Cadets, Skiing, Potluck, & The Final Cut

3045 Army Corps held its last Parents Night Parade of 2018 on December 5.  We normally only have one of these parades in the fall, but there were enough awards and announcements to warrant another one.  Plus, a number of cadets had achieved the necessary criteria to be promoted.  In preparation for the parade, the cadets worked tirelessly on their uniforms, the corps staff put together a program, and parent volunteers prepared several snacks for the reception.

            

We all showed up an hour early to set up the gym for the festivities.  Chairs, tables, flags, coffee machines, and garbage cans were placed in strategic locations.  Once everything was in place, the cadets were sized in ranks.  The parade began at 6:30pm.

            

The parade was a standard affair, following the same established routines as before.  I was the commanding officer and the guest reviewing officer.  The audience stood for the General Salute and O Canada.  I inspected the cadets on parade while Frank kept the audience busy with some upcoming announcements.  The cadets did a March Past after the inspection.  The audience sat down and we continued with the awards.

            

Cdt Issuqangituq receives Level 1 Marksmanship.

LCpl Tilley receives Level 4 Marksmanship.

I started with the marksmanship badges.  There are four levels a cadet can achieve.  Four cadets achieved Level 1, two cadets achieved Level 2, and one cadet achieved Level 3.  I then continued with the physical training (PT) badges.  There are four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Excellence.  Three cadets achieved Bronze level fitness, one cadet received Silver, one cadet achieved Gold, and four cadets reached the level of Excellence. 

            

I then called out the three cadets who won first place in their categories at the Fall Biathlon in October.  They were publicly congratulated for their achievement and received military clothing as prizes. 

            

The best part of the parade was saved for last: promotions.  I could see the cadets were anxious and eager to hear who was advancing in the ranks.  I briefly explained to the audience the prerequisites of receiving a promotion.  They get more challenging for the senior ranks because you take on more leadership responsibilities.  I began with the lowest ranks.  Two cadets advanced to the rank of Lance Corporal.  Four cadets moved up to the rank of Corporal.  And on cadet was promoted to the rank of Master Corporal.

            

Three Master-Corporals were promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  They now had the privilege of wearing the red sash across their green uniforms.  They were very delighted to receive the sashes.

            

The three new cadet sergeants.

The new cadet Warrant Officer.

For the last promotion, I briefly explained to the audience that the corps was now “top-heavy”.  There were too many sergeants, four to be exact.  The corps needed to be balanced at the top, so one sergeant would be moving up to the rank of Warrant Officer.  Everyone had a pretty clear idea of who it was.  I called out her name and she marched up to the front to receive her badge, slip-ons, and pace stick.

            

The parade concluded with the Advance, General Salute, and the playing of God Save the Queen.  The cadets were dismissed to the back of the gym for a group photograph.  When I was satisfied that we had the right photograph, I dismissed the junior cadets to the reception.  I took separate pictures of the four senior cadets holding up their rank badges.  They all looked very happy.  I took about three photos and then dismissed them to reception as well.  Everyone was out of the gym by 8:30pm.

            

On December 13, a cross-country ski instructor from Iqaluit held a workshop for the cadets.  This workshop was organized by the recreational director at the Hamlet Office and I.  The instructor would teach skiing techniques the cadets would use when competing in the yearly biathlon competitions.  Biathlon is one of many activities that the cadet program offers.  The corps was very fortunate to exploit this opportunity because Arctic Bay doesn’t have a dedicated cross-country ski instructor.  Funding was secured by the Hamlet Office.

            

The workshop took place at Inuujaq School’s gym.  The instructor had brought a lot of skiing equipment with him.  I later found out that the Hamlet Office had bought it and would rent it out to interested community members during the winter months.  (The instructor would teach community members the following day).  I observed the workshop from a distance.

            

The instructor went over the basics of cross-country skiing equipment and how to handle them.  He also explained & demonstrated how to properly propel yourself forward using the skiis and poles.  He had the cadets line up at one end of the gym and then practice these techniques to the other side of the gym.  They just had to imagine they were using skiis & poles because they were in the gym.

            

The instructor would take them outside with the actual skiis & poles on the weekend.  He also gave me a list of the type of wax we should use on our skiis.  

            

The staff Christmas potluck dinner was held at the school on the evening of December 14.  The high school science classroom was turned into a dining area complete with Christmas decorations.  Everyone brought something to the occasion.  A small Christmas tree was set up in a corner of the classroom with large star on top.  Secret Santa gifts surrounded the tree.  All the food & beverages were spread across the counters along the wall.  An elder blessed the food when everyone was present.  The feast began.

            

I waited a little bit before standing in line.  There was still plenty of food when it was my turn.  I was glad I brought my own dishes and cutlery.  I filled my plate with delicious food.  My stomach was full by the end of the dinner.  The staff who participated in Secret Santa exchanged gifts at the end.  Everyone cleaned up but left the decorations.  The high school science teacher felt the decorations would help the high school students write their final exams by creating a more welcoming atmosphere.

           

            

And finally, after many days of work, I was ready to present the final cut of “Mr. Putugu’s Classroom” to my English students of the previous semester.  The video was the same except there was now music & sound effects in certain places.  We watched the short film together.  I was nervous, wondering if the students would accept the soundtrack I created.  When the credits started to roll, my former students gave me their seals of approval.  I breathed a sigh of relief.  I told them I would upload the final cut to the school’s Facebook page over the Christmas break.