Colonel Commandant’s Report to Annual General Meeting, Army Cadet League of British Columbia

1. Colonel Commandant’s Report to Annual General Meeting, Army Cadet League of British Columbia Vernon, BC Saturday, 24 April 2010 R.G. Meating Col Cmdt since Sep 07

2. AN ARMY CADET’S VIEW R.G. Meating The Oldest Army Cadet since Sep 07

3. PRESENTATION SEQUENCE Purpose Background Our Raison d'Être (Their Perspective and Environment)

4. MY AIM to give you the leadership and membership of ACLC, a critically vital element of the community-based ‘RC Army Cadet team’, a current, third-party, outsider report of Army Cadets in Canada and to appeal for your continued ‘volunteered’ leadership, involvement and talents.

5. BACKGROUND (1) Deductions / Assessments are Mine, based on described interaction Please do not take them personally • I have unique ability to compare and contrast • Good access to ‘Army Cadet team’ • with cadets • with parents • with Army • with DCdts (Army) staff • with national office ACLC • with CIC leadership at CSTCs

6. BACKGROUND (2) • I listen, ask, learn and explore. While not scientific, I am convinced that my deductions are accurate. • I have validated my deductions with senior cadets and parents from across Canada. • Remember: I am seen by the cadets as the oldest Army cadet, a disarming but interested adult. They love speaking with ‘the General – oldest Army cadet’: “that’s cool”

7. BACKGROUND (3) Above all else & Most Important for Me I have met, spoken with and learned from thousands of cadets and hundreds of parents, program leaders and volunteers I have conducted formal and informal focus sessions and in-depth discussions with senior cadets on their turf and in their comfort zones. Likewise, where possible, with groups of parents.

8. MY CONCLUSIONS Our Raison d'Être – the Army Cadet Generally, they are: VIBRANT BRIGHT QUICK ARTICULATE WELL-INFORMED WELL-CONNECTED (DIGITALLY) KIND SINCERE TALENTED HAPPY RESPECTFUL OPINIONATED GENEROUS CARING PROUD GR8T Ambassadors of the CCM Products of the team effort Sons & daughters Future citizens and leaders Team members &

9. Our Raison d'Être It is a very complex, modern, sophisticated and interdependent environment. A Cadet’s Environment

10. Build That Environment Look at it as a new cadet (12 – 13 yo) Look at it as a developing cadet (13, 14, 15, 16 yo) Look at it as an experienced senior cadet (16, 17, 18 yo) Cadet

11. Cool ?? Facility Provision or Rent Philosophy Supportive or NOT Supportive NOT involved Supportive NOT involved Friends other Students Supportive & Involved Supportive & Involved Awareness of cadets & program NOT Supportive or involved NOT Supportive or involved Teachers & School Board Yes No School Parents 0 pp o r t u n i t y 1 or 2 Diversity & Appeal Challenging & Well-Delivered Program Corps & CSTC Awareness of cadets & program Achievement & Pride Cadet Community Elected Media Neighbours Business ldrs Other Youth Competitive Domaine Leaders Corps & CSTC Facility Provision or Rent Police & Service Orgs Motivational Interested & Knowledgeable Invested in them Seen Have Earned Respect Friends who are other Cadets Volunteer Capacity, Acceptance & Capability Sponsor Affiliated Unit Adult Support Committee Remain or Move On Create A Strong Bond Role Models

12. Friends other Students Teachers & School Board School Parents Program Corps & CSTC Cadet Community Elected Media Neighbours Business ldrs Other Parents Other Youth Leaders Corps & CSTC Police & Service Orgs Friends who are other Cadets Sponsor Affiliated Unit Adult Support Committee

13. Our Raison d'Être It is a complex, sophisticated and interdependent environment. A Cadet’s Environment

14. WHAT ARMY CADETS ARE TELLING EACH OTHER & ME • We thrive on activity – being out-of-doors, doing expedition-type things we can’t do at home. • I work for rewards, awards, medals and promotions (i.e. being singled out), BUT I take as much pride in my friends/other cadets’ successes and my corps being recognized. • I am tech-savvy and a multi-task specialist far beyond the capacity of many of the adults who influence me. • I love making family proud. Family pride is a key motivator. • My BFFs are most likely other cadets (distance is not a barrier). Our Raison d’Etre and His/Her Environment

15. WHAT ARMY CADETS ARE TELLING EACH OTHER & ME • Shooting is essential to Army cadets. • I recognize and despise disorganization – at LHQ and at summer camp. • I hate being disappointed as much as the disorganization. • My corps leaders are not necessarily apparent to all of the cadets – I think they spend too much time on personal administration and are not focused enough on me and the younger newer cadets: • I associate the word “Officer” with OFFICE. • I teach the leadership in my corps. • Many of my officers and CO don’t know the names of their cadets – drives green stars away. • I have tremendous respect for and pride in being ARMY. I want to feel, touch, meet, be exposed to ‘heroes’, ‘real Army soldiers’. Our Raison d’Etre and His/Her Environment

16. WHAT ARMY CADETS ARE TELLING EACH OTHER & ME • I am concerned that as I grew in the program, the number of challenges and opportunities decreased for senior cadets. As a result, other activities (school, sports, social) drove away some of my friends who were not selected for the higher-end events. • The PR program of the RCACCs and the CCM in general and specifically where I live “sucks”. As a senior graduating cadet, I ask: “why weren’t we (senior cadets) involved?” • I know there is a need for ‘structure’ and routine at my corps and summer camp, but I have determined that it drives away newbies, who do not want to be yelled and screamed at. I can also tell you that it can be worse at summer camp, because the staff comes from differing backgrounds/approaches. Our Raison d’Etre and His/Her Environment

17. WHAT ARMY CADETS ARE TELLING EACH OTHER & ME • I can also tell you that the ‘Coolness’ factor does exist – those of us who stay have worked around it in our own ways; others quit. • I think the Army Cadet program should have attracted more of my friends. • I want to be heard and treated seriously. My opinion counts. • As a senior cadet, I am very positive and appreciative about what the CCM and what Army Cadets has done for me. I am concerned about the program remaining relevant and the reducing size of my cadet corps. I do not want to see Army Cadets becoming another ‘youth’ program or Boy Scouts. I don’t know how to fix the problems, but I am willing to help. Our Raison d’Etre and His/Her Environment

18. WHAT CAN THE ACLC DO?? • One size does not fit all. BUT you MUST BELIEVE that you can achieve results, successes locally. Small victories – keep plugging away. • Involvement is more than attending ACRs. • Work with uniformed leaders – generally younger • Become working boards of volunteers, rather than presence & governance boards • Use your access, age and maturity – your Rolodexes to Constituency Build • Use cadets as spokespersons. PROUDLY Expose OUR PRODUCT • Take a cadet with you to Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary, etc • PROMOTE ……. REINFORCE SUCCESS Our Team and its Challenges

19. WHAT CAN THE ACLC DO?? • Your involvement (successful involvement) is essential. You are the community FROM which the cadet comes. • REIGNITE YOURSELVES, RECOMMIT TO THIS NATIONAL NOBLE ENDEAVOUR I would suggest that each Branch needs to work on succession planning – you have to find and groom your replacements. Otherwise the situation is stagnant and unhealthy. • REACH BACK – KIDS DON’T REACH FORWARD • IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU & ME – ITS ABOUT YOU AND YOUNG CANADIANS Our Team and its Challenges

20. Army Cadets Chose the Wording on the Colonel Commandant’s Coin “PROGRAM BUY-IN” or “MAINTAINING RELEVANCY and CONNECTION”

21. Here is a tribute to all the adult leaders in the Army Cadet Leagues who have been fearless and learned to use the computer and other new technologies to keep in touch with and relevant to next generations ...........  You are cool !!! 

22. THE COMPUTER SWALLOWED MY GRANDPA. YES, HONESTLY ITS TRUE!! HE PRESSED ‘CONTROL’ AND ‘ENTER’ AND DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW. IT DEVOURED HIM COMPLETELY. THE THOUGHT JUST MAKES ME SQUIRM. HE MUST HAVE CAUGHT A VIRUS OR BEEN EATEN BY A WORM.   I‘VE SEARCHED THROUGH THE RECYCLE BIN AND FILES OF EVERY KIND; I‘VE EVEN USED THE INTERNET, BUT NOTHING DID I FIND. IN DESPARATION, I HAVE ASKED JEEVES MY SEARCHES TO REFINE. THE REPLY FROM HIM WAS NEGATIVE, NOT A THING WAS FOUND ‘ONLINE.’ SO, IF INSIDE YOUR ‘INBOX,’ MY GRANPA YOU SHOULD SEE, PLEASE ‘COPY, SCAN’ AND ‘PASTE’ HIM AND SEND HIM BACK TO ME.