LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A group of cadets challenged themselves earlier this month in Fort Simpson.

Cadet Sgt. Rebecca Tsetso crawls out of the unconventional quinzee that the female cadets built using a picnic table and a tarp during the junior winter field training exercise (FTX) April 5. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Nineteen members of the 2860 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps participated in the 2014 junior winter field training exercise (FTX) that was held at the Fort Simpson Territorial Campground from April 4 to 6. The cadets do three FTXs a year, a fall, winter and summer.

During the junior winter FTX the first and second-year cadets learn to manage themselves and their equipment properly in a challenging environment, said Cpt. Steve Nicoll, the corps' commanding officer. The FTX also gives more advanced cadets the chance to show their leadership skills.

Over the course of the three days, the corporals helped the new cadets and cadets with a rank of master corporal or higher managed the group activities, including making sure all of the cadets were hydrated, well fed and kept dry.

Being in charge of five other cadets isn't that difficult if you are used to being in a leadership position, said cadet Sgt. Charles Blondin who was in charge of the charlie section, along with his second-in-command Cpl. Makoos Buboire.

"I liked the fact that we were all close-knit and together. The morale was always high," he said.

Given the right leaders and second-in-commands, any situation can be made into a fun time where people can bond and unite even if the conditions are challenging, Blondin said.

Blondin's favourite part of the FTX, which was his fifth winter one, was building the quinzees, shelters made of snow. The cadets were divided into groups and the build was made into a competition.

For Cpl. Julian Tsetso the hike to Harris Creek across the frozen Mackenzie River was the highlight of the FTX. Tsetso, who was on his second winter FTX, said he liked racing up the riverbank. Playing charades at night is also fun, he said.

The FTX went very well and the weather was co-operative, Nicoll said. The cadets were able to maintain a high level of activity during the day and the nights were cold enough to present a challenge. Officer Cadet Jim Broomfield did an excellent job of keeping the campground's picnic shelter warm and having the meals ready, he said.

A weekend earlier, the corps held a FTX for seven senior cadets. The senior cadets were given more physical and mental challenges.

They had to navigate, including drawing the route in advance and entering data points in a GPS as well as making decisions about their route along the way. The cadets also had to carry full rucksacks and pull two sled that weighted about 150 pounds each.

The senior cadets slept one night in a quinzee and one in a tent. Nighttime temperatures dropped as low as -37 C.

The corps' next FTXs will be held in May.