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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

ACTON TEEN TOPS ADVANCED AVIATION COURSE AT AIR CADET TRAINING CENTRE IN TRENTON

8 WING TRENTON, Ont. – Cadet Amit Mehta (centre) from 197 Typhoon Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in Acton, Ontario receives the Lieutenant-Colonel J.M. Donnelly Trophy for Top Cadet on the Advanced Aviation Course from his course officer Captain Kristen Richards (left), and Major Doug Irish, Officer Commanding of the Aviation Wing at Trenton Air Cadet Summer Training Centre (TACSTC). Cadet Mehta is one of 41 cadets from across Ontario who on July 29, 2011 completed a 3-week advanced course which focuses on teaching cadets advanced principles of aviation. This course is preceded by a basic introductory course usually completed the summer before taking the Advanced Aviation Course. Approximately 1500 course cadets will attend the Summer Training Centre over the course of the summer.

RE: TACSTC HNR 11-004 – 29 July 2011