Last week was a busy one on and around RMCC for both staff and cadets.
We have most of the coverage in this Issue but not all. The Class of 1965 Teaching Excellence Award presentation took place on Tuesday evening – we expect an article and photos for next week.
The commandant, BGen Meinzinger was at centre ice to drop the puck in a ceremonial faceoff during the Kingston Frontenac’s Military Appreciation Night this past Friday. The RMCC Colour Party and members of the Pipes & Drums also put on a nice show for the large crowd in attendance at the K-Rock Centre.
As an aside, RMCC has received approximately 30 requests for personnel in support of various Remembrance Day ceremonies. In addition to the college and the local area, cadets will be assisting in events taking place in Etobicoke, Montreal and the National Capital Region.
Following are most of the recent highlights that we were able to cover:
On October 29th, a select group of RMCC politics students along with French, German and US exchange cadet visited Parliament Hill to experience first-hand the workings of the executive, legislative and administrative institutions that govern Canada. Students had the opportunity to spend half an hour with Minister of National Defence Rob Nicholson, benefit from presentations by representatives from the Privy Council Office (by ex-cadet André Gascon 22742), the Prime Minister’s office, Senator Jane Cordy, and have the opportunity for discussion with with NDP defence critic Jack Harris and his deputy Elaine Michaud, Kingston and the Islands MP Ted Hsu and Liberal defence critic Joyce Murray, as well as former members of the CAF and current Conservative members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence, including Parliamentary Secretary for National Defence James Bezan, Ted Optiz, Cornelius Chisiu, John Williamson, and his spouse LCdr Kelly Williamson.
Our delegation also had access to the Senate chamber and the Senate block as part of a personal guided tour hosted by Ex-Cadet, 7543 Senator Joseph Day – photo centre right, proudly wearing his RMC tie. The RMCC delegation also sat in on Question Period in the House of Commons, briefly met Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and had lunch and dinner courtesy of the long-standing generous support for this trip by the RMCC Foundation.
Associate Dean of Arts Dr. Christian Leuprecht has been organizing this annual trip to Parliament for over a decade, and every year it is a highlight for cadets studying political science. Students not only witness how the government of Canada works and but leave with a behind-the-scenes understanding of the way decisions are arrived, decision that are vital to the governing of the nation, including defence policy and the deployment of the CAF. The value-added understanding of Canada’s political system through the unprecedented access this group of RMCC students enjoys is emblematic of the excellence and value-added of the RMCC educational experience, the recognition and appreciation RMCC and its cadets enjoy in Ottawa, and the way RMCC’s mission of Officers Well Educated enhances our capacity as future officers, civil servants, and leadership in national service.
NCdt Kyle English 26565
Le 29 octobre, un petit groupe d’étudiants en Sciences Politiques, ainsi que des Élèves-Officiers en échange provenant de la France, des États-Unis et de l’Allemagne, ont eu le privilège de visiter le Parlement. Cette visite fut organisée dans le but que les Élèves Officiers puissent observer comment fonctionnent les institutions politiques canadiennes. Les élèves officiers ont tout d’abord eu droit à une visite très chaleureuse du Sénat, par le Sénateur et gradué du CMRC Joseph Day. Par la , suite les Élofs ce sont entretenues avec un membre du conseil privé, qui est aussi un ancien Élof (André Gascon 22742), suivi d’une présentation d’un membre du bureau du premier ministre. La sénatrice Jane Cordy s’est longuement entretenue avec le groupe. Par la suite, le groupe s’est dirigé dans la Chambre des communes pour assister à la période de questions, suivi d’une brève rencontre avec le premier ministre Stephen Harper. Ensuite le groupe a eu la chance de s’entretenir pendant plus de 30 minutes avec le ministre de la Défense nationale, Rob Nicholson. Suivi d’une rencontre avec des membres du comité sur la défense nationale, tels que James Bezan, Ted Optiz, Cornelius Chisiu, John Williamson et son épouse la Capitaine de corvette Kelly Williamson. Par la suite des porte-parole des deux différents partis de l’opposition en matière de la défense se sont brièvement entretenues avec le groupe, ainsi que le député de Kingston, Ted Hsu. Pour se restaurer après une journée aussi remplie, le groupe a eu droit à un excellent souper dans le restaurant parlementaire, qui fut gracieusement offert par la fondation du Collège Militaire Royal du Canada.
Le Doyen adjoint de la faculté des Arts, Christian Leuprecht, organise ce voyage depuis plus de dix ans. Et chaque année, c’est un grand succès, pour les Élèves Officiers qui étudient en Sciences Politiques, ils arrivent à mieux comprendre ce qui se passe en coulisse. Cette visite privilégier permet aux Élofs de mieux comprendre le processus décisionnel sur la colline. Ces décisions engendrées auront des répercussions majeures sur le pays. La plus-value de cette visite, ajoutée à un excellent programme académique, va permettre aux Élofs du Collège d’augmenter leur capacité de servir les Canadiens et Canadiennes.
ELOF Jacob Simard 26935
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The commandant, BGen Meinzinger and Mrs Joy Meinzinger accompanied by eight cadets had the opportunity to attend the Sixth Annual True Patriot Love Gala Dinner which was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre last Wednesday, 5 Nov. The RMCC contingent was the guests of 11623 John Carswell – photo centre above.
TPL is a national charity that honours the sacrifices of members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans and their families in both times of peace and conflict. TPL accomplishes its mission by funding unique programs and innovative research in the areas of mental health, physical rehabilitation, family support and veteran transition. TPL also seeks to change the conversation about the challenges facing today’s military community by hosting ambitious expeditions and hosting international symposia.
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Turning Point Year: The British Empire at War in 1917
Article by: 26655 OCdt (III) Pedro Blair-Jimenez – 5 Squadron
On Thursday and Friday, 6-7 November, the History Department of the Royal Military College of Canada (RMCC) held a symposium under the title of Turning Point Year: The British Empire at War in 1917 to examine how the military coalition of the British Empire functioned during a critical year of the war. The symposium was principally financed through a $25,000 Connection Grant, which Dr Doug Delaney and Dr Nik Gardner, both of the RMCC History Department, obtained through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The RMC Foundation also contributed generously to cover registration fees of invited speakers and panelists and the RMC Club of Canada provided valuable administrative assistance as well.
Photo caption: Dr Howard Coombs of the RMCC History Department introduces Professor Jeffrey Grey of the Australian Defence Force Academy.
The Symposium attracted -internationally-renowned speakers and panellists, including Ian F.W. Beckett (University of Kent), who spoke on command relationship that the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) ahad with the dominion contingents, Matthew Hughes (Brunel University), who spoke on the campaign in Palestine, Jeffrey Grey (University of New South Wales), who examined changes in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force during 1917, Mark Connelly (University of Kent), who offered his insights on how the British media portrayed the war efforts of the dominions, Serge Durflinger (University of Ottawa), who gave a home-front perspective with a paper on the Montreal riots of 1917, John Crawford (New Zealand Defence Force), who explained New Zealand’s manpower problems, and Keith Neilson (Royal Military College of Canada), who spoke on the blockade of Germany and its effect. Amongst the attendees were students, professors, graduate students, a former principal of RMCC and one former commandant.
Turning Point Year: The British Empire at War in 1917 succeeded in its goal of expanding our knowledge of the military, social, diplomatic, and cultural dimensions of the Imperial war effort, thereby enhancing our understanding of the British Empire in particular and coalition warfare more broadly. War is not simple business. Sometime we have to look through more than one lens to understand it. This year’s history symposium offered many different lenses for those who attended. Therefore, Cadets who attended found not only a rewarding academic experience but also valuable lessons for their future military careers.
