XN000022-1982-04-25 — Page 5

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 1982

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THE CAS AIMS TO TAKE IN 500 TO 600 ADULT RECRUITS THIS YEAR. BUT IT IS ALSO EXPECTED THAT 300 OTHERS WILL LEAVE THE SERVICE DUE TO NORMAL ATTRITION FACTORS, SUCH AS INCREASED FAMILY AND OCCUPATIONAL COMMITMENTS.

MR FORTUNE SAID +CAS MEMBERS ARE RECRUITED FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND MOST JOIN WITH A GENUINE DESIRE TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY DURING ANY EMERGENCY OR DISASTER AND TO ASSIST WITH IMPORTANT CIVIC FUNCTIONS.

ALL RECRUITS MUST UNDERGO 56 HOURS OF BASIC TRAINING COVERING CAS ORGANISATION, FOOTDRILL, TYPHOON DUTY AND EMERGENCY CALL-OUT, COUNTRYSIDE MANAGEMENT, FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE FIGHTING, ESCAPE AND RESCUE FROM DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, AND FIRST AID THEORY AND- PRACTICE.

AFTER GRADUATION, RECRUITS ARE POSTED TO DIFFERENT UNITS WHERE THEY RECEIVE MORE BASIC TRAINING AND LIGHT RESCUE EXERCISE. COURSES ON LEADERSHIP, COMMUNICATIONS AND CASUALTY HANDLING ARE LATER ADDED ON TO BROADEN THEIR KNOWLEDGE.

AN EQUALLY VARIED AND CHALLENGING PROGRAMME OF TRAINING IS ALSO OFFERED TO CADETS AGED FROM 12 TO 18.

A FULL-TIME COURSE FOR CADETS INCLUDES CANOE BUILDING, EXPEDITION, INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, WATER SPORTS, FIRST AID, ROCK CLIMBING, LIFE SAVING, AND ELEMENTARY LESSONS IN MECHANICAL, AUTOMOTIVE AND ELECTRICAL STUDIES.

THIS YEAR THE MINIMUM ENROLMENT AGE FOR CADETS WAS LOWERED FROM 14 TO 12 TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THIS VULNERABLE AGE GROUP A HEALTHY OUTLET TO CHANNEL THEIR ENERGIES, BY APRIL 1, OVER 250 NEW CADETS HAD APPLIED FOR ENROLMENT INTO THE SERVICE.

MR FORTUNE EXPLAINED YOUTHS, HAVING JUST COMPLETED THEIR PRIMARY SCHOOLING, WILL HAVE TO ADAPT THEMSELVES TO NEW SURROUNDINGS AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS.

+THEY USUALLY HAVE MORE TIME ON THE IR HANDS. IT WOULD BE A MOST OPPORTUNE TIME TO ENROL THEM INTO WELL ORGANISED GROUPS SO THAT THEY MAY HAVE THEIR SPARE TIME GAINFULLY EMPLOYED BY TAKING PART IN POSITIVE AND CHALLENGING ACTIVITIES, ACQUIRING TECHNOLOGICAL KNOWHOW AND USEFUL SKILLS IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT WITH EXPERT GUIDANCE.

J

+THERE IS NO DOUBT OUR CADET CORPS TRAINING PROGRAMME CAN HELP COMBAT JUVENILE CRIME, ESPECIALLY IF WE CAN GET YOUTHS INTO THE CORPS AT 12 YEARS OF AGE BEFORE THEY ARE LED ASTRAY AND GET INTO BAD HABITS, HE SAID.

ESTABLISHED IN 1952 AS A SPECIALIST SUB-UNIT OF THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES CORPS TO HANDLE DIFFICULT CIVIL DEFENCE PROBLEMS, THE CAS QUICKLY PROVED ITS WORTH THE FOLLOWING YEAR WHEN 50 000 PEOPLE WERE MADE HOMELESS IN THE HUGE SHEK KIP ME! SQUATTER FIRE. CAS WARDENS WERE HEAVILY COMMITTED IN HELPING TO MANAGE THE DISASTER VICTIMS.

/ITS HEMCIC