By Scott Park  

As summer fades, the Cadets of 386 Sqn have returned to school and  their regular squadron activities.  There is not much to report as the training year is just getting underway.

Since our last update, 386 Sqn has had their Annual Ceremonial Review, which by all reports, was once again a complete success, with many proud parents and grandparents in attendance, and even a few former Cadets. Shortly after the Big Parade our Cadets got together for a day of sports and hotdogs (properly prepared by MWO Nurse) at Kin Beach; it was quite a fun day for all who attended.

Summer saw quite a large percentage of 386 Sqn heading across Canada for summer training camps.  Starting in late June, several senior cadets from our Squadron left for Albert Head (Victoria) and Penhold, Alberta as staff cadets, preparing the camps for the arrival of the course cadets. The following weeks saw three cadets attend Glider Pilot Training in Comox and one Powered Flight Pilot.  Also in Comox several of our cadets attended introduction to aviation camps.

Of note, our power Pilot  WO2 Tyler Molloy,  was accepted into Royal Military College.  Good show, Tyler

Meanwhile,  Albert Head provided two weeks of Basic training to more than 20 first year cadets from our squadron, plus three week Leadership, Survival and Physical Education Courses to nine more cadets.   One of our Cadets was also part of the Albert Head Service Band  (a six week commitment).

Moving east, two 386 Sqn Cadets went to Penhold, Alberta to learn how to instruct (hows that for dedication?) - teenagers volunteering to sit in a classroom for three weeks in the middle of summer holidays).

Kingston, Ontario was home for six weeks to one of our senior cadets while she became an athletic instructor,  while another of our cadets spent most of his summer in Greenwood, Nova Scotia gaining his Survival Instructor Qualification.

If these Cadets are given the opportunity to exercise their new skills, I believe the Squadron and, indeed, our whole community will benefit.

Also of note, recruitment appears to be going quite well with 26 new cadets in the first two weeks.

September 13 saw 386 Squadron provide a bugler and two other cadets for the Comox Airforce Museum Heritage Stone Dedication, followed by the Battle of Britain Parade on September 20, when the entire Squadron was present. The 386 Band provided the music, and sounded pretty good.

And so, once again the training year at 386 Sqn Komox begins!