Intro: Most cadets spend four years at the college; some less than four years; and a few, five or six years based on various circumstances. Everyone has their own take on the role of the Squadron Commander. Over the next few e-Veritas Issues, it is our intent to go behind the scenes (just a little) to find out more.
Let’s Take a Walk
Article by: 26972 OCdt (II) Chantel Fortier
RMC can often seem isolated; many students joke about the ‘bubble’ that surrounds the peninsula, an invisible wall that seems to separate the “real” world and the world dominated by a tug-of-war between the Cadet Wing, the Academic Wing, and the Military Wing. In such a reality, our lives are oftentimes a balancing act between maintaining our classes, the demands of the Chain of Authority (COA), and the Chain of Command that guides each of the squadrons in their daily activities. Because of that act, it’s easy to forget that the turnpins in our lives are people – not simply ranks with faces, but fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters with lives outside the college’s fragile, transparent barrier. In an effort to break down that assumption, I was invited into a project that would examine the lives of various Squadron Commanders, addressing a week in their lives and accompanying interview that would reveal how they got to their position and what they wanted to do with it.
The first victim to this project was Captain Adam Bradley, the Commander of 10 Squadron. Captain Bradley is an artillery officer, and served seven years in regiment, with two tours of duty. Lining his office are mementos of service, as well as photographs of his wife and children – with whom he is on a vacation in Disneyland, as I write this. Despite the demands of family life, Captain Bradley is determined to offer his services to the Cadets of Montcalm Squadron as best he can, employing an “open-door” policy that allows them to visit him one-on-one at any time. While this policy is often adopted by other Squadron Commanders (SCs), there are typically hoops to jump through unless a real emergency is unfolding; in Captain Bradley’s case, many of his Cadets were known on a first-name basis and seemed to have shaken the fear of high brass common to new recruits. Bradley spoke highly of his own role models and described the importance of trust in one’s superiors, a trust reinforced by seeing that superior around in formal and informal roles (such as volunteering with athletic activities or other organizations across the campus).
He also noted that the position of SC was part of a leadership program in the Canadian Armed Forces. “I spent seven years in Shilo,” he explained. It was a long time for an artillery officer to remain in regiment. “In order to broaden officer horizons, they’re placed in positions (like SC) to round out their leadership.” Bradley described his somewhat unusual path to SC, first being put in an acting leadership position at the regiment before facing promotion. In order to fulfill promotion requirements, many officers need experience outside their respective occupational fields. Because of Bradley’s time in regiment, he had more to fall back on than many of the SCs he met at the college; he uses this experience to help his Cadets as best he can, working closely with third- and fourth-years, as well as helping to integrate the first-years and assist second-years as they prepare for bar positions.
Overall, Captain Bradley’s message to his troops is very simple: he’s here to help them succeed, and the first step to succeeding is facing that open door and stepping through.
Ed note: It is our intention that with each 7 day article we will post a seven day diary in the life of the Squadron Commander.
7 Days in the Life of a Squadron Commander
Monday Oct 13
0800 – Breakfast in Ptbo, ON with family for Thanksgiving.
Drive back to Kingston
Prepped Camper trailer for winterization
Washed, ironed and prepped uniforms for following week
1800 Supper with family
2000 Watched TV with wife
Tues Oct 14
0600 Wake up
0615-0700 PT (cardio)
0700-0800 Get kids to school
0900 SO Coord with other Sqn Comds and staff
1000 Go to command suite/SOC retrieve Sqn paperwork
1015-1130 Admin in Office
1130 Meeting with COS CFB Shilo
1200 Lunch
1230 emails
1300 Meeting with Sqn CSL (weekly points)
1400 Meeting with CSL/CSTO (Sqn disciplinary issues)
1500 PT
1700 Prep Mess Kit for mess dinner
1800-2130 Family time
Wed Oct 15
0600 Wake up
0730 Admin (walk Safe initiative)
0800 Interview with Sqn Ops O
0850 Inspection of Sqn Lines
0915 Meeting with 11 Sqn Comd
1000 11 Sqn Walkthrough
1045 10 Sqn Walkthrough
1130-1200 Admin
1200-1240 Lunch
1240 Meeting with RMCC G1 (ref Walk Safe initiative)
1315 Yearbook meeting
1345 Admin
1500 Interviews
1545 Coord with CSL
1600 Volunteer for United Way Pie-in-the-face (got thoroughly pied)
1730-0200 Mess Dinner
Thurs Oct 16
0800 Wake up/breakfast/uniform prep
0930 Admin (Yearbook, memorial staircase Meet and Greet, security team)
1100 Open Hour – Informal interviews
1200-1300 Lunch/emails
1300-1500 Admin
1520-1700 PT
1800-2100 Family Time
Friday Oct 17
0600 Wake up
0730-0800 emails
0800 – Meeting with Security Team IC and PAG VP
1000 Meeting with CSL
1045 Pre PRB with Div Comd
1200 Lunch
1300 Meeting with Photo Club President
1400 Admin (pre-PRB paperwork)
1500-1630 PT
1700-2130 Family Time
Sat Oct 18
Zero CAF work (Family Day)
Sunday Oct 19
Clean, iron and prep uniforms for the following week
1200-1400hrs Sqn Admin and prep for Monday night Sqn event
1400-2130 Family time