About Us
Organization
The Air Cadet Organization is possible through a partnership between the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces and the Air Cadet League of Canada. On 9 April 1941, the Air Cadet League received a Dominion Charter. This Charter officially established the Air Cadet League.
Below the National level, both DND and the ACL have subordinate groups at a Provincial or Regional level, then at an Area or Zone level and then locally at the Squadron level.
Locally, the Squadron Commanding Officer and the Squadron Sponsoring Committee Chairperson work together to produce a dynamic, fun and interesting program for the Cadets.
Generally speaking, Cadets who have a question or issue can speak with any person in any of these positions
Squadrons tend to encourage Cadets follow the 'Chain of Command'. That is, for them to report to their Flight Sergeant or the Squadron Warrant Officer (essentially their supervisor). If they do not get a resolution, Cadets are free to speak with any of the Squadron Staff.
The typical Squadron Organization Chart will look something like this:
Personel
StaffSenior CadetsThe staff are responsible for running the Squadron's administration, supply, mandatory and optional training activities. The current staff members of 85 Squadron are:
Captain Darren White - Commanding Officer
The senior cadets are instructors as well as hold parade positions. Cadets with rank are called Non Commissioned Members (NCM for short).
The senior NCMs in 85 Squadron are as follows:
Warrant Officer 2nd Class James Gray - Instructor Warrant Officer 2nd Class Dennis Greenwood - Instructor Warrant Officer 2nd Class Aliya Kelly - Instructor Warrant Officer 2nd Class April Messam - Instructor Warrant Officer 2nd Class Sufyan Suleiman - Instructor
A basic requirement in the operation of an Air Cadet squadron is financial support. The Canadian Forces provides some personnel, equipment and financial support to Cadet units. The remaining requirements must be met by local sponsorship. Local sponsorhip is coordinated by the Air Cadet League of Canada in the form of a Squadron Sponsoring Committee (SSC).
There are no registration fees, dues or costs for the uniforms or the basic Cadet training. Cadets and parents are encouraged to participate in fundraising on behalf of the local sponsor and League to cover those costs not covered by the Canadian Forces. Additionally, the Sponsor Us - Become a Sponsor page describes how people can financially support the Squadron.
The official sponsor of 85 Tornado Squadron is the Grand Valley Lions Club. The Squadron is fortunate to have an active Sponsoring Committee, which is comprised of the parents of cadets, Lions Club Members and other community minded adults.
If you are interested in donating time, money or other support to 85 Sqn, please contact us.
The current Sponsoring Committee members are:
The current Parents Committee members are:
Training
There are 2 types of Cadet Training:Local Squadron Training is conducted at Air Cadet Squadrons in communities across Canada from September through June - mirroring the normal academic school year.
Summer Training takes place in July and August at Cadet Summer Training Centres across Canada and at destinations around the world.
Training - Local
The Cadet training program is defined nationally by the Directorate of Cadets in Ottawa. The program is broken down into 5 years of training. Each year the subjects are studied in greater detail and pose challenges to the Cadets.
Cadets in the higher levels put their knowledge and skills to practice by taking on instructional and leadership roles.
The core training is conducted on a weekly training night. Additional training and optional activities are conducted on other evenings and weekends.
The subjects taught are called 'Performance Objectives' or PO for short. POs taught during the first year as a Cadet will include:
Training Details for 85 Squadron:
The Sqn conducts weekly training at the Grand Valley Public School at 120 Main Street North in Grand Valley, Ontario. The weekly training is conducted from September through June on Tuesday evenings from 1830hrs (6:30pm) through 2130hrs (9:30pm). The evening schedule is as follows:
1830-1840 Fall-in, Attendance and Inspection
1840-1845 Opening & Announcements (Parents please come to listen to announcements)
1845-1850 Dismiss to class
1850-1920 First Period
1920-1950 Second Period
1950-2020 Break (Canteen)
2020-2050 Third Period
2100 Closing parade
2130 Dismissal
Tuesday Training is considered 'mandatory'. Attendance at "mandatory events" is just that - mandatory. If you cannot attend call the Sqn to be excused.
INCLEMENT WEATHER:
Please note the Squadron policy on Inclement Weather: a) Should a Cadet event need to be cancelled due to weather conditions, Cadets will be notified via a post on the Squadrons Facebook page. As well, a bulk text message will be sentout to all participants registered on Remind101.
b) Regardless of the Sqn event scheduled, if you deem the driving conditions where you are to be unsafe for travel - do NOT risk it. Call the Sqn to be excused.Training - Summer
The Cadet Summer Training options are designed to expand on training received at the Squadron level.
As the details for the summer course options are released, they will be published for all of Canada on the National Cadets website.
