ACSTC Argonaut

Army Cadet Summer Training Centre Argonaut (also ACSTC Argonaut) is a Royal Canadian Army Cadets summer training facility for the Atlantic Provinces located at CFB Gagetown.

CSTC Argonaut was established at CFB Gagetown in 1972 after having previously been located at CFB Aldershot. The facility houses and trains 1,200-1,500 cadets annually.

In 1999, training was uprooted at the camp when it was required to house and feed refugees fleeing the Kosovo War.

Our HistoryPrior to 1972, Atlantic Region Army Cadet summer training took place in Aldershot, Nova Scotia. In the summer of 1971, it was decided that the Atlantic region army cadet summer training camp would move from Aldershot to Gagetown. In that first summer, 1200 cadets passed through the grounds at Argonaut.

In 1978-79, Argonaut ACSTC saw the addition of main living complexes for the cadets. With these new complexes, Argonaut ACSTC was starting to look more and more permanent. Throughout the 80's, more facilities were added to Argonaut increasing the number of cadets it could train annually. In 1989, Argonaut was given the honour of Freedom of the Town of Oromocto. In 1990, Argonaut was honoured again with another Freedom of the City, this time bestowed by the city of Moncton.

The 1990's saw both the physical size of Argonaut increase as well as the numbers of cadets that were trained here. In 1999, Argonaut received its hardest challenge. Due to Kosovar refugees being relocated on the grounds of Argonaut ACSTC, the training centre had to relocate for that summer. Argonaut was divided into three sites, with the majority of cadets being housed at Mount Allison University in Sackville NB while smaller contingents were placed in Port Elgin NB, Slemon Park PEI and even a company in Vernon BC!

Currently, Argonaut ACSTC has a paved parade square and roads, as well as additional ablution facilities. The most significant change to the training centre is the recent addition of the Cadet Dining Hall in 2001. The facility will seat 650 people thus increasing efficiency for meal times.

The training centre will have approximately 1450 cadets pass through its gates this summer.

A number of army cadet courses are offered at ACSTC Argonaut, including:
*Basic level courses:
**Basic Army Cadet
**Basic Army Cadet Military Band
**Basic Army Cadet Marksman
**Basic Army Cadet Pipes and Drums
*Cadet Leader level courses:
**Cadet Leader
**Cadet Leader Military Band
**Cadet Leader Marksman
**Cadet Leader Pipes and Drums
*Cadet Leader Instructor level courses:
**Cadet Leader Instructor Adventure
**Cadet Leader Instructor Military Band
**Cadet Leader Instructor Drill and Ceremonial
**Cadet Leader Instructor Physical Education and Recreational Training
**Cadet Leader Instructor Pipes and Drums
**Cadet Leader Instructor Rifle Coach
*Advanced Training:
**Senior Cadet Expedition

ACSTC Argonaut also hosts several United Kingdom exchange cadets every summer who take part in the Cadet Leader Instructor Adventure course.

The current Commanding Officer is Lieutenant Colonel K.M Fells, CD.