Members of the Navy League Cadet Corps Admiral RH Falls, Juan de Fuca branch, can be seen parading out of their hall on Dunford Road in Langford almost every Tuesday night.
This past season, the group was especially proud to receive awards for Outstanding Navy League Cadet and Cadet of the Year for Vancouver Island.
The Corps’ coxswain, CP01 Belle Kroeger has worked hard the past four years to embody the goals and values of a Navy League cadet. She maintains her uniform to the highest standard and wears it with pride while marching at the hall and in other parades across the region.
She set an example for her peers to emulate and led her cadets throughout the year, building puddle ducks, skateboard sailboats and assisting the cadets and officers whenever required.
While maintaining her grades and participating in several extra-curricular events at her school, Kroeger is also a dedicated member of the community, volunteering whenever the opportunities arise, including fundraisers, recycling drives, bottle drives and poppy drives.
With the support of her peers and the volunteer officers at Admiral RH Falls, she was able to step out of her shell and into a leadership role – guiding 24 cadets forward in their training through the year to receive a Gold Burgee for the Corps from the Vancouver Island Division President at the Annual Cadet Review, the highest award given to Navy League Corps on the Island for overall performance, training, skills, dress and deportment and enthusiasm.
The Juan de Fuca branch will be having a metal bin fundraiser on Nov. 28 and 29 and Dec. 5 and 6 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. They are inviting anyone with unwanted metal items to bring them to the hall, 948 Dunford Rd., on those days.
They are also always looking for new recruits and anyone aged of nine to 11 interested in joining is welcome to observe the cadets in action on Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the hall.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com