Veterans in Uniform Give Inspiration

So it was kind of like an early stage in my life introduction into the whole military aspect of life, albeit, being the cadet program. While I was there engaged in the cadet program we would always see the reservists come in from the SD&G Highlanders in Cornwall because we basically conglomerated in the facilities in Cornwall at the armouries there. And it gave me a stepping stone from seeing these guys that I saw in uniform I just thought like wow these guys, this is really cool stuff that I am seeing. I want I want to carry one of those rifles and I want to carry those backpacks. I just thought it was absolutely amazing which encouraged me seeing these guys to do better in physical activity because seeing them down doing their push ups and their physical work that they were doing at that time as a younger person, I ended up engaging in the Canada Fitness Award program through the cadet program and I received the Canada Fitness Award of Excellence through that which I mean I was always big into the physical sporting atmosphere of things that were thrown at me. When I turned 17, I joined the reserve unit, the SD&G Highlanders. Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders in Cornwall, Ontario and this was in 1997 and then I did three years with the reserve unit. In 1999 I went and approached the commanding officer at the unit in Cornwall and said I would like to transfer over to the Regular Force. I had graduated from high school at this point and I had ascertained a full time Class B contract with them in Cornwall and I really wanted to start advancing. I wanted to get outside of that area also and see the rest of Canada. My initial intentions were to go out, do my three years with the Reg Force, my initial contract with them and then go to work for the oil rigs. But three years ended up turning into fifteen.