FOR PARENTS
Addressing Concerns
All concerns will be treated with respect and professionalism as per the values of the Cadet Program.
As parents, you should:
-
have a contact number for the commanding officer or a member of the staff;
-
ensure that your child has a number for the senior cadet in their section;
-
bring concerns to the attention of the commanding officer as soon as possible
-
make an appointment. Parade nights are busy and staff may not get a chance to meet with you.
If you leave a telephone message at the unit, it may take a week or more to receive a response because cadet instructors work part-time at the unit.
Consider getting more involved
Cadets is not only for youth, but it is also an exciting opportunity for adults to get more involved. Perhaps you have some spare time and would like to help out. There are many opportunities.
-
Become a cadet instructor. Be part of a proud tradition and put your experience and skills to use. No military or cadet experience is required.
-
Volunteer your time. Any contribution is welcome, from a few minutes to a few hours. There are always things to do, such as filing, car-pooling, fundraising and supervising the cadets.
-
Join the sponsoring committee. This civilian committee supports your cadet unit by funding extra activities such as cultural tours, by assisting with administrative support to the unit, and by promoting the Cadet Program in your community.
-
Speak with the commanding officer or the sponsoring committee chair on how best to contribute and to learn about our screening procedures.
COSTS
There are no enrolment or registration fees. Basic activities of the Cadet Program are covered. Uniforms and boot are provided at no cost. Cadets selected for summer camps attend at no cost.
Costs for child
Cadets are responsible for covering:
-
haircuts, care of their uniform and boots (cleaning and shoe polish);
-
lunch or snacks during certain activities;
-
their share of costs for special social events, such as a movie or dance, organized at the local level.
Cadets are also expected to participate in fundraising activities.
Costs for parents
Parents are encouraged to participate in fundraising on behalf of the local sponsor and League to cover those costs not covered by the Canadian Armed Forces.
The sponsoring committee may ask for donations to reduce the requirement for fundraising. Such donations may be tax deductible.
Medical coverage and insurance
Cadets who participate in cadet activities are covered under their provincial health care plans, but if a cadet is injured during a cadet activity, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will provide emergency treatment.
In certain circumstances, the CAF may provide long-term medical treatment, for an injury related to cadet activity. Furthermore, cadets may be covered by the insurance policies carried by their respective League (i.e. Navy League, Army Cadet League, or Air Cadet League).
These policies may respond to other medical claims resulting from cadet activity and which are not covered by the provincial plans and/or the parent's personal medical coverage.
If your child is injured during a cadet activity, you should:
-
Forward any medical or ambulance bills associated with the injury to the commanding officer.
-
With the exception of emergency care, do not initiate any medical or dental treatment for which you will request reimbursement prior to receiving proper authorization.
Cadets are entitled to request a copy of the medical report.
Personal information
The Privacy Act protects the privacy of individuals and provides them with a right of access to their own personal information.
Personal information held by the Cadet Program is used to support your child's participation and progress in the program and is available only to authorized persons who need it.
Personal information such as a cadet's home address, training progress and attendance must be available to staff in considering rank advancement, eligibility for summer training, or parental contact in the event of an emergency. Access to basic details of potentially life-threatening medical conditions allows staff of the Cadet Program to quickly respond to emergency situations.
Electronic records are maintained in secure databases, and disclosure of the information will be done only in strict accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act.
A cadet may access their file at any time.
Roles and responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities for the Cadet Program are shared locally between the cadet corps staff (military) and the support committee (civilian).
Cadet corps staff are comprised of members of the Cadet Instructors Cadre, who are part-time Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) officers responsible for all aspects of training and administration at the cadet corps. Other CAF members and civilian instructors may also be members of the local staff.
Support committees are community-level organizations that coordinate community support for Cadets. Their exact make-up varies and can include interested parents, community members, service clubs, town councils and corporations.
They are responsible for providing suitable accommodations for cadet training and activities, promoting the Cadet Program to the community, fundraising and managing funds for activities that the CAF does not financially support.
The local support committee is chartered by the Army Cadet League, a civilian organization partnered with the CAF.
Safe environment
The Cadet Program is committed to ensuring the safety and security of every cadet and to providing a respectful environment that promotes fair and equal treatment. Harassment in any form is an unacceptable behaviour.
All cadets and adults working with the Cadet Program have the right to be treated with respect and dignity in an environment free of harassment and have the responsibility to treat others the same way.
Each cadet receives training in conflict management skills, including education on their role in preventing harassment in the Cadet Program.