The first group of cadets at summer camp, 1950.

When the 2357 St. James' Army Cadets Corps formed in October of 1949, the Second World War was still fresh in the minds of most people. Louis St. Laurent was the prime minister, and Newfoundland had yet to celebrate its first anniversary as a Canadian province.

Sixty years later, past and present members are looking back on the group's history and the accomplishments of its members.

Port aux Basques resident Don Crewe first moved to town in 1954 when he was 11 years old. He was part of the first wave of resettlement, with his family being relocated from Deer Island.

Mr. Crew said there were about 120 people in the St. James' Cadet Corps when he joined up. He didn't have much say in joining. It was expected of boys his age.

Despite being "volun-told" to join the corps, Mr. Crewe said the boys were proud of the organization.

"There was a lot of pride in the corps," he said. "We were the best on the island on at least two occasions."

Being the best took practice. Mr. Crew recalls getting to leave school during last period every Wednesday to attend parade.

In the 1950s, there was still no television in Port aux Basques, very little radio, and certainly no highway to Corner Brook. The boys had limited contact with the outside world, so cadets helped "broaden horizons" for many young men, according to Mr. Crewe.

The big goal for all cadets was to be selected for summer camp at Camp Aldershot, near Kentville, N.S.

Mr. Crew got his first trip to camp in 1958. It was his first trip off the island. Later he attended Camp Argonaut, at CFB Gagetown, N.B. Mr. Crewe said he still remembers the names of many of his friends from camp. Two of the cadets were from Pangnirtung, an Inuit community on Baffin Island.

Mr. Crewe was a cadet for five years. He left in 1961, but came back to the area as a teacher in 1969, and stayed on as a leader for another 20 years. He said the best thing youth got out of the program was personal discipline - learning how to organize and prepare, as well as work as a team.

Some, like Alec Carter, found the program led them to a path of public service. Mr. Carter was a member of the St. James' Army Cadet Corps from 1963 to 1967. Two years later, he signed up for service with the RCMP.

"Life outside school was what you made it," said Mr. Carter. He said Cadets helped give his extracurricular life some direction. The cadet arranged exercises, training, summer camps, and field trips that taught him valuable skills.

"People who got to go to cadets valued and appreciated it," he said.

Although the members had fun in almost everything they did, what Mr. Carter took away from cadets was a sense of responsibly.

Cadets achieved ranks based on their age but also their behavior. The most responsible cadets took the lead roll, and cadets learned to respect and trust the leaders and their decisions.

He noticed many of his friends who went through cadets went on to lead successful lives

Mr. Carter sad the cadets provided a stepping stone towards his 36-year career in the RCMP.

It was something he wanted his sons to experience. Both of his sons joined the cadet program in their teens, and one went on to join the military.

Like Mr. Carter, Lloyd Mushrow found cadets was a great foundation for his adult life. He remembers the fun boys had as members of the corps. He joined in 1954. At that time, most boys in his class were also joining. A few were lying about their age just go get accepted.

He said the best part was spending seven weeks away from home at summer camp. All the cadets worked hard for the privilege of being chosen to go away for camp. Not only did they get three meals a day, but they also received pay for some of the work they did at camp; work Mr. Mushrow said he would have had to do at home anyway.

While steeped in military tradition, cadets have changed with the times. When it started, cadets was a boys-only club. Part of the cadet program's reason for being was to groom young men for military service. That boys-only practice did not change until the late 1960s.

Sylvia Seaward was one of the first females to join the St. James' Corps and became the first female commanding officer.

Ms. Seaward has seen many changes in the cadets system. She has remained on as an instructor. Some rank titles have changed, as have equipment. While Cadets used to use real 22-calibre rifles, they later switched to safer air rifles. The uniforms changed from using ascots, an old fashion style of neck tie, to using regular ties.

Ms. Seaward has remained on as an instructor and camp leader. After spending two summers as a cadet at Camp Argonaut at CFB Gagetown, N.B. She spent 14 summers as a camp leader.

The St. James' Cadets Corps is still thriving today. The group currently has 25 members, a number Commanding Officer Charlie Osmond would like to see increase in coming years.

He said the program continues to change with the times. He sees the program making more and more use of technology.

One thing Mr. Osmond said has remained the same is sponsorship from the school board. He said despite board changes and amalgamations, the support has never wavered.

At the same time, it continues to teach the same values that were at the core of the program in 1949: discipline and leadership.

- with files from Samantha Francis and Natalie Musseau

reporter@gulfnews.ca