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MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1980
CAS STEPS UP TRAINING FOR ITS MEMBERS
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THE CIVIL AID SERVICES IS STEPPING UP ITS TRAINING PROGRAMME TO PREPARE ITS MEMBERS FOR ALL CONTINGENCIES.
A SERIES OF COURSES ARE BEING CONDUCTED AT THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD IN YAU MA TEI DESIGNED TO ACQUAINT CAS MEMBERS WITH THE LATEST ANTI-OIL POLLUTION EQUIPMENT AND HOW TO USE IT.
ANOTHER TOUGH COURSE THAT HAS BROUGHT SOME OF THEM FACE TO FACE WITH RUGGED MOUNTAINS IN WALES AND NORTH ENGLAND, TEACHES THEM TO COPE WITH SITUATIONS WHERE THEY HAVE TO EVACUATE AND MINISTER TO INJURED AND LOST HILL WALKERS.
MR CHAN CHUN-YING, PRINCIPAL TRAINING OFFICER, NOTED THAT WITH MORE PEOPLE TAKING TO WATER SPORTS, THERE WAS NOW MORE CAS TRAINING IN THESE ACTIVITIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF WATER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE CADETS.
THESE INCLUDE CANOE BUILDING, CANOEING, SAILING, SNORKEL DIVING, SWIMMING AND LIFE SAVING.
ON LAND, COURSES SUCH AS REFUGEE CAMP MANAGEMENT, PLANNING MOUNTAIN TREKKING EXPEDITIONS, CAMP CRAFT, RADIO COMMUNICATIONS, FOREST FIRE PRECAUTIONS, COUNTRYSIDE MANAGEMENT, VEHICLE REPAIR AND LORRY DRIVING ARE ORGANISED FOR THE MORE EXPERIENCED.
TRAINING NOT ONLY PROVIDES CAS VOLUNTEERS WITH BASIC TECHNICAL SKILLS, IT ALSO DEVELOPS THEIR INITIATIVE AND PUTS THEM IN READINESS FOR TASKS WHICH THEY MAY HAVE TO BE CALLED TO PERFORM AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT AND NO MATTER HOW BAD THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, MR CHAN SAID.
FOR CAS OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORS, THERE IS IN ADDITION INSTRUCTION IN SUPERVISORY MANAGEMENT, TACTICAL DEPLOYMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF FIELD UNITS.
SUCH DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING NEW THINGS AND THE PROSPECT OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY IS SO APPEALING TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THE CAS CONSTANTLY HAS OVER 500 ADULT APPLICANTS WAITING TO FILL THE COMPARATIVELY FEW VACANCIES WHICH OCCUR EACH YEAR.
THERE ARE, HOWEVER, MORE CHANCES TO JOIN ITS CADET SERVICE WHICH HAS A LARGER TURNOVER OF MEMBERS.
+THERE COMES A TIME WHEN THE CADETS FEEL THEY HAVE TO GIVE MORE TIME TO ACADEMIC STUDIES WHEN THEY MOVE FROM ADOLESCENCE TO MANHOOD, AND WHEN THEY HAVE TO START LOOKING FOR JOBS IN THE ADULT WORLD, MR CHAN SAID.
+NEVERTHELESS, THEIR CAS TRAINING IS AN INVALUABLE ASSET IN THE IR PREPARATIONS FOR ADULTHOOD AND THE IR QUALIFICATIONS OFTEN ENABLE THEM TO COMPETE MORE FAVOURABLY WITH OTHER YOUNGSTERS APPLYING TO JOIN THE DISCIPLINED AND UNIFORMED SERVICES, HE ADDED.
AT PRESENT