New Commanding Officer for Morinville Army Cadets

The signing of the Change of Command Certificates, with incoming Commander Officer Captain Carroll-Leonard, Captain Neilson witnessing the Change of Command on behalf of the Commanding Officer RCSU (NW) and outgoing Commanding Officer Captain Marietta. – Lucie Roy Photos

by Lucie Roy

Morinville said goodbye to Commanding Officer Captain Doug Marietta and welcomed incoming Commanding Officer Captain Michelle Carroll-Leonard. The Change of Command took place June 7 at the 17th Annual Ceremonial Review (ACR) and Change of Command for the 3061 (1 CER) Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC).

Capt. Doug Marietta joined cadets in 1973 with 533 Air Cadets Squadron in St. Albert. He started back working with cadets in 1993 when his son Wayne joined the 533 cadets. A couple of years later his second son Eric joined the same unit. Within about two years he went to the army side in 1999, the same year his daughter Linda joined. He joined the Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC) in 2001, and served as Commanding Officer with the 3061 RCACC in Morinville from June 2014 to June 2016.

He will be involved with the 2551 Edmonton PPCLI RCACC which is still within the Army Cadet League Northwestern Zone and closer for him to travel.

Incoming Commanding Officer Captain Michelle Carroll-Leonard joined the CIC in 1991, and in 2010, joined the staff of 3061 (1 CER) as the Administration Officer.

Also saying goodbye June 7 was Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Tyrell Brink, who started his career in the cadets in October of 2010. Brink has now aged out of the program. As the Regimental Sgt. Major (RSM) CWO Brink said a few words in his last few hours as a cadet.

“I have been with this Corp for five years and have done some pretty interesting and exciting things like going to Vernon BC for three weeks for basic marksman, and boy was that a hot summer,” Brink said in his farewell speech. “I also have trained at Penhold Air Cadet Summer Training Center south of Red Deer, the first time as a course Cadet and the second time as a staff Cadet teaching and leading course Cadets. My third camp was at Connaught Army Cadet Summer Training Centre in Ottawa, Ontario.”

In May of 2015, Brink was promoted to CWO and had the opportunity to go to Wales and experience what life is like as a British army cadet. He got to see some interesting pieces of history. He has made many friends with Cadets and some across the country.

“I have many memories, but we do not have the time for me to tell them all,” Brink said. “This is not the end for me 0 it is only the beginning.”

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– Annual Group Photo of the cadets and instructors and staff.

Awards and promotions

The presentation of awards included six promotions to Corporall, two to Master Corporal and three to Sergeant.

Sgt. Karl Hartmann was promoted to Warrant Officer, received the Gold Star and the Gold Most Outstanding Cadet Star Level Award.

The Royal Canadian Legion Medal of Excellence, awarded to a cadet who has shown a high degree of participation and leadership in the area of citizenship and in enhancing the aims and objectives of the cadet organization was presented to Sgt. Liam Allard. Allard also received the Most Outstanding Cadet Award, a Silver Star and was also promoted to Sgt.

The Most Improved Cadet Award, awarded annually in recognition of hard work and the purposes of excellence in training was recipient LCpl Kasey Quinn, who was unable to attend.

The Best NCM Award and cheque, sponsored by the Morinville Lions Club was awarded to CWO Tyrell Brink for a cadet who shows great leadership qualities, Esprit de Corps, maintains a high uniform standard and has high attendance. Brink was also presented with a plaque from CO Doug Marietta for his years of service at 3061 (1CER) RCACC.

Other presentations included the Red Star to Cpl Dawn and the Silver Star was presented to Mcpl Kachur.

Receiving the Green Star and promoted to Cpl were LCpl’s Hurlburt, Kootenay, Quinn, Ralph and Sansterre.

Dignitaries in attendance included Rotary representative Gib Boddez, Lions members Dustin Greenwood and Francis Fryters, Royal Canadian Legion Morinville Branch member Marilynne Kuchta and son Justin, Ted Code, Army Cadet League Representative, Ed Bishop former Commanding Officer and Rob Faulds.

Captain Patrick Neilson, Edmonton West Army Cadet Training Group, witnessed and signed the Change of Command Certificate on behalf of the Commanding Officer Regional Cadet Support Unit (RCSU) (NW).

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Above: Award recipients included Sgt Karl Hartmann promoted to WO, received the Most Outstanding Cadet Gold Star Level Award and received the Gold Star. WO Shalom McNaughton, who received the NSE Most Outstanding Cadet Star Level Award, the Master Cadet Award, Mcpl Korbin Flett promoted to Sgt and received the Silver Most Outstanding Cadet Star Level Award, and the Silver Star.

Front row, LCpl Michaylla Brissette promoted to Cpl and recipient of the Green Most Outstanding Cadet Star Level Award and the Green Star. MWO Tyrell Brink received the Best NCM Award; Mcpl Liam Allard was promoted to Sgt and received the RCL Medal of Excellence and Most Outstanding Cadet Award and Silver Star. Cpl Delon Hewitt was promoted to Mcpl and received the Red Most Outstanding Cadet Star Level Award and the Red Star.

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