Canadian Cadet Movement - AIR RIFLE TRAINING

maple leaf

maple leaf

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Well I came across these and thought I would share. I feel like an old foggie, as I remember shooting .303 Lee Enfield rifles instead of air rifles. Still, I own air rifles and an air pistol and think they are a load of fun, great for firearm safety training and most of all marksmanship. Hope others find these interesting:

AIR RIFLE TRAINING MANUAL
http://www.bpcr.net/site_docs-results_schedules/documents/Canadian_Air_Rifle_Training-1.pdf

CADET AIR RIFLE VIDEOS
This is a series of 22 short videos on air rifle marksmanship produced by the Canadian Cadet Organizations
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC8E447A8EDE4558B
 
I did lots of shooting in the army cadet program!! My corps was 204 Army, made it to nationals 2 times ('05, '06). The CCM is the best thing kids can do as it builds them up and makes them more responsible in life, makes them leaders, a good thing for the shooting world is it produces people who aren't incompetent with firearms.
 
Yuck I was shooting a .22 converted lee enfield back in my day. I am glad they are still teaching gun safety and marksmanship but I bet that is the next thing they take away.
 
"....22 converted Lee-Enfield..." No. 7's were not conversions. Army Cadets lost their real rifles, at the Corps level, long ago. Air and Sea Cadets over 30 years ago.
 
The .22s at my sqn were converted Enfield. Its been a little less than 20years since I was shooting as a cadet. I know a co-workers son who was shooting .22 when he was in cadets less than 5years ago.
 
We had crappy air rifles that jammed and were inaccurate and a PITA when I served, too. They were called C-7's, lol.

Cannon
 
Thank you for the post. My son and his friend both quit cadets because they never even go to shoot air rifles. It had devolved to all drill and they got bored. They now enjoy getting to shoot at the range with me. My son always wanted to sign up for the service, but was disappointed with his cadet experience. Is this isolated? Have others had good, recent cadet experiences?
 
When i was an Air Cadet in the '80s we had .22's. I came back in the '90s on staff - same squadron - still had the same .22s. Now with a bigger squadron in Mississauga and everywhere it's the Daisy air rifles. What's weird is this - as far as the Military (police) is/are concerned they're just as nasty and lethal as a C-7. I know of corps/squadrons that have had their Daisy's stored in the Armoury building in the same room - right next to racks of C-7s and C-8s. The Daisy's failed MP inspection because they weren't in their own safe/cabinet bolted to the wall and the floor. Same story about Daisy's stored at a police station. Some corps/squadrons have turned them back in because of the cr@p inspections and such. Ridiculous ....
 
That sadly, pretty much tells the tale of cadet shooting programs. The air cadet league bought into the fable that guns are "bad," the military doesn't have a requirement for .22 cal ammo, the military started condemning ranges for lead in the air and the security standards got ridiculous or were at least ridiculously enforced. CYA became the name of the game.
 
Sad but there is some reasoning behind it
-parts for the .22 was becoming an issue and still required Weapon tech inspection
-most cadet corps didn't have access to a range. With pellet gun, they can shoot in classroom
-storage... It was still considered a CF weapon
-ammo... Same reason as above

I don't support the move, but I understand it

Most shooting program is highly dependant on the COATS staff and their view of weapons... It should be mandatory
 
Well, let me really date myself. I was in the army cadets from 12 to 18 years old. Joined as lowly private, and finished as the commanding officer. I shot the .22 enfields and went to rifle coach camp and shot the .303's....terrible. I missed making the Cadet Bisley Team by one place. Ouch! I went back the next year, where the rifle had changed to the Sportco 7.62 WOW! I finished in First place of all Canadian cadets who competed in Ottawa. Off to Bisley England for my last shoot. Placed in a few matches, and left with my medal with bars. Nice. That was 1975! Today, I have a few nice military rifles as well as 2 Austrailian original 7.62 by Omark.
 
In my day, air cadet sqn 792, we used converted lee enfields 22s at trenton during summer camps. Rest of summer back home, northern ontario, was spent flying gliders on weekend. We put up with drills every week in the winter time to get to fly and go to summer camps.
 
dfemia01 said:
You're kidding, right? Shoot in a classroom? or the Gym? Down the hall? Nope ... school boards won't allow that. Waiting for them to get cranked about the DP Lee Enfields that we use for Drill Team or Honour Guard ...
Click to expand...

Maybe where you are...
But not a problem with the corps I was involved with
 
I just retired (Mandatory at 65) as CO of an Army Cadet Corps in Central Ontario. In my opinion the CCM is the best "deal" going out there for Canadian Youth. Amazing opportunities for youth you want to put a little in to get a lot back out. Our senior Cadet just completed his CF Basic Parachute Course at CFB Trenton and was awarded his jump wings last Friday.

As to the shooting program my understanding is that it is mandatory training in all three elements. We "lost" our No 7's about 3 years ago but have carried on with a very active marksmanship program.
All three elements can (and are encouaged) to compete at a Zone Level competition which leads to Regional and National level competitions

The issued air rifle may look a "little mickey mouse" but is amazing accurate in young hands pointed in the right direction by young eyes. Marksmanship is one of the most popular activities in our unit. The air rifle has made it possible for us to conduct a couple range nights a month in our local Legion Branch

Army Cadets also have access to a series of summer shooting courses at Connaught leading to positions on the Army Cadet National Shooting Team which compete at Bisley every year.
I believe Sr Army Cadets still have a familiarization shoot with the C7 at summer training camps.
Winter biathalon using 22 LR target rifles can be conducted by units having access to facilities and qualified instructors.

I strongly encourage parents and/or grandparents of youth who are 12-13 years old to look into the program.(It's better to start young. Program is open to 12-18 yr olds).There may be areas like drill that some may not enjoy but taking the good with the bad is also a valuable life lesson.
 
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