Young cadets full of prideBy Angela Mettler, American News Writer
Published on Tuesday, September 11, 2007
They might look a little young to be in military uniform, but the cadets of Aberdeen's American Cadet Alliance take their responsibilities seriously.
“Double time!” cried Cadet Pvt. Raven Shelton, 16, as she led her fellow cadets outside the Armory on Monday afternoon to practice self-defense techniques.
The Aberdeen unit of the American Cadet Alliance is the first unit in South Dakota. It started in mid-March and has about 10 members, said Capt. J.D. Shultis, the adult volunteer leader of the unit.
The American Cadet Alliance consists of Naval, Marine and Army cadets. According to its Web site, www.militarycadets.org, its mission is “to instill in young Americans, through a multi-faceted cadet program which is physically and mentally challenging and rewarding, the importance of national pride, service to others, and maintaining a drug-free and gang-free lifestyle.”Anyone who is 12 years old or in the sixth grade can join the American Cadet Alliance. Cadets usually leave the program once they turn 18 or graduate from high school, Shultis said.
Youths who join the American Cadet Alliance are called recruits until they go through the program's two-week basic training at headquarters in Dayton, Pa. When they graduate from basic training, they earn the title of cadet.
Rest of article:
http://www.aberdeennews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/FRONTPAGE/709110335Some 'interesting' sites they are pointing our kids to:
American Cadet Alliance, Inc. -->
http://www.militarycadets.org/Camp Atterbury -->
http://www.adventurebeginshere.org/