G. Davey

WO2 Ellen Dobbs of the Acton Air Cadets receives her First Solo Certificate from her Instructor.

For the past seven weeks, 14 cadets from 197 Typhoon squadron in Acton have been away at three different Cadet Summer Training Centers (CSTC). There they joined cadets from all over Ontario on various courses designed to complement and enhance their local headquarters training, as well as providing the opportunity to meet new friends and of course have fun!

197 Squadron Commanding Officer, Captain Scott Legge said, “Summer courses are a great opportunity for cadets to grow personally, learn new skills, expand their knowledge base and gain confidence and independence. Air cadet summer courses really give teens the opportunity to spread their wings and push the limits of their comfort zone in a positive, supportive and enabling environment that will benefit each of them in their future cadet, academic, social and employment endeavors.”

The eight youngest cadets attended Trenton CSTC for General Training, a two-week course designed to give them an introduction to the summer training center and the various specialized courses they can apply for in the future. Three older cadets attended three-week courses at Blackdown CSTC in Borden focusing on Sports and Fitness and Drill and Ceremonial.

Three of the Senior cadets were selected for advanced courses: Flight Corporal Sheldon Hannaford attended the six-week Drill and Ceremonial Instructor course at Trenton and Sergeant Bart Amroz, the six-week Survival Instructor course at Blackdown. The new squadron chief, Warrant Officer Second Class Ellen Dobbs won a Power Pilot scholarship and is now competing her seven-week course at Durham Flight Center in Oshawa where she is earning her private pilot’s licence. Being selected for Power Pilot is the pinnacle of Air Cadet summer training, earned through a highly competitive process of examinations and interviews.

197 squadron is looking forward on welcoming back all these cadets and looking forward to them teaching their newly learned skills to the rest of the squadron.

Participation in the summer training program is not limited to the cadets, as two of the squadron’s officers, Captain Kati Nuttall and Second Lieutenant Alex Gawlina, served at the Canadore CSTC in North Bay for the past seven weeks, leading and supervising cadets from across Canada who were selected to attend the national Advanced Aviation Technology courses.

197 squadron’s 2014/5 Local training season will be commencing soon, offering a dynamic and exciting program to all interested youth between the ages of 12 and 18. As well as a comprehensive local training program, 197 squadron offers a Drill Team, Marksmanship Team, Military Band and a Flight Scholarship program. We also plan an annual trip at March break and weekend activities including sports days, orienteering, survival field exercises, glider and power flying. 197 squadron cadets can regularly be seen at local community events, assisting Royal Canadian Legion Branch 197 and Acton BIA with their events.

197 squadron will be holding a recruiting night on Monday, August 25 at the Acton Legion, 7-9 p.m. All interested local youth and their parents are encouraged to attend to find out more about this free program. 197 squadron parades at the Acton Legion on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-9:15 p.m. throughout the school year. For more information please contact Captain Scott Legge, 519-831-9925.

The aim of the Canadian Cadet Program is to develop in youth the attributes of good citizenship and leadership; promote physical fitness; and stimulate an interest in the activities of the Canadian Armed Forces. The local unit is sponsored by the Air Cadet League of Canada in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces and our Squadron Sponsoring Committee as well as its primary sponsor – Royal Canadian Legion Branch 197.

News Aug 19, 2014 Independent Free Press

Soaring success – Mark Crha of Rockwood, second from left, is the 2013 recipient of the Virginia Mitchell $1,000 award as top male Cadet power pilot in Canada. Crha, a second class Warrant Officer who previously received a familiarization pilot upgrade scholarship last summer, was presented with a watch donated by the Hamilton Watch Company as part of the honour.

On hand for the presentation, from left, were Captain Scott Legge, commanding officer of the Acton 197 Typhoon Air Cadet squadron, Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong and Major John Scott, national governor of the Air Cadet League of Canada.

Submitted Photo – The Wellington Advertiser Vol 47 Issue 04

The 197 Acton Air Cadet Typhoon Squadron received a $1000 donation from the Halton Hills Optimist Club at its recent Commanding Officer’s parade. Norm Paget, President of the Optimist Club presented the cheque to Cadets’ sponsoring commitee member Shalu Mehta to help pay for a Cadet trip to Ottawa in March.

Submitted photo, The New Tanner

TOP CADET PILOT: Acton Air Cadet WO2 Mark Crha of Rockwood was named the top Canadian Cadet pilot during a Cadet Mess Dinner on Tuesdat at the Acton Legion. – Frances Learment photo

Rockwood teen is top gun Earns National award.

Talk about a top gun.

Enduring humble, proud and surprised – that’s how WO2 Second Class Mark Crha reacted to learning he’d won the prestigious Virginia Mitchell award from the Air Cadet League of Canada as the top male pilot in Canada.

This National Flying Scholarship Award earned by the 17-year-old Rockwood native follows the Top Ontario Pilot Cadet award Crha won earlier this year. He accepted the award at a 197 Typhoon Squadron Mess Dinner on Tuesday night t the Acton Legion.

“I’m a little surprised – it’s pretty overwhelming.” Crha said, adding he’s always had an interest in aviation  whetted by the Acton Air Cadets. After qualifying as a glider pilot. Crha attended power flight school in Oshawa this past summer.

“I got to spend the whole summer flying – it was unbelievable. It was hard work leading up to the course and the course was hard work, but it was definitely worth it.” Crha said after accepting congratulations from his fellow Cadets and Mess Dinner guests.

“Its hard work leading up the course, its hard work on the course, but its all worth it and the hard work paid off, showing with the opportunities offered by Cadets, anyone can do it.” Crha said. Along with a certificate of his achievement, Crha accepted a $1000 cheque.

Crha was one of 250 Canadian Cadets invited to the Air Cadet Flying Scholarship Program, which provides $13,000 per Cadet for the training to get their power wings.

Crha is “extremely academic” according to his former C/O Katie Nulall, who said he is also “extremely hard working” and determined to be the best he can be.

The New Tanner.

The Rotary Club of Acton, in force with the Men of Heritage and Acton 197 Squadron Air Cadets, are selling Christmas trees at the north end of the Hide House/GO Train station, while the last.

Submitted photo, The New Tanner

This past weekend at the Air Cadet League of Canada-Ontario Provincial Committee’s Annual General Meeting the 197 Typhoon Squadron proved it is small but might. With more than 8,000 Cadets in Ontario, WO2 Amit Mehta of Acton received the Peter Stickley Memorial Award for Top Leadership Cadet of Ontario, and F/Sgt Mark Crha of Rockwood received Top Cadet Pilot Award for Ontario.

Mehta and Crha received their awards from Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield and Guelph/Eramosa Township councillor John Scott. Hadfield was the guest speaker at the awards dinner and during his speech he recognized that a large part of his leadership abilities came from the Air Cadet program, starting with the summer camp for leadership that he was on during that time.

Air Cadets was also where Hadfield received his first pilot’s license in a long line of licenses that allowed him to attract the world’s attention as the Command of the International Space Station. It would seem that these two Cadets are well on their way to following his lead in believing that y0u can achieve anything you set your mind to.

The Cadets of 197 all have one thing in common. They are supported by a large group of individuals that believe in them. From the staff and Officers, the Parent Sponsoring Committee, the parents and guardians of these cadets and the teachers and staff of the schools that they attend. Not to forget the businesses that employs the Cadets and are constantly changing their schedules to accommodate the busy schedule that these Cadets have.

The program for the Acton Air Cadets is free to all teenagers aged 12 to 18, in the area and as you can see; it has outstanding rewards for the youth of today.

by C/O Capt Katie Nutall, The Acton Tanner

ACTON – Three Air Cadets from 197 Typhoon Squadron in Acton recently earned their pilot wings as part of the Air Cadet Flight scholarship program.

Flight Sergeant Mark Crha, 17 and Flt. Sgt. William Richards, 17, both Rockwood residents, earned their power pilot wings after an intensive seven-week course consisting of both ground and flight training, Transport Canada written exams and a final Transport Canada flight test. This training qualified each cadet Pilot for their Transport Canada Private Pilot License.

Crha also won Top Overall Power Pilot Scholarship for Central Region, was one of only 10 national recipients of the Air Force Association of Canada Medal and won Top Student Pilot for Central Region. Durham Flight Centre awarded Crha with their Top Power Pilot, Top Academic Achievement and Top Flight Test Achievement awards.

Sgt. Ellen Dobbs, 16 of Acton earned her glider pilot wings at a six-week course at St Jean Sur Richeleau, Quebec. This qualifies her for her Transport Canada Glider license. Dobbs was one of six central region cadets who were selected to undergo training in eastern region.

Captain Kati Nuttall, commanding officer of 197 Squadron said, “The effort that all of our cadets and staff put into our program in so many different aspects always amazes me, and these three cadets are certainly no exception. They work hard for this from the time they start cadets and I am so proud of their accomplishments. They are to be commended, not only for this accomplishment but also on the example that they bring to our youth today, showing them what they can achieve with focus and dedication.

“We are also fortunate that we have an officer who is also a private pilot from right here in Acton, Officer Cadet Richard Dobbs, who works tirelessly with these cadets to prepare them for this opportunity. Congratulations to you all”

To be selected for the national summer courses, each cadet had to go through a highly competitive selection program consisting of a written qualifying exam, a written narrative, an in person interview and ranking by the Air Cadet League of Canada based on achievements in the cadet program and school marks.

In preparation for the qualifying exam cadets attend a 15-week flying scholarship program at 197 squadron. The flight scholarship program is supported by the Air Cadet League of Canada and the Department of National Defense.

The 197 Squadron parades at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 197 in Acton on Tuesday evenings and the program is open to all local youth from the ages of 12-18. For further details about the Air Cadet program, contact 197 Squadron.

The Wellington Advertiser, Vol 46 Issue 41

Top pilot – Air Cadet Mark Crha, of Rockwood, recently received top pilot and top academic awards at a Glider Pilot Scholarship course in Comox, British Columbia. photo by Chirs Daponte

ROCKWOOD – Mark Crha has been hooked on flying ever since his father’s friend invited him on a flight when he was just eight years old.

“I had so much fun with that,” said Crha, now 16. “Since then, I’ve always wanted to fly.”

Recently the Rockwood teen, an Air Cadet in Squadron 197 in Acton, was awarded his glider pilot licence after completing a total of 51 flights – 21 of those solo – this summer in Comox, B.C., as part of a six-week Glider Pilot Scholarship (GPS) course.

“It was amazing,” Crha said. “The scenery was beautiful and I made some good friends. I really didn’t want to leave at the end of it, it was so much fun.”

One of the highlights was his first solo flight on July 24.

“I was really nervous, but really excited at the same time,” he said.

Crha earned the right to attend an out-of-province course after he finished in the top 10 per cent in the nation on his GPS course.

Scott Legge, deputy commanding officer Squadron 197 in Acton, said there is little doubt Crha is “a special case.” He explained that due to his athletic pursuits, most notably in hockey, Crha prepared himself for the GPS exam.

“This young man finished in the top 10 per cent in the country,” said Legge.

Crha and William Richards, also of Rockwood, are the first two Air Cadets from the Acton squadron to finish in that exclusive group, he added.

To put that into perspective, Legge explained there are 90 glider scholarships in Ontario, and many more throughout the rest of Canada.

Yet Crha was clearly not satisfied with simply attending the GPS course in B.C. along with 45 other Air Cadets from across Canada.

He received the course’s top academic award, and was also recognized as its top overall pilot and top overall cadet. The latter was accompanied by a medal Crha now wears on his uniform.

“I was pretty surprised,” he said of receiving those honours at a special ceremony at the conclusion of the GPS course.

At some point he hopes to attend a power flying scholarship course, and later he hopes to attend college and obtain his licence.

“I want to be a commercial airline pilot,” Crha said.

In the meantime he will keep delivering papers for the Wellington Advertiser, which he has done since he was 12, and he will try to obtain his “familiarization rating,” which will allow him to take other cadets with him on glider flights.

He credits Air Cadets with much of his success in the sky to date.

“It’s the best youth organization I’ve been in for sure,” he said.

Along with Legge, Crha is encouraging area youths aged 12 to 18 that are interested in joining Air Cadets, to attend a recruitment night at the Acton Legion on Sept. 11 at 7pm.

For more information visit www.aircadetleague.com.

by Chris Daponte, The Wellington Advertiser, Vol 45 Issue 36