The following was written by Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Gualtieri Da Silva:
The Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC) 53 Barrie recently came together to celebrate the end of the 2021-22 training year.
Despite the many complications for RCSCC Barrie during the start of the training year due to the pandemic and hybrid training, the perseverance and determination of the entire corps led to an exciting and educational year filled with laughter, hard work and fun.
Due to the decrease in COVID cases, RCSCC Barrie says it was able to transition from hybrid to in-person training, welcoming new and old cadets back, for the first time in two years, to the Barrie Armouries at 37 Parkside Dr.
According to Leading Cadet Kohli, a phase one cadet and newcomer to the corps, coming to cadets in-person for the first time, though nerve-wracking, ended up being “pretty fun, because I got new opportunities that I never thought I’d get if I didn’t join (cadets),” with the transition being made easier thanks to the staff.
“Overall, (cadets) helped me learn new things and get to know more people," Kohli said in a release.
The training year continued, with many cadets participating, some for the first time, in parades and corps activities, such as the Battle of the Atlantic and Make-and-Mend Day, all the while helping cadets to grow and improve both in the corps and in their day-to-day lives.
“As a whole, I never knew something could affect and impact my life this much,” said Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Sarwar, a phase five cadet and the corps chief of training. “When I first joined the program back in 2016, I just thought it was just going to be Wednesday daycare from 6-9 p.m. every week. Boy was I wrong.”
After a year of learning and improving, both individually and as a team, the Barrie Sea Cadets celebrated their 79th annual ceremonial review (ACR), where many cadets received well-earned recognition for their efforts throughout the year, as well as where the mayor of Barrie officially proclaimed June 18 to be RCSCC Barrie Day.
Choosing to end their year with a lively "barbecue-style" mess dinner, the 53 Barrie Sea Cadet Corps bid farewell and best wishes to the departing phase five senior cadets, who will be moving on to the next stages of their lives.
According to Sarwar, one of the departing senior cadets, “I will miss every aspect of cadets. The feeling of always being welcomed at the corps, the ability to always rely on cadets when necessary, and summer camp at Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ontario are the things I will miss the most.”
While some of the Barrie Sea Cadets will be packing up their uniforms for summer break, many more will be preparing for their upcoming Cadet Training Centre (CTC) and Cadet Activity Program (CAP) summer courses, such as Kohli, who will be attending the CAP summer courses, which focus on marksmanship, leadership, drill, mental-wellness, and fitness.
“My favourite part of being a course cadet was definitely going to camp at HMCS Ontario. Those were the happiest and most enjoyable days of my life. … I still miss it and that CTC was my second home," Sarwar said.
Nonetheless, the cadets say they are waiting patiently and longingly for the new training year to commence in September, in order to return to the familiarity of the Barrie Armouries and their corps.
Since 1943, RCSCC Barrie is a corps that embodies their motto, which is Ready Aye Ready. They serve the City of Barrie, Simcoe County and beyond, and are a free youth development program for anyone between the ages of 12 and 18.
As part of the corps, young people get to participate in a range of activities that include, but are not limited to sailing, seamanship, music, drill, ceremonial parades, physical fitness, and leadership.
RCSCC Barrie meets on Wednesday evenings from September to June, with select weekend activities and team practices.
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