Lindsay Army Cadets build confidence, leadership, and lifelong bonds

The Lindsay Army Cadets is a free program for youth aged 12-18 that takes place every Tuesday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Victoria Park Armory. Those enrolled leave with a wide range of skills including leadership, communication, discipline, survival, camping and expedition.

Captain Donna Stam started volunteering with cadets more than 20 years ago when her daughter first joined. “I knew nothing about it, and I figured I’ll just volunteer while she’s here.”

The reason she’s stayed? Seeing how the kids enrolled are positively affected. “It’s an awesome program to see how some of the cadets that come through this program come in as timid and shy and unsure of themselves and then exit four or five years later self-assured with some authority and self-esteem and confidence in themselves,” Stam said.

One of those kids is Second Lieutenant Julie O’Connor’s son, Davis. “It helps (kids) come out of their shell a little bit.” She says for kids like her son, who is a bit shy, his confidence has increased a great deal. He achieved the rank of company sergeant major, the second highest designation.

Davis was part of the program for six years and is now a volunteer. “I’m glad to come back as a volunteer and to basically do the same thing for the younger generation and make sure they have a good experience.”

One memory that really stood out to him was the opportunity to go camping in Blacktown. Every year cadets have a chance to go to camp, with older students getting the chance to attend for three weeks. Like everything else in cadets, it’s entirely free and youth get the chance to actually make money, taking home $10 for everyday they’re at the camp.

“We went hiking, we went camping. We basically did a little bit of everything, like band and drill. Then the following year, I went back to Blacktown for my three-week sports and fitness,” Davis said.

“I highly recommend for cadets…try it out. It’s a good experience.”

Stam seconds the sentiment, saying that the connections cadets make will stay with them for a lifetime. Her daughter met her now husband at one of her camp experiences.

The other enticing feature is that the program is entirely free. “The cadets pay for nothing. Their uniforms are loaned to them. Our training is fully covered. We raise money for year-end trips to buy equipment, but again, they pay no money,” Stam said.

O’Connor is a single mom and she said this program was a lifesaver for her. “It is a really good program for youth if they’re shy or don’t find the right fit in high school. It’s nice for them to find another, smaller group of individuals who have the same common interests,” she said.

She knew right away that she wanted to get as much involved as she possibly could. “I was just so overwhelmed that (Davis) got all this support, all this equipment was given to him to be successful, and it didn’t cost me anything,” O’Connor said.

The program also prepares them for the future by equipping them with a variety of skills. “It gets them on a schedule. It’s all those basic, basic life skills,” Stam said.

Commanding officer, Captain Darrin Leuty finds the program rewarding for the kids who participate. “My big picture here is to train and develop kids for the challenges of tomorrow, because they are going to be our leaders of tomorrow.”

It also adds a new level of responsibility that some youth have never had to deal with. All communication goes directly to the cadets so it’s up to them to make sure they’re following what needs to be done. If they show up in the wrong uniform, it’s on them. “I don’t communicate with your mom. I communicate with you. This is now your responsibility,” Stam said.

Kids in the cadet program often are also involved in school extra-circulars as well, but Leuty finds this program to be different. “This just offers a little bit more structure, a little bit more discipline, and it is what you put into it,” he said.

Kiera Bishop is the current company sergeant major, something that she never thought she would reach. “I joined because I was having some mental health problems and thought it would be a good way to get me out of my shell.”

She’s now made friends that she says will last a lifetime and has learned that hard work does pay off. “Even though I was scared and really nervous, I kept on coming back because I knew that one day if I worked hard enough people would see it.”

While the program does give participants the skills to join the Canadian Armed Forces, “we are not recruiting for the army. We give them skills and knowledge of military history and uniforms and some of the procedures, we expose them to the possibility, but we are not recruiting them for the army,” Stam said.

“Our main purpose is to promote the program and to develop great Canadians,” she continued.

While they are strict with the kids, it’s again done in a way to make sure they learn. “We try to keep it strict but fair. There’s consequences when things don’t happen, but it’s more of like what have you learned from this? What can we do next? As opposed to give me 20 pushups,” O’Connor said.

Stam says the program is also very understanding of other things going on in the lives of cadets. If someone has to take a leave of absence to focus on school or they’re dealing with a family issue, “when they come back, they don’t start over. There’s always the opportunity to take a leave, take a breath, and then come back.”

While it can be an overwhelming experience, O’Connor is quick to point out that cadets are never alone. “There’s always staff available. There are always senior cadets that can say, look I’ve been where you are,” she said.

Every volunteer involved is there because they enjoy it. “it is a labour of love, and we believe in the program and that we do make a difference,” Leuty said.