Why Do We Do Cadets at King’s-Edgehill School?

This past Wednesday, September 6, the 254 formed up on the Tanna Turf for the first day of Cadets for the new school year at King’s-Edgehill. Our new Commanding Officer Captain James Skafte took command of his Corps. He was accompanied by a new addition to the Corps, Captain Logan Morse who joined us as the Unit Training Officer. In addition, the Corps hosted our Head of School, Mr. Joe Seagram, our Deputy Head of School, School Life, Ms. Vanessa Wade, our Deputy Head of School Academics, Mr. Derek Bouwman and our Junior School Director, and the Corps’ biggest fan, Mrs. Taya Shields.

Why so many dignitaries gathered in one place? This was the first day of Cadets for the year and also the day to recognize those Cadets who did exceedingly well the previous year and reward them with promotions within the Corps. Now the 254 is a large Corps by Cadet standards. We parade 374 all ranks. This year we promoted 62 Master Corporals, 82 Sergeants, 34 Warrant Officers, 10 Master Warrant Officers and one Chief Warrant Officer. Leadership is a big deal in the 254. The Chief Warrant Officer, Elizabeth Hardy ‘24 holds the appointment of Regimental Sergeant Major of the 254. RSM Hardy, assisted by her Drill Sergeant Major, MWO Fox Sullivan ’24, has the demanding task of employing her Leadership Team in controlling the movement and training of the entire Corps. They account for their whereabouts, teach the Cadet lessons, and motivate them to be better members of the Corps and the school student body.

The Cadet life at the 254 is exciting. This year the Corps will participate in canoeing, archery, weapons training using air rifles, navigation using map and compass, public speaking including method of instruction, and many other interesting and exciting activities. They will ride bicycles, learn to tie knot lashings, and participate in first aid training. They will hike Mount Moses and participate in the overhead climbing park at Ontree.

By the time you have read this article, our Grade 9 class will have undergone basic training for the bronze level award of the Duke of Edinburgh program and hiked Cape Split as their first major tasking. This past summer Warrant Officer Sierra Phillips ‘25 travelled to Canadian Forces Base Gagetown where she trained as a sport and fitness instructor. Sergeant Andrew Klein ‘27 travelled to 14 Wing Greenwood where he participated in the Year Two Cadet Activity Program.

Why am I detailing out all these activities? Cadets is an integral part of life at King’s-Edgehill School. Concurrent with athletics, academics, the arts and leadership, Cadets is part of the fabric which makes the School experience truly wonderful. Each and every week I receive calls or emails from parents informing me that their child will be missing Cadets. I find this truly unfortunate because these students are missing out on this opportunity to leave the classroom and have lots of fun in the outdoor environment of the campus and the surrounding area. The experiences they gain and the relationships they build are invaluable. The activities they miss and the opportunities that slip away because of missing cadets cannot be retrieved. The rewards are substantial when they attend Cadets.

In my final days associated with the Crops, I appeal to the parents to go the distance with the Corps and make every effort to ensure that your child is available on Wednesday afternoon. Try to schedule your appointment on another day and give your child the opportunity to participate in this exciting aspect of school life. Watch their transformation and feel the pride in their accomplishments.

Wednesday, best day of the week. What a great day to be a Cadet in the 254.