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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