A Powell River youth is gearing up for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: an international sea cadet exchange program to Japan.
Chief Petty Officer Second Class Tristan Adams has spent the last five years with Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC) Malaspina.
“It’s a great way to wrap up my cadet experience,” said Tristan. “It’s quite an honour and I think it’s going to be a great trip.”
This will be Tristan’s final year of service in the cadet corps. He plans to join the Royal Canadian Navy and study engineering after graduating from Brooks Secondary School.
While in Japan the cadet will experience Japanese culture, learn more about the Japanese sea cadet program and be an ambassador for sea cadets back at home, he said.
Canada, United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea and Russia all have sea cadet youth programs and participate in the exchange.
“In return, cadets from those countries will visit Canada,” said Dave McLennan, RCSCC Commanding Officer Lieutenant (Navy).
According to McLennan, Canada usually sends between five to eight cadets to each country on exchange each year. Tristan had his choice of which country he wanted to visit and was selected to represent Canada in the Japan exchange.
Tristan set off for Japan Tuesday, July 30, and will be touring the country until August 16. He will have the opportunity to sail on one of Japan’s tall ships, the Nippon Maru, and on a Japanese Coast Guard patrol boat.
There are approximately 130,000 sea cadets in Canada, and only about 30 cadets are selected to go each year.
“Tristan is the first cadet in more than 12 years to go from this corps,” said McLennan. “We send a recommendation letter, but Ottawa does the selection.”
Cadets are chosen based on years of service, what they have accomplished at their local corps and at summer training, and awards, said McLennan.
“It’s just like a job application,” he said. “The more experience in training and schooling the better chance you’ve got.”
