The Squamish Army Cadet Corps (2277 6 Field Engineer Squadron RCACC) said goodbye to CWO Kevin Biln at its parade Monday (Feb. 28) as he ages out on his 19th birthday.
Kevin has participated in and led the Corps for five years. As a 14- and 15-year-old he attended Army Cadet summer training camp in Vernon, where he was trained in a number of skills such as tying knots, handling a canoe, abseiling, use of map and compass, Drill and Ceremonial and learned how to teach classes himself. His test results from the National Star Certification Exam were in the top 10 per cent for B.C. which qualified him to represent BC on an exchange trip to Great Britain in the summer of 2002. There, he paraded and trained with the British Army Cadet Force and their regular forces. Last summer he was a staff member at the Cadet Summer Training Camp in Vernon passing on his skills and training to other young cadets.
Over the last three years Kevin has been awarded the Best Cadet Trophy, the Royal Canadian Legion Medal of Excellence and the Lord Strathcona Medal for military excellence.
In 2004, Kevin graduated from Howe Sound Secondary, was valedictorian of his class and was chosen by the Rotary Club of Squamish to represent the youth of our town on a trip to Ottawa, where he met with MP John Reynolds.
He is currently attending SFU and applying for acceptance into the Army's 6 Field Engineer Squadron Reserve Unit which parades in North Vancouver. Future plans for Kevin include attending Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont. where he will receive officer training.
