Northern cadet on a Chile trip
Naujaat cadet looks forward to challenge of expedition
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
NAUJAAT
Warrant Officer Terrance Mapsalak of Naujaat has been selected to participate in a cadet international exchange that will see him travel to Chile in 2017.
Capt. Lloyd Francis, right, congratulates Warrant Officer Terrance Mapsalak on being selected to participate in a cadet International Exchange program that will see him travel to Chile - photo courtesy of 3055 RCACC |
About 20 to 25 cadets from across the country are selected every year to take part in the exercise.
The trip is run through the army cadet program, with one or two cadets from each province or region selected to take part.
Naujaat 3055 RCACC Capt. Lloyd Francis said he can't remember the last time someone from the North was selected for an international expedition during a training year.
He said the program has seen cadets travel to a number of different countries around the world during the past few years.
"The cadets will be primarily hiking, biking and canoeing," said Francis.
"There will also be a cultural or historical component, which will see them visit various cultural and historical sites in Chile.
"It's scheduled to run from Feb. 5 to 25, with the participants meeting in Vancouver for a few days before travelling to Chile."
In selecting the cadets to take part, a high emphasis is placed on their overall expedition performance.
Francis said Mapsalak's previous training obviously put him in good position for the selection process.
He said Mapsalak completed a six-week expedition-instructor course during the summer of 2015, and was selected to go to the two-week regional expedition in the Yukon (Yukon Paddle) this past August.
"You have to complete a regional expedition before you can complete an international expedition.
"Each army cadet corps in Canada is allowed to present one applicant, and Terrance was our obvious choice because he had so much expedition experience.
"This is going to be a really good leadership experience for him, and it represents the first time he's going out of the country.
"Naujaat is the third cadet corps I've worked with, and this is the first time someone has been selected for an international expedition.
Mapsalak has a little less than three months to secure a passport for the exchange.
The majority of the preparation for the trip will be conducted during his time in Vancouver.
Mapsalak, 17, is a Grade 11 student who is in his fifth year with the cadets.
He said he's looking forward to gaining more experience, and he's also ready to accept more challenges.
"I like taking part in physically-demanding challenges and want to push myself as much as possible.
"I want more experiences and challenges so I can have a bigger wall.
"I'm going to stay with the corps and achieve the highest rank I can (chief warrant officer), and I want to increase my leadership abilities and take on as much responsibility as I can.
"I'm really excited about the physical challenges I might face in Chile, including the mountain climbing we're supposed to do while we're there, and I'm looking forward to achieving other things over there that I've, possibly, never done before."
Mapsalak said he's also looking forward to meeting a number of cadets around his own age from across the country.
He said it should be interesting to see what goals many of them have set for themselves while on the expedition.
"Every cadet trip I've gone on, so far, I've made a lot of new friends, and I've stayed in touch with a few of them on Facebook and things like that.
"The only thing I'm a little nervous about is that I don't know if I'm totally prepared, but I'm pretty sure I won't give up no matter what's waiting for me.
"There's usually a lot of teamwork involved with expedition training, but I don't know anything about Chile, so I don't know what to expect.
"I'm not worried about anything physical that might come my way, because I'm confident I can take it."
Francis said Mapsalak is an inspiration to many of the Naujaat cadets.
He said he's a role model who shows up every week and participates in almost everything the corps does.
"Terrance helps other cadets because he has a leadership role within our corps," said Francis.
"He's leading parades now and a lot of the other cadets are really happy he's been selected for this.
"When Terrance returns from Chile, we'll probably ask him to do a little presentation in front of the school and with the cadets."
