Cadets taste life at sea

Photo: Lt. Andrew Kerr

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Allie Webber (left) and Petty Officer 1st Class Graeme Bradford (right) on HMCS Calgary.

A couple of Kelowna sea cadets are getting a taste of life aboard a Canadian warship this week.

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Allie Webber and Petty Officer 1st Class Graeme Bradford from Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Grenville earned the chance of a lifetime after being selected for the high-profile opportunity.

The Kelowna pair were two of nine cadets selected from the 30 sea cadet programs across B.C. They're aboard the HMCS Calgary right now, and are spending the week getting a taste of what life at sea is like. 

Lt. Andrew Kerr, tells Castanet: "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to get right out on a navy ship that participates in deployments and operations all around the world."

The cadets will participate in all facets of the ship, including engineering, operations and navigation. "They'll take turns steering the ship and spend time in every department."
 
Kerr says the pair will be back in Kelowna on the weekend.
 
"The sea cadet program is a dynamic, structured program that has been life-changing to many youth in Kelowna.  Cadets participate in regular training where they develop skills such as leadership, self-confidence, communication and teamwork," says Kerr.