CFB Esquimalt
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CFB Esquimalt is Canada's West Coast (Pacific) naval base. It is just over 10,000 acres (40 km²) and is located on Vancouver Island in the municipality of Esquimalt, just west of Victoria, British Columbia. CFB Esquimalt includes HMCS Naden, Fleet Maintenance Facility - Cape Breton (FMF-CB), a Fire Fighting and Damage Control School, the Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC Venture), and 716 MQ's located in nine sites (Belmont Park, Work Point, Royal Roads...). The drydock in the dockyard was built in the late 1800's as a condition of Confederation. It has serviced ships from Royal Navy square riggers to the most recent CF Naval vessels.
CFB Esquimalt also runs its own ferry (the Blue Boat) and bus services to provide intra-base transportation. There is also the Naval and Military Museum which is in HMCS Naden. The Look-Out is the base newspaper which covers local, national and international news with specific interest to Navy and CF members & family issues.
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Albert Head
CFB Esquimalt also includes the Albert Head training centre, a multi-faceted training facility. From September to June each year, Albert Head is operated under the auspices of the Regional Cadet Instructor School (Pacific). As well as RCIS, various regular force, militia and cadet units use the training centre.Albert Head is located approximately 30 km by road southwest of downtown Victoria, and occupies about 220 acres, 10 of which are developed as training facilities.
During the summer months, Albert Head is used as an Air Cadet Summer Training Centre
Summer training
Air Cadets train at Albert Head Air Cadet Summer Training Centre over a period of six weeks. At any given time it operates five Air Basic courses, one Introduction to Survival course, two Introduction to Leadership courses, one Introduction to Instruction course, and one Introduction to Physical Education and Recreation course. The Air Basic course and Introduction to Survival course are two weeks long and the rest of the courses are three weeks long. AH-ACSTC also houses a senior level band of approximately thirty-five cadets which operates for the full six weeks.
The Basic course cadets attend classes in Citizenship, Aviation and Drill. They also do a variety of sports and participate in tours such as flying at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron and a tour of the BC Legislature and the Royal BC Museum. Their training is meant to supplement the Level One course training plan.
The Introduction to Survival course cadets learn about the seven enemies of survival, edible plants, and building shelters, traps and water collection devices. They finish their course with a four day dual exercise at Camp Bernard practicing their skills. The cadets build natural shelters to sleep in with barely any supplies given to them by the staff, besides water and canteens, and one meal a day. There generally is small berries around the campsites, such as peas, and blackberries, which suffice for food, but dont provide too much energy.
The Introduction to Leadership course cadets primarily learn and practice the theory of leadership and various leadership skills. They practice these skills through a series of taskings and will be prepared to take on leadership roles at their home units.
The Introduction to Instruction cadets learn instructional techniques including the use of visual aids and various other ways to keep students interested in classes. They also learn how to teach drill. They will be prepared to teach classes to junior level cadets at their home squadrons.
The Introduction to Physical Education & Recreation cadets learn the theory of a variety of sports as well as how to teach them. They also learn how to organize games and tabloid sports for cadets. They graduate with knowledge that will help them improve the physical fitness programs at their home squadrons.
Finally, the band comes together to provide a service for various events and parades throughout the summer. They learn approximately forty pieces of music and play at various events including the C.H.I.L.D fundraiser, Beacon Hill park and the lawn at the Legislature. Each course cadet participates in the confidence course, canoeing and shooting an air rifle on the range.
A highlight of the summer for many cadets in off-hours is the opportunity to learn to fly on a simulator in our Computerized Aircraft Simulator Complex (CASC). They are the only camp to have one in Canada and are able to present the first set of Simulator Wings in 2006 at the final graduation parade.
The aim of the Air Cadet Organization is to instill in youth the attributes of Leadership, Citizenship and Physical Fitness and to stimulate an interest in the air element of the Canadian Forces.
History
The site was first visited by Spanish explorers more than 200 years ago and, during the second world war, "Fort Albert Head" played a major role as part of the coastal defenses. It housed the biggest guns this side of the country and commanded the approaches to both harbours as well as twenty miles out to sea.
Albert Head ACSTC was established in 1995 to further the leadership training provided by the Air Cadet program. Approximately 810 cadets will attend the Summer Training courses while a staff of approximately 150 will provide supervision and instruction.
See also
External links
Categories
Victoria, British Columbia | Air Force academies | Canadian Forces bases