Crowsnest cadet trains in survival at Cold Lake
Photo Credit: Captain B. Sheridan, Unit Public Relations Representative, Cold Lake Cadet Training Centre
Cadet Luken Bjorgan of 859 Crowsnest Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron sets up a shelter during the Survival Instructor Course at Cold Lake Cadet Training Centre, part of a four-week summer program focused on outdoor leadership and resilience.
Luken Bjorgan represents 859 Crowsnest Squadron in advanced summer course
Cadet Luken Bjorgan of 859 Crowsnest, Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, is currently taking part in a challenging four-week summer training course at the Cold Lake Cadet Training Centre in Alberta.
From July 18 to August 17, Bjorgan is enrolled in the Survival Instructor Course, an advanced program designed to develop outdoor leadership skills, self-reliance, and mentorship abilities. He is one of several cadets from across the country participating in the course, which includes a field exercise known as the “duos” challenge.
During the challenge, cadets are paired up and must spend two nights in the wilderness relying on their training, limited gear, and a single meal ration. They construct improvised shelters from forest materials and apply essential survival techniques such as knot-tying, lashings, and navigation using a map and compass.
“Cadet Training Centre courses are the best thing about being a cadet,” said Bjorgan. “You get so many opportunities you can’t find anywhere else.”