CSTC HMCS Quadra

Cadet Summer Training Centre HMCS "Quadra" is a Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre located in Comox, British Columbia.

CSTC HMCS "Quadra" is situated on Department of National Defence property on Comox Harbour called "Goose Spit" and trains over 1,000 sea cadets from every region and province of Canada.

History

A former Royal Navy outpost, Goose Spit was used by the RN as a haven for their ships serving on the west coast of North America as early as the mid-1800s. RN warships routinely called at Goose Spit for maintenance and hull cleaning, some leaving behind ballast stone markers as a record of their stay. Some of these markers are still located on the spit with the stone left by HMS "Egeria" now located in front of the CSTC HMCS "Quadra" mess hall.

The Royal Canadian Navy took over the use of Goose Spit as a training area after the Royal Navy departed Canada in 1906. The RCN developed the area into a firing range. During World War II, the facilities at Goose Spit were known as "Naden III" and were used for training "combined operations" personnel for overseas duty. Royal Canadian Sea Cadets were also trained at Goose Spit during this time under the supervision of RCN personnel.

Goose Spit was chosen as the permanent location for a Cadet Summer Training Centre (CSTC) in 1952 and was commissioned as HMCS "Quadra" in 1956. CSTC HMCS "Quadra" is named after the Spanish explorer Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra.

Following the closure of the Esquimalt Sea Cadet Camp in 1975, all Royal Canadian Sea Cadet training in the Pacific region was consolidated at CSTC HMCS "Quadra".

Goose Spit and HMCS Quadra was used as the location for Cougar Salvo 07

Courses

CSTC HMCS "Quadra" currently offers training in 4 main trades and 3 specialty trades.

* Introductory course
** 2-week general training

*Primary courses
** Boatswain
** Gunnery
** Sail
** Music

*Specialty courses
** Marine Engineering
** Shipwright
** Silver Sail

*Defunct Courses
**Medical Assistant
**Operations Communications
**Drill Instructor
**Junior Leadership
**Practical Leadership

External links

* [http://www.mrtimes.com/issues04/085104/news/085104nn3.html News story mentioning HMCS Quadra]
* [http://www.cadets.net/pac/quadra/intro_e.asp HMCS Quadra Homepage]