Air Cadet Involvement~ J. Russell Gallant ~1960 to Present
-Cadet early 1960’s during high school years.
-Joined the staff of # 641 Tignish in 1969 and served until 1984. Retired with the rank of Captain. Served in Supply. Administration, and Commanding Officer (10 Years). CD 1983. Captain/Acting Major while serving as OIC Survival Trg. C.F.B. Greenwood 1970-1980.
-Became a member of #641 Tignish SSC in 1985. From 1990-1997, served as Chair of #641 Sponsoring Committee and, during that time, served as director of the Air Cadet League of P.E.I., VP, and President. While serving as President in 1995, P.E.I. League hosted its first ever AGM of the Air Cadet League of Canada. Recipient of Canada 125 Medal in 1992, Air Cadet League of Canada Certificate of Honour in 1995, and Certificate of Excellence in 1998. Recipient of both the Cadet and Cadet Volunteer Long Service Medals.
While not acting in an official capacity between 1997 and 2007 due to conditions of my employment with the Govt. of Canada, continued to play a supporting role at the squadron, provincial, and national levels.
-January 2007 returned as Chair of #641 Sponsoring Committee and served until 2010. Active in Air Cadet League of P.E.I. from 2007 to present(2015), serving as director, President (2013),Vice President (2014).Currently serving as League member. Chaired Host Committee AGM Air Cadet League of Canada hosted by the Air Cadet League of P.E.I. in Charlottetown, June 2013.
-In 2010, while serving as Zone Commander of the West Prince Zone(P.E.I.) of the Royal Canadian Legion, worked in conjunction with the Executive of Branch #6, Tignish and # 641 Sponsoring Committee in getting the Squadron’s name changed to #641 West Prince. Part of the change involved expanding the sponsoring body to include St. Anthony‘s and O’Leary Branches of the Royal Canadian Legion. The move provided the squadron with additional financial assistance, regional representation on the sponsoring body, and a larger recruitment area.
Continue to serve as a member of the PEI Provincial Committee. In 2016, elected to Board of Governors of Air Cadet League of Canada, reelected in 2017.