Parade Practice in Full Swing
Photos by e-Veritas Volunteer Staff
This past week cadets and staff at RMCC worked day, and in some cases, night, to prepare for the drill components of the Sunset Ceremony and Graduation Parade. Here are some photos of the parade square during the previous days:
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Recreation Club Initiative Recognized
Article by Ms. Christine Powers, Recreation and IM Manager
Photos by Mr. Chad Blundy, Assistant Recreation and IM Manager
On Thursday, 10 May a social was organized for Executive Committee members and supporters of the RMCC Recreation clubs in the Cadet Mess. The purpose of this annual event is to recognize the contributions the OCdts and Supervisors/Coaches make to their respective clubs throughout the year.
Malgré l’horaire chargé de nos invités en ce temps d’année, un bon groupe s’est réuni afin de socialiser et célébrer les succès de leur club respectif. Voici la liste de prix qui ont été présenté lors de cette soirée:
“Special Recognition” awards were presented to 25149 (IV) OCdt Andrew Steel (left) and 25193 OCdt (IV) Thomas Huet (right) for their contribution to the Recreation Clubs during the past four years.
The “Most Active Club” award was presented to the Rowing Club for successfully organizing and attending eight off-campus activities this academic year.
The “Long Service” award was given to Mr. Bert Breuvart for sixteen years of commitment to the Windsurfing Club.
The “Volunteer of the Year” award was presented to both 25231 OCdt (IV) Jen Bowen (Theatre Club) and 25881 OCdt (III) Anthony Matlock (Expedition Club). According to MC, OCdt Gasser:
As the main writer, actor and assistant producer of the Theatre Club play, OCdt Bowen was a critical element of this year’s successful production of “Shakespeare in Scarlets”. She enhanced the club members experience by sharing her knowledge and creativity and was instrumental in shaping each role to a member of the cast and then encouraging them to expand on their character.
OCdt Matlock was nominated for this award as a result of his successful planning and execution of the 2011/12 Kilimanjaro Expedition to Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda — an activity which allowed 10 members of the Expedition Club to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The countless hours he dedicated to this difficult and challenging goal as well as his perseverance to ensure its success is admirable. In addition to summiting the highest peak in Africa, OCdt Matlock led an ambitious fundraiser for Child Soldiers Initiative and managed to raise $20,000 for the charity.
Félicitations aux récipiendaires de ces prix et merci à tous ceux et celles qui contribue leur temps aux clubs récréatifs du CMRC.
Congratulations to the award recipients and thank you to all who contribute to the RMCC Recreation Clubs.
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Civil Engineering Cadets Learn Plenty at Survey Camp
Article and Photos by 25701 OCdt (III) Brandon Pinkney
As part of the survey course requirements for civil engineering students at the Royal Military College, the third year civil engineering cadets travelled to Ottawa on 3 May to visit the Canadian Forces Mapping and Charting Establishment (MCE). MCE provides all maps used by serving Canadian Forces members, both at home and abroad, and provides vital geomatics surveying data where needed.
Students began their tour with a briefing given by the CO of MCE, LCol Cairns, which included a brief history of MCE from its founding to the present day, and the numerous current tasks completed by members of the unit throughout the Canadian Forces. One of the most impressive aspects that was outlined to the visiting Officer Cadets was the fact that, of the 196 serving military members of the unit, 95 of them work outside of MCE headquarters in Ottawa in small groups across Canada and anywhere Canadian troops are deployed, to bring the technical skill and expertise of the unit to where it is needed most. In short, the members of this small unit are in high demand, both because of the expertise with which they practice their trade and the unique dependence of the military on its mapmakers and geographical data gatherers.
Cadets had a chance to see firsthand how the theories and concepts studied throughout the year in their introductory geomatics courses were put into use at MCE. While learning of GIS systems (Geographic Information Systems), students came to understand how databases were created that allowed users anywhere to store, access, view and edit geographic information. A visit to the Mapping and Charting Establishment’s 5 Squadron, the civilian-staffed squadron, cadets were able to see firsthand how GIS systems were being taken to the next level. With eye-catching 3D graphics and some clever videogame-style views, students were able to watch as technical experts that created the landscape flew over the skyline of Toronto. It was explained that the system would allow simulations to be run by soldiers, sailors and airmen and women in the same virtual environment despite their global locations, thereby opening the door to cost-effective, cross-element exercises to be conducted involving any number of scenarios. Truly, this demonstration proved that the future training missions to be conducted by CF members would allow for even closer integration of those serving on land, in the air, and at sea.
Possibly the most interesting part of the tour brought cadets back to the traditional mapping tasks fulfilled at MCE. Possessing the last federal printing press in Canada, MCE can print up to 12,000 maps an hour if needed. Suddenly, the well used, folded, drawn-on maps of that inhabited pockets over summer training had an origin, and no simple origin at that. The behemoth printing press consumed large sheets of paper one at a time, placing them precisely within thousandths of an inch for the printing process to begin. Upon inspection of some of the completed maps at the end of the machine, students were able to see (with magnification help) the tiny dots and exacting colour hues that were put onto the previously plain paper. No longer were maps just large pieces of paper to find your way back to base in the middle of the night; they were masterpieces of information gathering, manipulation, and technical skill of a large group of experienced individuals.
Being able to see how the details one takes for granted actually come about is a rare opportunity. Having the chance to visit the Mapping and Charting Establishment gave to the civil engineering cadets a greater respect for the amount of work that is put into the maps one may think little about, and to the amount of detail that is demanded for the task, from those who gather raw data to those who pull the fresh paper off the end of the printing press. Great thanks is extended from RMC’s civil engineering class of 2013 to all those who made the trip possible, including LCol Cairns, Maj Primeau, the RMC survey camp professor Dr. Vlachopoulos (19930), and the entire MCE team.