Something for Air Cadets to look up to

For a photo gallery of the event click here.

A young group of air cadets were given something to look up to on Saturday morning at their ceremonial review.

The Prince Albert Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadrons #38’s reviewing officer, Major A.J. ‘Hazno’ Faith, took time out of his busy schedule – which includes heading out to Kuwait for a six-month mission – to attend the ceremony.

Faith started as an air cadet in Lloydminster. He earned his pilot wings in Moose Jaw and in 2010 to 2011 he flew in combat and peacetime operations for the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

For the past three years he’s been the combat operations officer for the tactical fighter training squadron in Cold Lake, Alta. and is heading back overseas in early June.

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Faith will be Operation Impact’s task force flight safety officer in Kuwait.

The impressive officer made sure to relate to the cadets as he spoke about when he was in their shoes growing up. He wore a wedge just like theirs – however, he was quick to point out he had to borrow one when he got here because Faith had left his in Cold Lake.

Faith said it felt like “just yesterday that I was donning the uniform… painfully waiting for the old guy to finish his speech, in an uncomfortable uniform. Now I’m the old guy, and my uniform is still uncomfortable. And I’m still forgetting my hat.”

The receptive audience laughed at his numerous jokes.

It was a special day in many ways for Faith.

“Today (Saturday) is the first time that I’ve put on my new uniform. I just got promoted last week, so first time with the new stripes, it’s got, probably, the new rank smell to it. So that’s new for me as well. And today is my first day of pre-deployment leave before I head over to Kuwait, where it really is hot – if you think this is hot, it’s very hot there,” he said.

It’s an eventful year for the Prince Albert squadron, which is celebrating its 75th year, after a flight training school was established at the Prince Albert Airport in July 1940.

He pointed out the exciting times ahead, for some Air Cadets who are moving on from high school, or who have big life decisions looming.

Faith’s three pieces of advice were this: to love yourself; make sure to find a balance of work and relaxing; and find something you love doing- which for him is flying.

Two of the cadets will spend part of their summer at national camps.

Aircraft issues

While the proud parents of the young cadets didn’t appear too bothered, there was one hiccup in the ceremony.

A de Havilland DH-82C Tiger Moth – which is what the flight training school in 1940 used in Prince Albert – that’s part of the Saskatchewan Aviation Historical Society was meant to fly in on Saturday morning.

However, after 18 hours of trying to repair an engine issue, its pilot was unable to get it off the ground and fly in to Prince Albert.

Instead, they had a police prisoner transport aircraft on display.

The Prairie Heritage Airshow Society’s Bob Spracklin, who also MC’d the ceremony, pointed out the 2015 Air Fair at Prince Albert Airport will have many Tiger Moths on display.

For more information check out the Prairie Heritage Air Show Society’s website here.

Or the Saskatchewan Aviation Historical Society here.

claskowski@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk