1943 Army Cadet Battery holding its 9th Change of Command on Feb. 3

Everyone is invited to the 9th Change of Command of the 1943 Army Cadet Battery.

William Dobson, of Palm­erston, will be handing com­mand of the Battery over to Julie Boubert, of Mount Forest.

Dobson said in an interview that he has held the top post with the group for ten years and  since a command normally lasts only three years, it is time for a change.

He said the unit was formed in 1943 with the Norwell Dis­trict High School principal of that day in charge.

Today, the Battery has about 30 members, and Dobson said it is an excellent experience for students.

“Most people who put down ‘cadet’ in resume’s usually get the job,” he said.

Dobson explained that “the vast majority” of those who join the program learn self-discipline, dress and deport­ment, as well as self esteem and things like time management, and employ­ers know they can expect a well dressed, disci­plin­ed employee if they hire someone who has cadet experi­ence.

He noted that there are Air Cadets in Wellington County, but those groups are generally more oriented to academics. “We try to get outside and get active,” he said.

There are plenty of benefits, too.

Dobson said the Army Cadet Battery is mainly focus­ed on activities such as shoot­ing and pipes and drums. In the summer, cadets qualify for free camps that can last from two to six weeks. Further, the longer camps take place overseas or in far away places. The more senior cadets qualify for those.

Dobson said one 18-year-old in the 1943 Army Cadet Battery has been to Banff, and some over the years have qualified for a free, six week camp in Wales. Dob­son himself spent six weeks at camp in Scotland one summer when he was a cadet.

“Somebody who wants to go to camp – we can usually find a place,” he said, noting that musicians can attend camps for bagpipes and drums.

He explained that Reserv­ists are officers in the unit, but the cadets are all youths.

Dobson said, “This year, we’ve got a lot of kids from Clifford and Drayton,” with some from Listowel, but that can vary from year to year, and anyone who wants to attend is welcome, no matter where they live.

There are Army Cadet Bat­teries in Palmerston, Brus­sels, Or­ange­ville, and Guelph.

The 1943 Army Cadet Bat­tery meets every Wednesday at Norwell at 7pm. Anyone want­ing to join can simply show up that night, and “We’ll walk you through it.”

The Change of Command takes place on Feb. 3 at 7pm at the high school.

 

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