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Hawkeye acknowledged in the letter that not all would agree with the change. “I realize this policy change will be considered by some as regressive, or be seen as bowing to ‘political correctness,’” she added.

The Navy League’s cadet program has as its goals the development of a sense of citizenship, duty, self-discipline and respect for others.

“Despite some misconceptions, it is not a para-military organization, and is wholly independent of the Department of National Defence, unlike the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet programme, which is not nationally affected by this decision,” Hawkeye added in the letter.

The Sea Cadet program is for older kids and teens.

The drill rifles used by the Navy League cadets are white. But in some cases, cadet units had started using more realistic-looking rifle replicas.

The rifle issue came to the attention of Navy League officials two years ago after an instructor in Oshawa, Ont., travelled on public transit carrying a bag of drill rifles. A member of the public saw a barrel sticking out of the bag and called police.

Hawkeye said arms training will now be replaced with other naval instruction. “There can still be a guard – just with no rifles,” she added. “There can still be a colour party – just with no armed sentries.”

There can still be a guard – just with no rifles

Hawkeye pointed out that a marksmanship program, using pellet guns, would continue to be offered to cadets. That program is a highly supervised activity.