Training opportunities impress Junior Rangers

One of the highlights of a six-day trip for nine Junior Canadian Rangers from northern Ontario was a visit to the Royal Military College of Canada at Kingston, where they met Aboriginal officer cadets and learned about several educational programs offered by the Canadian Forces to people of Aboriginal descent.
“They showed us there’s lots of opportunities,” said Junior Ranger Kyle Bottle, 16, of Mishkeegogamang. “It’s made me think about my education. I’m going to go to school and work harder now.”
In addition to the Royal Military College, the Junior Rangers visited Toronto, Ottawa, and Canadian Forces bases at Trenton, Kingston and Borden, near Barrie.
“One of the good things about the week was the exposure the Junior Canadian Rangers had to some of the major cities in southern Ontario and some of the key people in those cities and what they actually do in them,” said Capt. Caryl Fletcher, the officer commanding the 600 Junior Rangers in northern Ontario.
“They got to interact with Junior Rangers from different northern communities. You could see the bonding that took place as the week went on. You saw how they lost their shyness and became more confident.
“A key thing was that they had an opportunity to learn in detail about some of the programs offered by the military to Aboriginal peoples without any commitment to join the Canadian Forces. They were interested in the programs and I got lots of questions from them as they realized the importance of education, of staying in school, and graduating from high school.”
They met with Aboriginal officer cadets in the Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year program at the Royal Military College.
They learned about the seven-week Bold Eagle, Black Bear and Raven programs, and a three-week course offered to Aboriginal students. Students are paid in all the courses. Successful graduation offers opportunities to join the military but without any obligation to do so.
Other highlights of the six-day trip were meeting David Onley, the lieutenant-governor of Ontario, Brigadier-General Fred Lewis, commander of Land Force Central Area, Deputy Toronto Police Chief Peter Sloly, Mayor John Williams of the City of Quinte West, which includes Canadian Forces Base Trenton, and Commodore William Truelove, commandant of Royal Military College.
They attended the Remembrance Day observance in Ottawa; shot C7 assault rifles on an indoor video range; saw a parachute drop, military transport aircraft and rescue helicopters at CFB Trenton; and improvised explosive device explosions at CFB Kingston.
“It’s been an enjoyable trip,” said Junior Ranger Elsie Linklater, 18, of Attawapiskat. “The training courses they told us about are interesting possibilities. They’ve made me think about school if I want to do something like that.”
Despite a fear of heights, she went 50 feet into the air in a bucket on a Joint Signal Regiment communications vehicle’s extendable hoist.
“It was a test for me,” she said. “I said I wanted to do it. I was excited to go up there, pushing myself, and it was scary, but I did it – and now I’d do it again.”
The other Junior Rangers on the trip were Peter Echum, 15, of Moose Factory, Ashley McKay, 17, of Kitchenuhmaykoosib, Myra Mekanak, 18, of Webequie, Conrad Nakogee, 17, of Attawapiskat, Pamela Noon, 16, of Sandy Lake, Brendan Sawanas, 17, of Sandy Lake, and Dylan Whiskeychan, 17, of Moose Factory.
The escorts were Capt. Fletcher and Sgt. James Doherty from 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group headquarters and Master Corporals Ryan Kaminawash of Sachigo Lake and Priscilla Nakogee of Fort Albany.
Sgt. Peter Moon is the public affairs ranger for 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group at Canadian Forces Base Borden. See www.canadianrangers.ca.