The formation of the 3006 Army Cadet Corps

With the completion of the Cenotaph, on the 28th June 1983, a new project was proposed, which would take center stage, and become the focus of the Association's long term commitment, from that day forward, the formation of a cadet corps in the Town of Dieppe. At the meeting, Brig-General Owen Lockyer stated, that the Minister of National Defence could furnish the cadet uniforms and that the Association and the Town of Dieppe, could sponsor the cadet formation. All that would be needed would be an active recruitment program, inviting young people aged 13 to 18 to join.

On the 6th of July 1983, the Association decided to proceed, with the organization of an army cadet corps under the direction of Lorenzo Caissie and Bob Brown. At the meeting on the 3rd of August, 1983, Brigadier-General Owen Lockyer proposed, that the cadet corps of Dieppe, be affiliated with the 8th Canadian Hussars, Princess Louise's. In October 1983, the Association placed an advertisement, which was published in the newspapers, inviting young boys and girls to join the cadet corps and a month later, in November of that year, a recruitment campaign was started in the Dieppe schools. A year later, in the autumn of 1984, the Minister of National Defence officially recognized the cadet corps, and designated the them as the "3006 Dieppe Canadian Army Cadet Corps".

From the original 12 boys and girls in 1984, now in 1990,under the command of Captain Larry Comeau, the cadet corps quickly grew to over 70 members by 1994, in time for the 10th anniversary of the cadet corps, which was inspected by the Honorable Gilbert Finn, Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick. Under Captain Comeau's command, the 3006 Dieppe Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps quickly became one of the best cadet corps in New Brunswick, and the only bilingual cadet corps in the province.

The cadet corps' objectives are to promote Canadian citizenship,leadership, physical fitness, participate in community events, and stimulate an interest in the Canadian Armed Forces. The cadet corps also instills a sense of discipline, pride, and community awareness in young people. Since 1985, cadets have participated in training sessions, in order to assist people in disasters, search and rescue, first aid, community patrols, traffic control and other activities that serve the Town of Dieppe and its citizens.

In addition, the cadet corps participates in summer training programs, in camps across Canada, memorial ceremonies, environmental activities, such as organizing  a clean-up day for the Town of Dieppe, and the shredding of Christmas trees, and their community projects such as assisting the Legion poppy sale campaign, the veterans' bingo, and other fundraising events, visits were made to the veterans, at the George Dumont Hospital, and in the collection of food contributions, before Christmas in support of the soup kitchens in the community.

There is an international dimension to being a cadet. In the spirit of the United Nations Peace Project, cadets send post cards to soldiers, from many countries serving in a peace keeping role. Many of our cadets have participated in international exchanges. During the summer of 1992, cadet Tina Doucet was the first Dieppe cadet, to participate in such an exchange spending three weeks in England, on an adventurer training program; in 1994 cadet Nicholas Bourgeois took part in a parachute course, in France and cadet Marc Gautreau traveled to Paris, Grenoble, and elsewhere in France. There have been a large number of these exchanges since 1995, far too numerous to list however, the contributions to the betterment of our young people, and their service to the community, are a shining example of their commitment to the people of Dieppe, and their sponsor, the Dieppe Military Veterans' Association.

The future of the 3006 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps looks very bright, however it depends solely on the combined efforts of the greater community, and especially the Dieppe Military Veterans' Association Inc., who are deeply committed, devoted and proud to be associated with the cadet program.