Making the grade and making military history in Cambridge
Posted Feb 9, 2023 12:19:07 PM.
High school students learn about Canadian military history in class, but rarely does the curriculum provide an opportunity to take an active role in making that history.
That was the challenge offered to a group of local co-op students during a swearing in ceremony at the Cambridge Armoury on Saturday.
“Not only are you joining something as part of a co-op program and as part of getting a credit, but you are also becoming part of the military history of this region you call home,” Commanding Officer L. Col. Shawn Dumbreck told them. “Just by coming here and serving you are contributing to the collective history of the Royal Highland Fusiliers.”
It’s a challenge Tyler Balzan from Elmira District Secondary School, was eager to accept.
“I was looking at all the co-ops and this was one of the options that stood out,” Balzan said. “I figured it would be a good way to pursue a future career path.”
Balzan is enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces Co-op program and was one of a dozen students from Wellington County and Waterloo Region who took part in the swearing in ceremony Saturday in the parade square at Col. J.A. McIntosh, DSO, ED, Armoury in Cambridge.
His father, Jason Balzan, was among the parents and family members invited to witness the students taking their oath and to show them their support.
“I was in army cadets when I was 13 until 18 and I learned a lot about, discipline, physical training and being part of something,” he said. “Since he was 13 or 14, Tyler said he wanted to join the army and he is following through with it, so I’m excited for him.”
Programs coordinator, Donna Pickering, spoke to the students and family members about the challenges of a military career and the services and programs available to soldiers and their families such as, deployment support, mental health services and second-language training.
“This is a co-op enrolment and my job here is to educate the families about what they are eligible for because their loved ones enrolled into the Canadian Armed Forces,” she said. “There are many different services and programs available to anyone out there that is living the military lifestyle.”
Dumbreck elaborated on the essential role families play in a soldier’s life.
“We often say the family wears the invisible uniform because none of us can go away and live under harsh conditions if we don’t have the support of our family,” he said. “That you are proud to see them in uniform and that you are proud that they are being challenged and growing and developing, that’s all I can ask from you folks.”
Unit recruiting officer for the Grand River Garrison, Cpt. Sean Thomas led the students as they recited their oath, then officially welcomed them to their 2nd family, a distinction held by only one per cent of the Canadian population.
“It’s an opportunity to join something larger than themselves in the Canadian Armed Forces,” Thomas said. “During the co-op program they complete their basic military qualification. That’s where they learn, as we say, to walk and talk army. They learn their drill. They learn their policy. They learn the basics of field craft like navigation with a map and compass, and, how to shoot the C7 Service Rifle. After that they will go on to do a basic communications course on how to operate and troubleshoot radios.”
Students interested in joining the infantry as well as their parents were invited upstairs to the DHFC Officers Mess where, among dozens of framed photos of past commanding officers, hangs the flag bearing the regimental colours, emblazoned with 19 battle honours.
“You are joining one of the oldest regiments in the country,” Dumbreck told them. “It is older than the country itself. Our regimental birthday is the 14th of September 1866, a year older than the nation. However, the military contribution of Waterloo Region goes back to the War of 1812 with Mennonite Teamsters moving supplies down to the borders at Lundy’s Lane and Detroit where they actively engaged in combat with our, now, greatest ally, The United States of America.”
The regiment fought during the First World War and landed on the beaches of Normandy in June of 1944 during the Second World War.
“The 8th of July, 1944 was the Battle of Buron, one of our greatest battle honours,” Dumbreck said. “Over 600 0f the Fusiliers were in a decisive engagement with Hitler youth and a Panzer division in that small village. Even though we had upwards of 193 casualties in that battle, we never gave anyone up to the enemy.”
Dumbreck served two tours in Afghanistan, once with regular forces and once as a Fusilier along with 20 per cent of the regiment.
“I have three officers right now who are preparing to go to Operation Impact in the Middle East to work with our allies and support the fight against ISIS,” he said. “I anticipate in the next couple months that we will be preparing to send another contingent out the door to support Operation Unifier and that is training Ukrainian forces in the UK and other NATO nations as well as Operation Reassurance, which is our task force Latvia. The Forward Presence Battle Group is there as a deterrent to Russian aggression across the Baltic States. So, there are a lot of things going on.”
Dumbreck reminded the students and their families that history is still being made and these are the challenges and risks you must accept if you choose a career in the military.
“It’s part of the game, right,” said Jason Balzan. “Somebody’s got to do it and I am proud of Tyler for stepping up.”
A clear demonstration of Tyler’s commitment came at the end of the presentation when he was the first to raise his hand and ask, “When do we start?”
“I’m excited to do the basic training,” he said. “That is one of the reasons I signed up. It’s going to be nice meeting people and having a goal to work towards. I think I will end up pursuing a career in the Canadian Armed Forces.”
