For the awestruck cadets of , the presence of Lt.-Col. Mike French as the guest reviewing officer at their 55th annual ceremonial review was an opporutnity of a lifetime.
They had the chance to meet a fighter pilot who currently commands the Snowbirds air demonstration team.
For French, it was a chance to revisit his youth, both as a former cadet with 746 squadron and a former student at Brookswood Secondary, where the review took place.
鈥淚t takes me back and it reminds me how old I am, really,鈥� he said, smiling.
It was 29 years ago that French graduated from Brookswood and 鈥渟tepped off the parade square鈥� on his last annual inspection with 746.
鈥淭o come back to my old high school with my old air cadet squadron is just a real treat,鈥� French said.
A former Brookswood resident, French is the current commanding office of the Snowbird squadron based in Saskatchewan.
He got there, he said, because he joined the cadets.
鈥淚 knew cadets would give me the skills that I needed for where I wanted to go,鈥� French told the 91原创 Advance Times.
鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to be a fighter pilot, and I wanted to be a Snowbird, and cadets didn鈥檛 let me down.鈥�
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He flew out for the ceremony, on a three-leg trip, the last coming in low from Kelowna because he thought it would be a good opportunity to practise low-altitude flying for the flypasts performed by the Snowbirds.
French said even for those who aren鈥檛 passionately devoted to flying, becoming a cadet offers plenty of opportunities to pursue interests and refine skills.
He was referring to his tour of a static display by some of the 746 cadets that featured cadets interested in pursuits such as public speaking, athleticism biathlon, and photography.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to love aviation to become an air cadet,鈥� French said. 鈥淭here are all sorts of other things that you can get involved in.鈥�
His mother, Sheila French, watched with pride as her son conducted the inspection of the squadron before an audience of more than 200 guests and dignitaries.
鈥淗e has exceeded even his wildest dreams, I think,鈥� she said.
French is the youngest of two children, born into a military family, where his dad served 鈥� as did several relatives.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really proud of him because he believes in what he鈥檚 doing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 hope the kids know that what he鈥檚 saying is from the heart.鈥�
He flew out for the ceremony, on a three-leg trip, the last coming in low from Kelowna because he thought it would be a good opportunity to practise low-altitude flying for the flypasts performed by the Snowbirds.
French said even for those who aren鈥檛 passionately devoted to flying, becoming a cadet offers plenty of opportunities to pursue interests and refine skills.
He was referring to his tour of a static display by some of the 746 cadets that featured cadets interested in pursuits such as public speaking, athleticism biathlon, and photography.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to love aviation to become an air cadet,鈥� French said. 鈥淭here are all sorts of other things that you can get involved in.鈥�
His mother, Sheila French, watched with pride as her son conducted the inspection of the squadron before an audience of more than 200 guests and dignitaries.
鈥淗e has exceeded even his wildest dreams, I think,鈥� she said.
French is the youngest of two children, born into a military family, where his dad served 鈥� as did several relatives.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really proud of him because he believes in what he鈥檚 doing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 hope the kids know that what he鈥檚 saying is from the heart.鈥�
The annual ceremonial review gives cadets, between ages 12 and 19, a chance to display skills they鈥檝e learned in the past year to representatives of the Canadian legion, department of national defence, RCMP, family, and friends.
More photos of the event can be.
Based in 91原创, but serving the Fraser Valley, the 746 Lightning Hawk Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron has close to 140 cadets, eight Canadian Forces officers, and a parent sponsoring committee.
Each cadet has the chance to participate in flight activities, and some top senior cadets may even earn a scholarship to obtain their private pilot鈥檚 licence.
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Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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