Sixteen-year-old Sergeant Austin Perry is a fourth-year air cadet from 161 C.K. Beveridge Squadron who recently had the opportunity to attend Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay in Labrador, including experiencing a tri-service exercise.
Sgt. Perry says he and others were taught valuable lessons on how to survive in Canada’s colder climates.
“One of the things that I learned was you have to be willing to endure that type of weather to survive and also to just grow as a person,” said Perry. “We learned how to go ice fishing, how to skin rabbits and how to start the Coleman stoves.”
The tenth grader used the opportunity to grow his skillset, even as a mentor.
“When I was in Goose Bay, I took advantage of being at the expedition to further my experiences, to bring back to my squadron and teach my younger cadets what [the experience] was like and how to endure on field-training exercises and not to quit,” he said.
Perry says it’s a good feeling to have younger cadets looking up to senior members like himself because they have unlived experiences and want to learn from those who have had similar opportunities.
“They want to see what happens at those, because sometimes misconceptions happen, and you learn all these new things that you wouldn’t learn outside of cadets,” explained Perry.
The young cadet says he has known for a long time that he wanted to be in the military. Following attendance at an open house at the armouries, his father says he has been all in ever since.
His next step, following the experience in Goose Bay, was an application for a staff position at camp, which he hopes to land.
“I am hoping I get in so I can learn how to experience staffing, I want to learn how to teach more experienced classes and how to be prepared for those,” said Perry.
Captain Leigh Cameron, Sgt. Perry’s commanding officer has known him since he joined the cadet program four years ago.
“I’ve seen him come from the shy 12-year-old with the big bright eyes just excited to see the program, to going through some of the summer training, he’s done the introduction to survival, and I think that’s really got his drive going. He’s also done the introduction of fitness and sports, so he’s very active,” said Cameron.
Capt. Cameron says Perry loves to teach, having volunteered since his second year.
“He just wanted to pass on the information to the younger kids, and it’s good to see the growth of someone, especially in cadets like Sgt. Perry; he just has a drive to go and learn.”
Perry’s mother says she likes to see the confidence that he has built over the years.
“It’s the support, a lot of out in the community, town cleanups and such. It’s a great thing for all the youth,” she said.
Sgt. Perry has aspirations following cadets, having put initial thought into joining the armed forces and doing the trades. However, he has one more interest he might explore.
“I kind of want to do mostly air stuff, and possibly become a pilot,” he said.
Capt. Cameron says the 161 C.K. Beveridge Air Cadet Squadron is a youth organization located in Saint John within the Barrack Green Armouries. He adds that it is a great program for youth, no matter what element of interest.
