As with any activity, whether it is a sports team, service group, or music lessons, what you get out of the program is directly related to what you put in. Attendance at corps training, parades, and activities is essential to being successful within the Cadet program. Your level of attendance at corps activities will directly affects your eligibility for successful completion of key program milestones and/or selection for participation in enhanced program activities or selection for honours and awards.
While we understand that the Army Cadets may not be your only extracurricular activity, cadets does require a significant time commitment. To assist you in prioritizing attendance at corps activities and to understand how attendance may affect program participation, corps activities will be classified into three categories: Mandatory, Complementary, and Optional.
It is important to note that some activities, such as tagging fundraisers are mandatory but span multiple days. Attendance at all days may not be necessary however attendance at most or some of the scheduled days may be required. If there are any questions regarding attendance requirements please directly them to through the chain of command or for parents to the corps officer staff.
Mandatory
Attendance at activities identified as ‘mandatory’ is required for all cadets. Mandatory may be further refined to specific training groups. Attendance at mandatory activities will affect the following:
- Successful completion of star level training qualifications
- Successful completion of star level training will affect eligibility for promotion
- Selection for participation at summer and advanced training programs
- Successful completion of specialized training qualifications
- Successful completion of specialized training qualifications may affect eligibility for promotion
- Selection for national and/or Corps honours and awards
- Selection for Corps parade and leadership appointments (i.e. RSM, BSM, Troop WO, Flag Party Commander etc.)
- Participation in ‘special’ Corps activities as they may arise.
- Selection for participation in competitive teams.
Complementary
Attendance at activities identified as ‘complementary’ is strongly recommended for all cadets. Complementary may be further refined to specific training groups. Attendance at complementary activities will affect the following:
- Selection for participation at summer and advanced training programs
- Selection for national and/or Corps honours and awards
- Selection for Corps parade and leadership appointments (i.e. RSM, BSM, Troop WO, Flag Party Commander etc.)
- Participation in ‘special’ Corps activities as they may arise.
Optional
Attendance at activities identified as ‘optional’ is recommended for all cadets. Attendance at optional activities will affect the following:
- Selection for Corps honours and awards
- Selection for Corps parade and leadership appointments (i.e. RSM, BSM, Troop WO, Flag Party Commander etc.)
Reporting an Absence
We understand that it won’t always be possible to attend each and every cadet activity. That said we do have an expectation for all cadets to be accountable for their own attendance, as such all cadets are required to notify us if they will not be in attendance at a Corps activity. Once reported we will note you as being excused for the activity rather than absent.
While being excused may still affect your overall attendance as outlined above, regular indications of being absent rather than being excused demonstrates a lack of personal accountability and will affect items such as:
- Selection for Corps honours and awards
- Selection for Corps parade and leadership appointments (i.e. RSM, BSM, Troop WO, Flag Party Commander etc.)
You may report an absence in one of the following ways:
- Call the cadet corps at 905-358-0081.
- Posting a message on the cadet corps Facebook page.
In all cases please include your name, rank, date of absence, and reason for absence. If you will be absent for an activity spanning multiple days, please identify which days you will be attending and which days you will be absent.
Reporting Late or Leaving Early
Sometimes it will be necessary to either report late to or leave early from a cadet activity. This will generally not be an issue, again personal accountability is essential. If you know you will be late arriving or will need to leave early please let us know as soon as possible.
Once you arrive and or before you depart you must report to the Battery Orderly Room at the Corps or to an officer if the activity is away for the Corps, so that we can track your arrival/departure accordingly.