The below submission to one of 418 Wing Tips Bulletins - January 2021. 418 Wing (Belleville) Royal Canadian Air Force Association is one of our official sponsors of 608 Sqn and Capt Russell has been providing articles over the last few years. This months article about 608 Sqn was written by a 608 cadet. 

​This Email along with the attached flyer is for forwarding to all corps/sqns slated to participate in March Break CAP as a multi-day single-unit activity open to all corps/san cadets.
 
It is important to note the following:
 
1. Registration close in Fortress is being changed to 15 Feb 21.
 
2. Parents will be responsible for drop-off and pick up at the trg locations (sites will be staffed at least 1 hr before and after scheduled times to allow for early drop-off / late pick-up).
 
3. We are in a very unpredictable period of the second wave of COVID-19 in Ontario. A spike immediately following the Winter Break was anticipated, and led to the decision to suspend in-person cadet activities until at least 1 Feb 21 well before the year-end holidays. Predictions were that daily case counts would continue to increase following the holiday period, and peak toward the end of January / early February; however, it is unclear now as to whether February will bring a leveling off and decline in rates or if the new, more contagious COVID-19 strains will lead to sustained spread of the virus at increasing levels. Planning and preparation to deliver the CAP during March Break will continue, with RCSU Central and CJCR HQ continuing to closely and actively monitoring the trends. The safety of all CCO members remains paramount, and CAP will only occur when and where it can be done safely. We do not want to set up unreasonable expectations, nor cause disappointment. A go / no-go decision for CAP will be made regionally not later than 1 Mar 21, which will identify which locations are good to proceed based on the local conditions. Monitoring of the local conditions will continue for each approved site, and the activities will only proceed if local conditions support doing so safely.
 
4. Corps / Sqn COs and staff are asked to actively promote this opportunity to their cadets, and to register cadets in Fortress as they express interest. Please temper cadet (and parent) expectations. While we will put every effort into developing a fun and engaging program, we will not compromise on safety and if that means shutting down certain sites, or everything, up to the last minute, that is the reality of these times we find ourselves in.
 
5. ​Planning for Summer CAP 2021 is underway. In the event March Break CAP cannot be conducted by the unit, every effort will be made to work with the unit to develop a summer 2021 CAP opportunity.

​1.      As you are aware, there are rising cases of COVID 19 throughout most of Ontario and other Canadian jurisdictions.  Public health advice to Canadians is to celebrate the holidays within your household to mitigate the spread of COVID 19 during the holiday period.

2.      As discussed earlier this week, out of an abundance of caution, all in-person Cadet Activities throughout the RCSU Central AOR are suspended during the period 23 Dec 20 – 31 Jan 21.  Corps / Sqns are encouraged to continue virtual trg during that period.  During this period, with prior approval of the Area OC, Corps / Sqn staff members (CIC and CI staff) may complete essential staff work onsite and in-person where it is not possible to do so remotely / virtually.

3.      Based on local COVID 19 conditions, there may be some health regions / municipalities that remain suspended from in-person activities after 31 Jan 21.  Not later than 22 Jan 21, we will communicate the areas of Ontario where Corps / Sqns may resume in-person trg as of 1 Feb 21 and the areas that will remain suspended.

4.      Please disseminate this information to your Corps / Sqns.  Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday period to all team members!!

The team has developed some infographics lately to promote safe and efficient online behaviours and practices, useful/relevant to Corps/Sqn.     These are posted on Facebook (COATS-SAIOC) and added soon after to our public web site of IT resources.  They are produced with the aim to provide accurate and timely information so there is no need to recreate locally.  Some of them are produced in response to requests received from you/your staff.  Please let us know when/if you feel we should do something.   
 
Below is the list of infographics published so far.  From now on we will take the habit to let J6s now systematically.

• Acceptable use of virtual platforms (speaks about behavior)
• Safe VTC (speaks about securing online meetings.  Not yet on the web site but available to Corps/Sqn from Facebook post)
• Help resources for GoToMeeting and Webex (Speaks about what VTC tools are offered and where users can find help resources.  Not yet on the web site but available to Corps/Sqn from Facebook post)
• Protected A information at Corps/Sqn (speaks about electronic handling of protected A information)
• Warning: Ransomware (speaks about a cybersecurity threats through email.  Not yet on the web site but available to Corps/Sqn from Facebook post)​