DIDSBURY/CARSTAIRS - A local cadet has returned to the area and will be taking over as the commanding officer of the Didsbury Army Cadets on Nov. 17.
Captain Tim Kaczmarski grew up in Carstairs and has been with the cadets almost his whole life. He jumped at the chance to return to lead his former corps.
“I will be taking over from Captain Dave Kenney,” said Kaczmarski. “He's been the officer in charge for the last four years. He was also the commanding officer from 2002-03. I'm currently the chief training officer at the cadet unit.”
Kaczmarski joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2000 as a Cadet Instructor Cadre (CIC) officer.
“We're trained to work with the cadet program,” he said. “We're involved in youth development.”
Kaczmarski currently lives in Olds with his wife. He's pleased that his new posting will allow him some time at home in the summer.
“I was a cadet in this unit back in the '90s, so I've come full circle,” he said. “I made my way through the ranks. I went on the Germany exchange in 1996. I was a staff cadet in Vernon and a staff cadet in Penhold, when it was open.”
Kaczmarski was a cadet in Didsbury from 1992 until 1998 when he turned 19 and aged out. He worked at a number of jobs in the area. He eventually returned to the cadets as a volunteer instructor after a short time away.
“They needed the help,” he said. “From there it was an application process to join the forces as an officer. I was officially sworn in in September 2000.”
Kaczmarski said he wanted to give back to the cadets. “The program gave so much to me as a youth,” he said. “I felt the need to give back.”
Kaczmarski enjoys the program and likes teaching the younger generation. “A lot of it is planning and administration,” he said. “But when you see activities go according to plan or the cadets enjoy themselves on an activity, that's payment enough. Knowing you did a good job and they're better with life skills.”
Kaczmarski received a number of accolades during his time with the cadet program. Some of the many awards he's received are the Legion Medal of Excellence, the Sid Summers Memorial Award for Outstanding Cadet, and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee award.
The Didsbury Army Cadets currently have 33 members aged 12-19. They meet once a week parading on Thursdays at the Victoria Square Mall basement. The Didsbury corps covers the area between the Airdie and Red Deer Army Cadet corps.
“We do a lot of life skills, leadership, instruction techniques, public speaking,” he said. “We also do marksmanship with the air rifle. We cover all the safety aspects before handling the weapon and doing a live fire. Safety is paramount.”
Kaczmarski told the Gazette that being in the cadets has definitely improved his confidence and given him purpose in life. “When I look back to my younger years and if I didn't have cadets I would probably be in a gang or not have focus,” he said. “It's given me focus and a direction.”
Anyone interested in joining can go to www.cadets.ca and pick their location in the drop-down menu.
