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Out of 10 students who started their training, nine completed the course and eight requested to continue with the Canadian Army Primary Reserve.

Terry Lazarou, Regina Public Schools spokesman, said his division received positive feedback from students who completed their training. He noted it sometimes takes several years for new courses to become popular, and some students might not have been aware the program was being offered.

“There’s every intention to make the program available next year if there’s a demand for it. We’ll gauge that demand as we go along,” Lazarou said.

But the program’s popularity wasn’t the issue. More than 40 students applied for the course, said Maj. Mike Lagace, senior public affairs officer for 38 Canadian Brigade Group.

“We’re disappointed that we weren’t able to enrol our young recruits from the high school program in time,” Lagace said.

While five students had been accepted, he said more would have been approved if it weren’t for deadlines.

“When you apply for a job — like McDonald’s, for example — there are certain things you need to do,” Lagace said. “When you’re applying for the Canadian Armed Forces, you’re applying for a profession.”

He highlighted how much time is needed to review health records as an example of why the application process takes so long.

“It takes months to get in the Canadian Armed Forces. That’s if you’ve got a clean file,” Lagace said.

Students still interested in the military will be offered opportunities to get their training through the usual recruiting process instead of the co-op program. Lagace said those students who proceed through training still can receive an elective high school credit.

He’s confident about the program’s future in Regina high schools.

That’s bad news for peace activists like Ed Lehman, a member of both PeaceQuest Regina and the Regina Peace Council, who was pleased the program won’t be offered this year.

“We would like the decision to be made permanent,” Lehman said. “We don’t think military training has a place in the school system. We don’t think our schools should be used as a recruiting grounds for the military.”

adavis@postmedia.com

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