We recently received a request for assistance from long-time CadetStuff forum gadfly and Pacific Region Deputy Chief of Staff for Cadet Programs, Lt Col Ned Lee, about an "unofficial" project he's working on for the Ghana National Cadet Corps. While we'd sure love to help Ned out with manpower and such, it sounds like he's got the details sewn up already, so we'd like to just provide him with a place to get to word out. Again, we'd like to stress that this project is strictly on an unofficial level and is not affiliated or supported by CAP at all. -Editor

Attentions CadetStuffers: I need your help on a project.

The Problem
Last summer CAP asked me to travel to Ghana in West Africa to work with their National Cadet Corps and to evaluate their readiness to participate in IACE.

Ghana is an English-speaking former colony that has been independent from Great Britain for over 50 years. It has earned its reputation as the most stable democracy in Africa. It is a beautiful, green, tropical country just north of the equator.

What I found there was thousands of incredibly enthusiastic cadets and some highly dedicated adults working hard to make a successful cadet program. I visited with cadets from as far south as Accra on the Gulf of Guinea to Tamale and the areas near the Burkino-Faso border. And I discovered cadets that enjoy intensive leadership training, drill and ceremonies, and who work on public service projects. Kinda like CAP. Who knew?

The National Cadet Corps of Ghana (NCCG) is a little different from our CAP cadet program in that it includes not only Air Force cadets, but also cadets from the Army, Navy, Police, and Fire services. (Each unit decides its affiliation.) There are NCCG units at most secondary schools and colleges.

As I said, it is a vibrant, challenging cadet program that counts many of the nation’s government and business leaders among its alumni.

But West Africa is not a prosperous region of the world, and Ghana is not a rich country. Widespread poverty has direct effects on the NCCG. Many of the cadet units cannot afford to acquire uniforms for their cadets. (And that is a mild understatement.)

That’s where you come in.

As a pilot project, I want to collect 100 "gently used" BDU uniforms in cadet sizes to send to Ghana to allow some of their neediest cadets to participate actively. I have already cleared this project through the US State Department, and our embassy in Accra stands ready to help with the distribution to ensure that the uniforms go directly to needy cadets.

I need to point out that this is not some sort of official CAP project. This is a direct "cadet to cadet" venture that will allow each of us to make a difference in the life a cadet half a world away.

How This Works

Easy. You send me a clean "gently used" BDU uniform and I package them together and send them to our embassy in Accra for distribution by the Assistant Air Attache.

My Promise

I promise that I will personally package and send every useful uniform to Ghana. I promise that I have no commercial interest in this. I am not going to make a dime. In fact, I am personally paying for the shipping costs.

Detailed Instructions:

1. Donate a clean, serviceable BDU uniform. "Cadet sizes" (Smalls and Mediums) preferred. Ideally, we need a complete BDU uniform (coat, trousers, and patrol cap). Please do not send boots.

2. Remove any patches and insignia.

3. Mail the uniform to me. Please put enough postage on it.

Edward Lee
117 Bernal Road #70-330
San Jose, CA 95119

(This box will also accept FedEx, UPS, etc.)

4. You’re done.

5. I can’t promise you any receipts, warm fuzzy letters from grateful cadets, or even pictures of a needy Ghanaian cadet wearing your uniform. Remember, this is not an official CAP thing; this is just a deal with you, me, and the Ghana cadets.

6. But you will have the satisfaction of helping another cadet participate in an active cadet program that is a whole lot like CAP.

Thanks for your help.

Ned Lee

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