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VIEW FROM THE CROWSNEST
THE OFFICIAL #189 NLCC OROMOCTO NB NEWSLETTER

VOLUME 1, NUMBER 1
JANUARY 2001

FROM THE CAPTAIN’S CABIN:
(Midshipman (Navy League) Anthony R. Beresford CPSM, CD, Commanding Officer 357-7463)

   Greetings and welcome into the official new millennium. Well, here we are, a new corps and into our tenth week. Things are moving along well for us considering some of the difficulties we have experienced trying to establish a normal routine. As any sailor can tell you, being part of a commissioning crew is a very special event in their naval career. The experience and challenges are just as momentous for the cadets at NLCC OROMOCTO. Our warrant was finally granted early last November making us only the second Navy League Cadet Corps in New Brunswick. The other corps is in Quispamsis, just North East of St. John. It has been in existence just over 20 years while the Navy League Cadet program has just turned 50 years last year.
   Our current complement is 5 Officers and 30 Cadets. This is composed of a Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Training Officer, Administrative Officer and a Sports Officer. We also have several expert volunteers to assist in sail training, air rifle range and in the stores department. We have currently capped our cadet complement to 30 for financial reasons but hopefully that will be alleviated in the spring. They are predominately 10 years of age with a ratio of 3 to 1 male to female. The officer cadre is mixed gender so that proper supervision will be easily maintained.
   Parents should be reminded that the Corps is wholly funded by donations made to the Navy League Branch on behalf of the Corps. DND, and the government, covers no cost at all. All officers are volunteers receiving no remuneration or wages. Uniforms, transportation, training aids, and accommodations all come from the unit fund. The Navy League Branch also supports the Sea Cadet Corps for training requirements beyond the government’s conditional grant. We are not a babysitting service and parents are expected to give their support to the Navy League Branch.
I am hoping that this newsletter will be the first of many. Instead of rambling on about regulations and funding, I will reserve my comments for our cadet’s performance up to this point. During Remembrance Day this past November, being only our third day together as a group, we had the good fortune to be placed beside the wreaths immediately to the right of the cenotaph. This was my own 27th service that I had participated in, having joined Sea Cadets in 1974. From our position the cadets had a ringside seat for the entire proceedings. The Legion Colour Guard, as well as the Official Party (including the Base Commander) was to our immediate front. Both groups were profuse in their complements about our cadet’s conduct during the entire proceedings. If this is any gage of our corps future, then I see a long and illustrious career ahead for this corps. In naval jargon they did a fine job, Bravo Zulu!

EXECUTIVE BREIFS:
(CF Volunteer CPL Hendrick van der Pol, CPSM, CD, Executive Officer, 357-0984)

The Executive officer is charged with the responsibility of maintaining good order and service discipline within the Cadet Corps. As a corps in the Navy League movement we are bound by the regulations as laid out in the NL (8) E dated 18 JUN 99. These are made under the authority of the National Council. All cadets and their parents are encouraged to follow the chain of command which is, in short, their Watch Petty Officer, their Watch Officer, the Duty Officer, the XO, then the CO, depending on the nature and importance of their problem.
When a Cadet is alleged to have committed some misconduct, the cadet is to be brought before the Officer on Duty. This will begin disciplinary proceedings that include, but are not limited to the following: reprimand (in private with another officer present), withdrawal of privileges for an appropriate period, extra duties, extra drill, exclusion from participating in a corps excursion or extra curricular activity, exclusion from any planned summer camps, demotion in rank, or release. Considering factors would be time in Corps (familiarity with rules), external factors, previous conduct, consistency of punishment, and due fairness. Physical fitness will not be used as a punishment.
Cadets have been briefed on what consists of acceptable behavior. Un acceptable categories of misbehavior would include: AWOL, deception, dirtiness and untidiness, substance abuse, neglect or avoidance of duties, offence against good order, insubordination, fighting, theft, vandalism, fire, improper use of uniform, and improper use of emergency equipment. A conduct sheet will be kept in the cadet’s personal file but parents normally will not be informed unless it is a severe infraction. We are lodged in borrowed facilities and must maintain due care at all times lest we end up literally out in the cold.

OPS and TRAINING:
(Acting Sub Lieutenant (Navy League) Rene Hansen, 357-6422)

The revised national training syllabus for Navy League cadets was due for release last November just as he corps was forming. It, however, has not been forthcoming causing us to rely heavily on the past experience of our instructors and on portions of the old Navy League and new Sea Cadet plans. As a result our cadets are nearing the end of the New Entry phase and will become Ordinary Cadets when their uniforms arrive hopefully within the month. Based on the old plan they should be writing their Able Cadet rank exam near end April.
Ceremonial Divisions are slated for the first Thursday of the month while fun nights (usually involving sports) will be the last Thursday. All other scheduled nights are regular training nights. All nights begin with opening ceremonies being held at 6:30 PM, so cadets are requested to arrive 15 minutes prior in good military fashion. Closing ceremonies will be at 8:30 with a Duty Watch cleanup completed 15 minutes later. Duty watch is rotated every 4 weeks. All cadets are rotated through the command positions to carry out small party tasks.
We have had our first donation to the corps of a sailboat by a lady in Fredericton. We also have a permanent loan of new videotapes dealing with our Canadian Maritime heritage. It is hoped we will be able to tie these in with our proposed summer training. Our training plan hinges on the amount of money raised by the parents support group for the Navy League Branch.

SHIPS WRITER:
(Civilian Instructor Deborah A. Allan 450-6122)

All parents are reminded that the personal notification, medical survey and volunteer survey are to be returned prior to the end of the month. A failure to complete these forms will cause your young cadet to sit out during sport training as we will not have enough medical information in case of an emergency. Anyone wishing to submit an article for the newsletter should have it in before the end of the month also.

No.1 NAVAL STORES:

Good news!!! The first 30 uniforms are on their way. Once the damage was done the grand total costs were: National Grant of 50% of first 25 =$1592, Division Grant for first 25 =$1000, with the Branch total being $1245. Each Cadet uniform costs $130 taxes inc. The next 15 New Entries will cost approx $2000, and the officer’s uniforms are still outstanding. We are hoping to begin a cadet canteen to allow cadets a chance to buy refreshments and raise money towards a party fund.

SPORTS TABLOID:

Our first fun night was the ship’s company Christmas party held at the Base Bowling Alley. This successful event was paid for out of the Officer’s pockets and was at a discount thanks to the generosity of Griffin’s Pub. A special thanks goes out to the parents who donated treats to round out the night.
Our next is tentatively scheduled for the end of January at the Base Fitness Center. Negotiations are still on going as we have no official status on base and therefore do not fall under DND or the Rec Association. An agreement in principal has been reached and may involve the cleaning of the Rec Associations canoes in the spring or something of that nature.

SPONSORS and PATRONS:
(Oromocto Navy League Branch President Evelyn Murdock 458-9692)

Our first Tag Day, held 8 December, was very successful bringing in over $1000. These funds were required to pay for our first uniforms. Donations have been recently received in order to purchase flags and other equipment from the Oromocto Legion Ladies Auxiliary, and the Royal Canadian Naval Veterans Association. Pro-Am Outfitters on Hanwell road has pledged some surplus clothing to aid our quest. The maritime Club has offered to sponsor a BON AMI trophy, and the Oromocto RCMP has expressed an interest in sponsoring a Proficiency award. A presentation was also made to the Oromocto Lion’s Club and cash support will be forthcoming in the spring as well as sponsoring a community service award. Any parents with contacts in other service clubs, or business enterprises are encouraged to make contacts for the purpose of fundraising, prize or equipment donations The cadets will be bringing home fund raising items in the near future. Our summer goal is $10,000 in order to get a summer trip in. Please contact the Commanding Officer or Branch President with your names for your support.