HMCS ''Quadra'' is a Cadet Training Centre (CTC) located at Goose Spit in Comox, British Columbia, Canada. It primarily serves

Royal Canadian Sea Cadets The Royal Canadian Sea Cadets (RCSC; ) is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Armed Forces and the civilian Navy League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of Natio ...

, though Air Cadets and Army Cadets attend as well.

History

HMCS ''Quadra'' was first used by cadets in 1943 under the name HMCS ''Naden'' (III). The camp was then named Cadet Camp Comox, and renamed HMCS ''Quadra'' in 1956. The name comes from the Spanish explorer from the west coast,

Bodega y Quadra Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra (22 May 1743 – 26 March 1794) was a Hispano-Peruvian naval officer operating in the Americas. Assigned to the Pacific coast Spanish Naval Department base at San Blas, in Viceroyalty of New Spain (present ...

. In 1952, the center hosted its first group of over 700 boys from the

. Female cadets have been enrolled since 1975.

Courses

HMCS ''Quadra'' hosts Cadets for 10 summer courses; * Sail 1 * Sail 2 * Seamanship * Ship’s Boat Operator * Aviation Technology and Aerospace * Advanced Aviation * Introduction to Military Band * Military Band Musician * Advanced Aviation * Power Pilot, though training occurs off-base. Hosting approximately 900-course cadets annually, it primarily serves

Sea Cadets Sea cadets are members of a cadets youth program sponsored by a national naval service, aimed for young people with an interest in waterborne activities and or the national navy. The organisation may be sponsored in whole or in part by the navy or ...

, though

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

and Air Cadets participate in courses that are not Sea Cadet-exclusive. The Training Centre employs over 300 staff including COATS personnel, regular force personnel, reserve force personnel, civilian instructors,

Department of National Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divided ...

(DND) public servants, and Staff Cadets. Cadets come from across

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

as well as select international cadets. Quadra has hosted cadets from

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

Bermuda Bermuda is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. The closest land outside the territory is in the American state of North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. Bermuda is an ...

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

, the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, and the

United States of America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...

in past years. When not in use for summer training, the centre is used for weekend exercises and cadet events.

References

Sources

External links

Restoring cutter #7

Canadian Olympic team training at HMCS Quadra
Royal Canadian Navy bases {{Canada-mil-stub