Windsor cadet presented with high award

by Hailey Trealout

Chief Warrant Officer Peter Romanko beamed with pride as he was awarded the Presidential Award in front of an audience of family, friends and his fellow army cadets Nov. 21.

The Presidential Award identifies the next cadet representative of Ontario, This year is the first time the award was presented to a cadet anywhere south of Toronto. Lt.-Col. Don McComber, President of the Army Cadet League of Ontario, presented the award to 17-year-old Romanko at the Roayl Canadian Legion.

Romanko comes from a family with a cadet background and said he felt proud that his hard work paid off.

“You get out what you put in as long as you put the effort forward,” said Romanko. “In the cadets, if you’re dedicated and you work hard towards everything we teach you, then you’ll go far, you’ll end up just like myself. Even then, you’re just in it for the experience and it’s a good time all the way.”

The commanding officer of the army cadet core at Branch 594 Capt. Brad Krewench, said this award was a big accomplishment for Romanko.

“Romanko has gone up through the ranks and he was awarded with the top cadet in Ontario,” said Krewench. “The qualifications for the award is you have to be a master warrant officer or above, you have to go to many of the cadet camps, be a cadet leader instructor, which he has accomplished all of them and he’s gone up and he’s done the national expedition in Quebec, he’s done the parachuting course, he’s done it all and is well deserving of the award.”

He was also nominated to be a candidate for the Walsh Award, which recognizes the top cadet in Canada. The award ultimately went to a cadet from New Brunswick.

McComber made a trip from Oshawa, Ont. for the ceremony and said Romanko has displayed the skills the program is trying to teach their cadets.

“I’m proud of this because it shows the end product and it’s not really the end for him because I know, he was telling me he was going to Royal Military college,” said McComber. “We’ve seen many of our cadets proceed through that four year program and come out as officers with Department of National Defense. I’m really proud on behalf of all of the volunteers across Ontario to present the award to show their efforts, and that’s the efforts of the support that the parents give, the support that our volunteers give and the support that our officers give to these young people to make them what they become.”

Next, Romanko said he will be working towards the top cadet in Canada, a title that will give him the opportunity to go on a full paid trip to Ottawa.