Sign up for the paNOW newsletter

P.A. sea cadet sails on patrol vessel with Canadian Navy

Nov 10, 2017 | 9:00 AM

A Prince Albert sea cadet has returned from a deployment to British Columbia where he sailed on an Orca-class patrol vessel with the Canadian Navy.

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Mineau said the deployment gave him a real taste of life onboard a naval ship. Sailing out of Esquimalt, B.C. last month, Mineau said he had a chance to try out just about every role while learning about daily life aboard the ship. Although he had previously spent time sailing on a tall ship with the cadet program, the 18-year-old Mineau said the Orca seemed overwhelming at first.

“I went on there with a lack of confidence,” Mineau said. “I’m a drill and ceremonial instructor. I don’t get to go out on the ships.”

Mineau said his confidence quickly built as he, along with other cadets, learned and practiced the various skills required for naval life. The cadets practiced steering and navigation, served as lookouts, responded to emergency breakdowns, and even practiced rescue and response drills in dark and smoky conditions wearing full firefighting gear, Mineau said. One of the most exciting moments, he said, was practicing the man overboard drills.

“We had to launch a zodiac with a crane,” he said. “It was scary at times because we didn’t know if it was a drill or if it was real.”

Mineau, the only Prince Albert cadet on the deployment, encouraged other young people to join the program. Through hard work, he said, there are many fun opportunities to be had.

“I joined when I was nine-years-old and I moved through the ranks with responsibilities and a lot of challenges,” he said. “I’ve been working really hard to get to where I am.”

Lieutenant Navy Celine Michayluk, commanding officer of #118 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Rawalpindi, said the Prince Albert program has been a part of the city for years.

“This year we are celebrating our 75th anniversary,” she said.

Michayluk said the cadet program offers fantastic opportunities free of charge for children under 19. Prince Albert cadets get to participate in deployments and travel the country or even join exchange programs internationally, she said, and learn skills ranging from marksmanship to SCUBA-diving.

The Prince Albert sea cadet corps currently has fifteen members, Michayluk said, and are always looking to expand their ranks. Anyone interested in joining the program or helping out as a volunteer can contact her directly or stop by the Prince Albert Armoury at 7 p.m. any Thursday night.

 

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews