Comox Valley residents will soon see the familiar white tops and blue wedges around the community as over 900 cadets will begin arriving from as far away as Newfoundland on Saturday. It marks the start of eight weeks of active operations for HMCS Quadra and the Regional Gliding School (Pacific) cadet summer training centres. The HMCS Quadra Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre on Goose Spit will host more than 800 trainees taking part in two-, three-, six- and eight-week courses learning seamanship, sailing, music, boat maintenance, leadership, drill and ceremonial, marine engineering and sports and fitness. Trainees are supervised by a staff of 240 advanced training cadets and Canadian Forces officers, non-commissioned members, and civilian instructors. While traditionally a sea cadet-only training centre, this year Quadra will welcome 43 air cadets undergoing music training on the basic musician course and the music levels 4-5 course. The Regional Gliding School (Pacific) located at 19 Wing Comox will see over 160 air cadets from across B.C. throughout the summer. Thirty-five senior air cadets have been selected for the private power pilot scholarship program that started July 4, training at flying schools in Pitt Meadows, Boundary Bay and Victoria. Forty-five glider pilot scholarship course cadets and 44 basic aviation course cadets will begin training July 11. While the cadets will train six days a week, it won’t be all hard work. Plenty of recreational activities are scheduled throughout the courses, giving cadets a chance to unwind and have fun. The training centres will host a variety of parades and events throughout the summer. HMCS Quadra will perform the Ceremony of the Flags at Comox Nautical Days on Aug. 1 and in Cumberland on Aug. 10. As part of the training centre’s drill and ceremonial training, HMCS Quadra practises and performs the traditional Ceremony of the Flags. As part of the preparation for this event, Quadra will fire its 19th century naval field guns and performing rifle salutes with .303-calibre blanks. Detailed daily field gun firing information will be available on the HMCS Quadra website at www.cadets.ca/cstc/quadra. Residents of the Comox Valley may hear additional noise on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 to 10 p.m. starting July 11. Ships dances will occur July 26 and Aug. 16 from 7 to 10:30 p.m. A change of command for HMCS Quadra is scheduled for Aug. 16. HMCS Quadra thanks the Comox Valley for its support and patience during this summer’s training session and hopes residents are able to find the time to visit during one of our graduation parades or attend our performance of the Ceremony of the Flags. — HMCS Quadra