I’ve had people ask me if I’m a normal kid. I often ask them in return: “Well, what is your idea of a normal kid?” If your idea of a normal kid is someone who spends time with their friends, plays "Call of Duty", plays a musical instrument, listens to mainstream music or likes to hang out with friends, then I suppose you could call me a normal kid. But what makes me and other 2912 Cadets unlike others kids is what we do other than normal stuff. We do things that don’t make us kids anymore, but more like exemplary citizens. Things such as community service, public parades, like Remembrance Day and Vimy Ridge, and the list goes on. Recently, three other Senior cadets and I had the opportunity of a lifetime. We trained with our local militia unit, our affiliated unit, The Second Battalion Irish Regiment of Canada.
My morning started off unlike my routine mornings. The 24th of September, at 0745h, we arrived at Burwash, a CF training base, and instantly began to integrate with the troops training in the field. It was a range weekend and we were given the ability to go on the firing range. Upon our arrival at the range, we were presented with the C7A2 assault rifle. We learned how to use it safely and we memorized the procedures of unloading, make safe and loading. Within a few minutes of our class, we were kitted with a webbing vest and Kevlar helmets. My helmet was particularly uncomfortable because one knot sticking out into my head. I forgot about the knot and noticed how awesome it was to wear Kevlar on your head.
We were firing a total of 25 rounds today, so 5 magazines of 5 rounds. We fired 2 mags in the prone position, one mag in the kneeling position, which consisted of my worse shots as it was unbearable how painful my toe was pinched by my steel toe boot, another mag in the sitting position and the last mag in the standing position. My shots were mediocre, considering the ELCAN sight was not zeroed to my eyesight.
Once we were finished on the range, we ate our hard rations, to which to our luxury, but to the reservists torture, IMP’s. Cadets eat the slightly less appetizing MRE’s, so this was a treat for us. After lunch, we socialized with NCO’s of the Irish Regiment. Some were serious, others jokesters, but everyone was professional and we felt the same pride towards our cap brass. Once social period was over, we had a skills-at-arms competition. We were given grid references on a map and at each grid reference was a challenge. I was teamed up with two reservists, one male and another female. My first challenge was on how to throw a grenade. Let me tell you, those little handful of explosives are a lot heavier than they seem. Obviously, we threw training grenades so they did not explode. The second station was the C9 machine gun assembly. I watched the weapon manipulation expertise of the troops assemble the machine gun from scratch in less than 5 minutes with next to no error. The next challenge was the fireman’s drag. I felt terribly sorry for the female reservist who had to drag me 25 meters. I weigh a good 185lbs, and around 200lbs with full kit. To my surprise, she surpassed the challenge and dragged me the 25m. Then I had to drag the male reservist and he weighs the same as I do. It was hard I tell you. The female must have had one heck of a drag for me. The next station, I watched my team set up a C6 machine gun post in a mind-blowing 1:26 minutes. They had the second best time out of all the teams. The following challenge was a struggling hike up elevated roads to a rocket launcher procedure test. And yes, I had the opportunity to handle and go through the procedures of firing an M80 and an M72 LAW. Following that, I was able to help my team identify armored vehicles through an ELCAN sight. It was difficult as the sight offered very little magnification and the replicas of the vehicles were camouflaged. The final station was the most exciting. The troops took apart their C7A2 assault rifles, reassembled it and did a weapons check. They moved swiftly and smoothly. I was proud to be with the reservist, shadowing them with their competition. My team arrived at the biv site first. I was able to lay back, and feel proud of what WE did that day.
I went home that day feeling as a different "kid". Because I knew that what I did would not be done by most anyone else. Cadets not only changes me for the best, but offers me these opportunities. Was that day a success? Definitely! Am I still a normal kid? According to many others, yes, I am still a normal kid, but -- I AM 2912 Sudbury Irish Royal Canadian Army Cadet.
FIOR GO BAS!
WO Guy