Iqaluit air cadet heads Down Under on international exchange

Kaya Natar, Warrant Officer First Class with the 795 Iqaluit Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, has been selected to travel to Australia on July 15 as part of a 15-day international cadet exchange program.

The summer cadet camp will include other Canadian and international cadets.

This is Natar's last year of cadets after six years with the squadron. She started at age 12 and will be exiting the squadron with the highest rank possible.

Along the way, and after countless drills and practices, Natar became the captain of both the air rifle marksmanship team and the fencing team.

She says the drills and activities, like erecting camp tents, do more than teach individual skills, they provide a foundation of discipline and teamwork.

"As a cadet we learn life skills [and] how to work as a team," Natar said.

Natar's father, Eric Caouette, saw changes in his daughter almost from day one of her cadet experience.

"Every time she would go out to camp, she comes back [and] I see that she's more independent, that she grew from the experience," he said.

Natar encourages anyone thinking of joining the cadets to go for it.

"I would tell them if they're thinking of joining the cadet program, they definitely should," she said. "They get to meet new people, travel Canada, and even go to new countries."