
In 2022, Mohr returned to HMCS Quadra CTC, employed as a staff cadet. His job included ensuring security of the training centre, tracking locations of courses, and general safety supervision. Mohr also engaged in the fun recreational activities offered at the CTC, such as whaler racing – a fun activity that pit the staff cadets against the adult staff. The staff cadets celebrated winning by a landslide. In the summer of 2023, Mohr is hoping to return to HMCS Quadra as a staff cadet.
He recommends any youth between the ages of 12 to 18 interested in the Sea Cadet program come check it out. There are so many different things to learn about – citizenship, leadership, marksmanship, sailing, power boating and drill – there’s something for everyone. This year the cadets of 81 Hampton Gray RCSCC have participated in sailing and have more activities on the horizon, from first aid training, sports activities and more on-water activities in the spring.
More information about the Sea Cadet program can be found at cadets.ca or by emailing 81sea@cadets.gc.ca. 81 RCSCC meets on Thursday evenings in Nelson.