This summer, cadet Warrant Officer Mitchel DeYoung will be heading over to Bisley, England to compete in the Imperial Meeting, as a member of the Royal Canadian Army Cadet National Rifle Team (RCACNRT).
DeYoung has proven that he has the skills to compete at the international level for large bore marksmanship shooting. At the end of June, along with 17 of his peers, he will meet at Connaught National Army Cadet Summer Training Centre (CNACSTC), to partake in final practices. The team will fly out of Ottawa/Macdonald–Cartier International Airport on June 27, in anticipation of competing against hundreds of other individuals from across the world, in Bisley.
"You were not just picked out of hat – you all earned your position on the National Rifle Team," said Lt.-Col. Robert Barrette, Commanding Officer of CNACSTC. While recognizing their skills, Barrette noted that, “You will not only be representing your unit, hometown, or home-province, but also your family and yourself – what a privilege.”
The army cadet program offers safe and fun fullbore marksmanship training, during the summer months, at CNACSTC. The cadets from across Canada, who are elected to participate in these specialized courses, are taught the necessary theoretical, technical, and practical skills required to participate as a large bore competitor. While learning all of these new techniques in their marksmanship training, the cadets develop transferable, career-enhancing skills, such as patience, determination, leadership and teamwork.
“I’m looking forward to the matches and spending time with the team over in England”, said DeYoung. “For those who want to eventually be a member of the RCAC NRT, be sure you listen to your coaches and always try your best.”
CNACSTC is a specialized cadet summer training centre, located in the west-end of Ottawa at Connaught Ranges and Primary Training Centre. It is home to 500 cadets over the course of the summer months as well as 60 staff members. The training centre’s mandate is to develop both strong leadership and marksmanship skills in all the cadets attending summer training.