SANFORD — The young people were camping in the woods in Cornish and woke to fireworks and sirens at precisely 2:16 a.m., ordered out of bed, and were told to search for a quarter ”“ yes, a 25-cent piece ”“ in a field.
It might sound a bit over the top to some, but it’s all part of the drill for Sanford and Massabesic cadets who were enrolled in the Summer Youth Police Cadet Academy that wrapped up Thursday.
It has been a summer of drills and marching, inspections and lessons in manners and leadership ”“ and life.
And if it sounds like all work and no play, well, there was some play, too ”“ paintball and a trip to Aquaboggon water park, among other adventures.
About 45 young people from Sanford and RSU 57 ”“ Massabesic schools ”“ took part in the summer academy and were awarded certificates at graduation, held outside St. Thomas School on Thursday.
Johnathan Paige, a lieutenant with Massabesic cadets, joined two years ago and recently made the decision to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He’ll ship out next year, after graduation, and will start his navy career as a hospital corpsman.
“It gives you confidence,” he said of the cadet program. Paige said he was going through a difficult time before he joined, but now, his life is much different. He said he never would have had the confidence to enlist in the navy absent the cadet program.
As to the 2:16 a.m. wake up call, it was part of a “crime scene scenario,” where the cadets were woken out of a sound sleep and required to get dressed and get their flashlights in a hurry ”“ and then go try to find “evidence” ”“ the coin ”“ in the field.
“They’re not used to thinking under pressure,” said Deputy Jason Solomon, the Massabesic cadets leader.
They are now.
“There’s a lot of discipline,” said cadet Melody Edens, who started the program this year. “And you learn to respect people.”
“I like how they get us motivated, and we try our best to do whatever we can,” said Austin Pastor of Sanford.
Sanford Police Officer Michael Gordon, who heads the Sanford cadet program with Officer Michael “Tipper” Thornton, said the cadets take part in hikes, drill and command, line up for meals and learn manners like saying “sir and ma’am” and waiting to start eating until everyone at their table is seated.
They make sure their uniforms are clean and neat and their boots are shined.
They’ve heard presentations on any number of subjects ”“ a recent one was from an officer who spoke about overcoming personal tragedy.
“It’s skill building, applied stress and team challenges,” said Gordon.
Now that the summer academy is complete, the fall program will start when school commences. Cadets will meet one day a week and perform community service a couple of times a month ”“ one of their first duties will be to help out with the chili and chowder contest that benefits the Maine Children’s Cancer Program, said Gordon ”“ their fourth year doing so.
“It’s a leadership program,” said Solomon. “We’re not trying to make little police officers or soldiers, but better citizens.”
As for the quarter in the field?
They found it.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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