A sea cadet from Corner Brook has been named the top cadet at the summer camp he attended in Nova Scotia.
Chief petty officer 2nd class Rex Combdon attended the six-week camp at HMCS Acadia in Cornwallis, N.S.
At the end of the camp, the five-year veteran member of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Corps Curling in Corner Brook was awarded the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada Cadet Medal of Merit. The medal is presented at each Cadet Training Centre to the top cadet on course.
The 17-year-old, known within his home corps for his extensive involvement in sea cadet events, had quite a busy summer at the camp.
Combdon completed a boatswain mates' course, through which cadets develop advanced seamanship skills and obtain the knowledge and skills required to act as a boatswain's mate onboard a sea cadet training vessel.
They spend six weeks learning various techniques promoting leadership and teamwork development, including rope work, marine navigation, ship's operation and damage control.
On the course, Combdon had the opportunity to participate on a day sail aboard HMCS St. John's, a Canadian Navy frigate-class ship. He also was selected to fly to Ontario and train on HMCS Oriole around the Great Lakes.
HMCS Oriole is a sail training vessel of the Royal Canadian Navy. It is currently the oldest commissioned vessel in the Royal Canadian Navy, and the longest serving commissioned ship.
Combdon visited the damage control center in Nova Scotia and learned techniques such as how to extinguish fires on a ship.
His leadership and work ethic while on course and during the interview conducted as part of the selection process earned him the medal.
The award was presented to Combdon at the final graduation parade.