Two West Shore air cadets are making waves.

Flight sergeant Matthew Brabant and warrant officer second class Cailyn Wilcox recently spent time aboard HMCS Yellowknife.

But it was no easy process to get aboard the ship. The Yellowknife is a Kingston-class coastal defence vessel based out of CFB Esquimalt and has served the Canadian Forces since 1998. To be selected, the cadets, both members of the Langford-based 848 Royal Roads Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, went through a thorough selection process that scrutinized their history of involvement and achievement with cadets.

Brabant was selected to participate in a five-day familiarization sail and Wilcox joined the ranks for an overnight trip. Once aboard, both West Shore cadets found themselves anomalies, surrounded by sea cadets on their respective outings.

Any good-nurtured teasing they endured for being air cadets didnB次元官网网址檛 seem to dampen their spirits, as both beamed brightly when recalling their adventures. While land-based West Shore residents may think the Yellowknife cuts through open ocean waves, thatB次元官网网址檚 not really the case.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lot of movement B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 so much fun,B次元官网网址� Brabant said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e getting three-metre waves and the ship is rolling.B次元官网网址�

Wilcox noted one sea cadet in her group actually got very sea sick on the voyage. The shipB次元官网网址檚 movement makes even ordinary tasks tricky, she added.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really hard work; the boat is rocking and youB次元官网网址檙e always doing something B次元官网网址� You canB次元官网网址檛 even trust your cup of coffee sitting on the table, you always have to hold it.B次元官网网址�

But it wasnB次元官网网址檛 just the new environment that tested the local cadets.

B次元官网网址淲e had a fire,B次元官网网址� Wilcox said. B次元官网网址淭hat was the most surreal part of the whole trip B次元官网网址� ThereB次元官网网址檚 so much adrenaline.B次元官网网址� Once the alarms sounded, she had to get from the shipB次元官网网址檚 bridge down to her muster station on deck, a task that sent her running quite a distance.

With drills conducted regularly aboard the vessel, crew and visitors are kept on their toes. As Brabant noted, B次元官网网址渢hey donB次元官网网址檛 tell you about drills.B次元官网网址�

He was in the midst of a four-hour night watch when alarms started going off. B次元官网网址淎ll of a sudden you hear screaming and you hear B次元官网网址榤an overboardB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� he said. Crew members rushed to the deck to find the missing crew mate and Brabant was told to get down there with a pair of night vision goggles. B次元官网网址淚 was the first to spot him,B次元官网网址� he said, describing the chaos. B次元官网网址淭hey got him in the Zodiac and it was Oscar the dummy.B次元官网网址�

Wilcox added with a laugh, B次元官网网址渏ust when you think your watch is done, they throw a drill at you.B次元官网网址�

During a different exercise, Brabant was taking a turn as helmsman when he lost all steering capability. B次元官网网址淚n the engine room they can actually cut your power to the steering,B次元官网网址� he said. The experience taught him a lot about communication and the inner workings of the ship, he added.

BrabantB次元官网网址檚 favourite part of the week was cleaning and maintaining the 50-calibre guns. B次元官网网址淚t was so much fun taking them apart and seeing how they all fit together.B次元官网网址�

Wilcox spent most of her time aboard the vessel stationed at the bridge. Her favourite experience was learning to navigate using the radar system.

While admitting the exercises required a lot of hard work, Brabant noted there were some lighter moments. There were three sets of fishing tackle on hand and when the ship was at anchor and there was some down time, one of the cooks would cast a line over the side. ThereB次元官网网址檚 also an onboard charcoal barbecue that crew members fire up from time to time to cook whatever fresh seafood is caught.

As air cadets, Wilcox noted, they get to explore a lot of the other skill sets more often focused on by sea and army cadets. She encourages anyone that may have an interest in the squadron to get involved. Through cadets, sheB次元官网网址檚 travelled around the country for summer camps and other events.

B次元官网网址淚 have friends from all over Canada,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 actually joining the naval reserves next year because of this (trip).B次元官网网址�

Brabant added, B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e done so much with cadets I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have done.B次元官网网址�

Find out more about the squadron by visiting or call 250-590-3690.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com