Cadet leads military college to West Point win

Naval Cadet In Training, Graham Mater of the Royal Military College carries the Canadian flag at the Sandhurst Military Skills competition at West Point, N.Y., April 9.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

A Naval Cadet in Training is celebrating his team’s recent triumph at the prestigious Sandhurst Military Skills Competition.

NCdt Graham Mater, 23, was a member of the Royal Military College Canada (RMCC) military skills team that notched its fifth victory in the annual regimental skills competition held at West Point, N.Y., April 8 and 9.

The native of Guelph, Ont., who will return to CFB Esquimalt in June to continue the officer training program, says he was elated when he and his teammates learned they were tops in the event’s international category, as well as winning the event’s overall title.

“It felt really good. The RMC team was very proud to represent Canada on the international stage,” said NCdt Mater. “We knew that all of the international teams would return to their home countries and spread the news that Canada had won the competition.”

The regimental skills competition was founded in 1967 with a mandate to enhance professional development and military excellence among corps of cadets. The nine-member squads (which include two alternates) perform a series of tasks including obstacle course navigation, rifle marksmanship, a raft paddle, weapon handling skills, combat first aid, and leadership challenges.  

The modern-day version of the competition was created in 1994 to keep the event in sync with changing demands of the military.   

This year’s regimental skills competition involved 60 teams from across the United States and around the world, and the RMCC victory even caught the attention of Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan who officially congratulated the team.

“RMCC’s achievement is significant and is a testament to the commitment and skill of everyone involved,” said Minister Sajjan in a statement.

“We are proud that they represented the Canadian Armed Forces and Canada with such distinction.”

NCdt Mater said the Minister’s comments reflect the belief that “he [Sajjan] saw this as a victory for the whole (DND) Organization” and not just RMCC. NCdt Mater added that the victory didn’t come easily.

“The competition was definitely gruelling. The most demanding part was travelling long distances over mountainous terrain with heavy equipment.

That’s where many teams faltered. We were suffering the whole time but we managed to keep up a good pace throughout.”

NCdt Mater recently completed his undergraduate degree at RMCC and became a commissioned officer on May 20.

He completed his MARS (Maritime Surface and Sub-surface Officer) Level Two training last summer and plans to complete levels three and four here at the base.