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Announcements: Week of Sept 19, 2023 (2023/09/19)

Again welcome back everyone and welcome to our new cadets and families!!

 

Returning cadets if you weren’t able to make it to annual validation night, no worries validations can be done upon your return. (Note validations must be completed before you can participate in training activities)

 

New cadets our website is the best place to ensure accurate and up to date information on training activities. Make sure to check here at least once a week.

 

This week:

  • Thursday Sept 21, 2023
    • New cadets who were issued FTU’s that need to exchange sizes CV Vogelesang will be at the Armouries for exchanges starting at 1800hrs. Please arrive at that time so we can get through cadets as quickly as possible.
  • Saturday/Sunday Sept 23-24, 2023
    • Fall Field Training Exercise – Senior cadets will be meeting at the FTX site Friday evening at 1800hrs. Junior Cadets will be meeting at the D-Coy Armouries Saturday morning for 0800hrs and will be bussed to the location. Expected return to the D-Coy on Sunday is 1600hrs. 
    • Please see the attached letter (Fall FTX Letter 2023) for FTX details. As well as a kit list (FTX Kit List) for the weekend and (Sign-Up) sheet to give us numbers for the weekend. All cadets welcome, and if attending please use the sign up form attached to ensure you are attending. Cadets with incomplete annual validation paperwork will not be allowed to attend until it is complete.
  • Tuesday Sept 26, 2023 
    • Regular Training – 1830-2130hrs at D-Coy Armouries. Dress will be FTU (Order of Dress) for returning cadets. If your uniform does not fit or you have not been issued a uniform yet please wear appropriate civilian attire. 
  • No other optional training this week. No Drill Monday, No Biathlon this weekend (biathlon cadets start your own at home cardio training). 

 

UPCOMING DATES:

  • Sept 23-24 – Fall Field Training Exercise (FTX)(All cadets)
  • Oct 5 – Survivair Starts (Open to all cadets)
  • Oct 17 – Wings Parade (Tuesday night, ceremonial parade)
  • Oct 28 or 29 (TBD) – Biathlon Zone Competition (Closed to only biathlon team)
  • Nov 28 – Meet and Greet Potluck (All cadets and immediate families)

SQUADRON SPONSORING COMMITTEE:

  • Air Cadet League of Alberta Cash Calendars are available again this year for fundraising. Calendars will be available for pick-up at the beginning and end of Tuesday night training. 
  • Every first Tuesday of the month is a Parent/ SSC Board Meeting @ 630pm at the Armouries. Next meeting Oct 3, 2023

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • This message is aimed at those cadets interested in pursuing their glider or private pilot licence. The Sqn will start a Ground School in the next few weeks. The actual start date will be announced on parade and communicated here. Ground School is opened to a limited number of cadets, 15 years of age or over. The age threshold may drop to 14 if there is enough space. Note that this is Sqn specific. For those old enough you will also be enrolled in Online Ground School (OGS).

    Please complete the Ground School Registration form. The Sqn staff will use this information to register you (if you meet the age minimums) for the OGS serial in Fortress. Note that you must complete the OGS to be considered for either the GPTC or PPTC next summer.

    While you are waiting for the national OGS to start, use the link below to study for the Rules of the Air section of the exam. It is an excellent Canadian resource by a flying instructor out of BC.

    Improved PSTAR Study Guide – Robyn’s Flying Start

    Any questions regarding OGS or the Sqn Ground School can be directed to Sqn Staff.

  • Parents you are highly encouraged to come into the armouries during closing announcements/parade. That way you can hear all the information directly! We normally start them around 915pm.
  • Please pass along where the weekly announcements are located to new cadets and parents.
  • Welcome to all our new cadets and families!! If at all throughout the year you have questions reach out your senior cadets or staff. Information about events, dates, and activities is always posted to our website 577aircadets.ca and Microsoft Teams (new cadets will get access in the coming days). Please check these places first for information before asking questions, they will likely answer them for you and eases the number of questions are staff handle (We do all work full time jobs outside of cadets).

Announcements: Week of Sept 12, 2023 (2023/09/13)

Again welcome back everyone and welcome to our new cadets and families!!

 

Returning cadets if you weren’t able to make it to annual validation night, no worries validations can be done upon your return. (Note validations must be completed before you can participate in training activities)

 

New cadets our website is the best place to ensure accurate and up to date information on training activities. Make sure to check here at least once a week.

 

This week:

  • Saturday Sept 16, 2023
    • First Biathlon practice, cadets signed up for Biathlon please meet at the D-Coy Armouries for 1000hrs in athletic attire (dress for the outdoor weather). We will then be walking to Thrill Hill to learn some basics of biathlon as a sport and beginning physical training. Finishing for 1200hrs back at the D-Coy.
  • Monday Sept 18, 2023
    • First Drill team tryout – 1700-1900hrs at D-Coy Armouries, dress will be civilian attire. Tryouts will go for 3 weeks and then the team will be made. All cadets welcome to tryout!
  • Tuesday Sept 19, 2023 
    • Regular Training – 1830-2130hrs at D-Coy Armouries. Dress will be FTU’s for returning cadets. If your uniform does not fit or you have not been issued a uniform yet please wear appropriate civilian attire. 
  • Saturday/ Sunday Sept 23-24, 2023
    • Fall Field Training Exercise – Please see the attached letter (Fall FTX Letter 2023) for FTX details. As well as a kit list (FTX Kit List) for the weekend and (Sign-Up) sheet to give us numbers for the weekend. All cadets welcome, and if attending please use the sign up form attached to ensure you are attending. Cadets with incomplete annual validation paperwork will not be allowed to attend until it is complete. 

 

UPCOMING DATES:

  • Sept 18 – Drill Team tryouts/practices start (All cadets welcome)
  • Sept 23-24 – Fall Field Training Exercise (FTX)(All cadets)
  • Oct 5 – Survivair Starts (Open to all cadets)
  • Oct 17 – Wings Parade (Tuesday night, ceremonial parade)
  • Oct 28 or 29 (TBD) – Biathlon Zone Competition (Closed to only biathlon team)
  • Nov 28 – Meet and Greet Potluck (All cadets and immediate families)

SQUADRON SPONSORING COMMITTEE:

  • Air Cadet League of Alberta Cash Calendars are available again this year for fundraising. Calendars will be available for pick-up at the beginning and end of Tuesday night training. 
  • Every first Tuesday of the month is a Parent/ SSC Board Meeting @ 630pm at the Armouries. Next meeting Oct 3, 2023

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Parents you are highly encouraged to come into the armouries during closing announcements/parade. That way you can hear all the information directly! We normally start them around 915pm.
  • Please pass along where the weekly announcements are located to new cadets and parents.
  • Welcome to all our new cadets and families!! If at all throughout the year you have questions reach out your senior cadets or staff. Information about events, dates, and activities is always posted to our website 577aircadets.ca and Microsoft Teams (new cadets will get access in the coming days). Please check these places first for information before asking questions, they will likely answer them for you and eases the number of questions are staff handle (We do all work full time jobs outside of cadets).

Announcements: Week of Sept 5, 2023 (2023/09/06)

Again welcome back everyone and welcome to our new cadets and families!!

 

Returning cadets if you weren’t able to make it to annual validation night, no worries validations can be done upon your return. (Note validations must be completed before you can participate in training activities)

 

New cadets our website is the best place to ensure accurate and up to date information on training activities. Make sure to check here at least once a week.

 

This week:

  • Saturday Sept 9, 2023
    • First Responder Appreciation Day held by the Grande Prairie Legion from 0830-1630 at The Grande Prairie Legion
      Cadets will be needed to man barricades, activities (bouncy castles, face paint, plinko), general duties (replenish supplies, assist BBQ, wash tables) and set up/tear down. If you are able to assist or attend please complete this form SIGN UP 
  • Tuesday Sept 12, 2023 
    • Training officially starts!! 1830-2130hrs at D-Coy Armouries. Dress will be FTU’s for returning cadets. If your uniform does not fit or you have not been issued a uniform yet please wear appropriate civilian attire. 
  • Saturday Sept 16, 2023
    • First Biathlon practice, cadets signed up for Biathlon please meet at the D-Coy Armouries for 1000hrs in athletic attire (dress for the outdoor weather). We will then be walking to Thrill Hill to learn some basics of biathlon as a sport and beginning physical training. Finishing for 1200hrs back at the D-Coy. 

 

UPCOMING DATES:

  • Sept 18 – Drill Team tryouts/practices start (All cadets welcome)
  • Sept 23-24 – Fall Field Training Exercise (FTX)(All cadets)
  • Oct 5 – Survivair Starts (Open to all cadets)
  • Oct 17 – Wings Parade (Tuesday night, ceremonial parade)
  • Oct 28 or 29 (TBD) – Biathlon Zone Competition (Closed to only biathlon team)
  • Nov 28 – Meet and Greet Potluck (All cadets and immediate families)

SQUADRON SPONSORING COMMITTEE:

  • Every first Tuesday of the month is a Parent/ SSC Board Meeting @ 630pm at the Armouries. Next meeting Oct 3, 2023

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Parents you are highly encouraged to come into the armouries during closing announcements/parade. That way you can hear all the information directly! We normally start them around 915pm.
  • Please pass along where the weekly announcements are located to new cadets and parents.
  • Welcome to all our new cadets and families!! If at all throughout the year you have questions reach out your senior cadets or staff. Information about events, dates, and activities is always posted to our website 577aircadets.ca and Microsoft Teams (new cadets will get access in the coming days). Please check these places first for information before asking questions, they will likely answer them for you and eases the number of questions are staff handle (We do all work full time jobs outside of cadets).

Welcome Back 2023-2024 Training Year (2023-08-21)

Please note the following information was sent directly to emails on cadets files. If you did not receive this email, check your spam/junk folder. You may also either have no email on file or your email on file is not valid.

 

Good day everyone,

Hopefully you all had a relaxing and fun summer!! It is of course that time of the year again, and the squadron is preparing to start another exciting training year! Detailed below will be a few opening housekeeping/annual registration notes. As we get closer to our official start date of Sept 12, 2023.

  1. As mentioned above our official training start date will be Sept 12, 2023 at 1830hrs, however on Sept 5th, 2023 we will be having a returning cadet/recruitment night. This night is open from 1830-2130hrs and has a very specific purpose, and that’s to allow our returning cadets an evening to complete annual validation/ medical paperwork and exchange uniform parts that no longer fit. No actual training occurs on this evening and it simply allows us to get the necessary start for our returning cadets before we begin our training season. On this evening parents or guardians will need to come into the Armouries to complete validation paperwork. If this is your first time returning to the unit (veteran parents you’ve all done this before) what this paperwork entails is straight forward. You will be given a validation form from your cadets file, simply go through the listed information and ensure everything listed is accurate and up to date (addresses, phone numbers, etc). The only other piece of paperwork needed on this night is specific to cadets who have completed detailed health questionnaires in the past or who have had a change in medical history. Medical validations are completed annually. Do not worry about remembering what to do on these forms as staff will be there to assist you if needed. Once your validations are completed and you have gone to supply to do any uniform exchanges you are free to leave. Again our official training starts Sept 12th.
  2. Next item only pertains to anyone who has a cadet NOT returning to the unit. If your cadet is not going to be attending the squadrons training again please complete the attached form. https://forms.office.com/r/Gizbt0SjFp This form is only the first step in being struck off the units strength and a staff member will contact you directly for further steps after the form is completed (starting about Aug 22 at the earliest). Please note that your cadets file will NOT be removed until all necessary steps are completed, this includes the returning of all issued uniform pieces.
  3. Please note that some extra-curricular optional training activities will be starting right away this year and the turn around time is quick. Teams specifically that will be rapid in team selection and training are:
    1. Biathlon – Beginning Sept 16th, teams selection will be completed before 29 Sept as the zone competition registration is needed by 30 Sept. Zone Competition will be 28 or 29 Oct 23.
    2. Drill Team – Beginning Sept 18th, this year drill team has switched to Monday evenings from 1700-1900hrs, this is better meet staff availability.
  4. Other extracurriculars will start at various times and more information for those will be released as they become available from the officers in charge of each.
    1. Band will begin following our fall FTX – Dates announced soon.
    2. Survivair will begin first week of October
    3. Marksmanship, and Ground School are TBD

This concludes our opening remarks, and again welcome back!