Robert Land Academy, Canada
Robert Land Academy is Canada’s only private Military Academy and is located in the Niagara region of Canada which is approximately a thirty minute drive from Niagara Falls. Robert Land Academy’s name sake, COL Robert Land, was a Canadian Officer serving in the British Army during the War of 1812. RLA incorporates the customs and traditions of the British and Canadian Military as part of their school traditions. Every Fall RLA conducts FALL EX. FALL EX is a 70 kilometer forced march conducted on the Bruce Trails in the Niagara Region of Canada. The entire RLA academy Cadet Corps, Facility, and Staff are required to participate in the march. ORMA is one of three American Military Academy’s invited to participate.
This march traces the path that the Canadian and British Army took during the American Invasion of Canada during the War of 1812 and the subsequent Battle of Queenston Heights. The first two days of the march the Canadian Cadets are broken into squads and the event is a competition. At the conclusion of the second day cadets are housed in the barracks space used by British and Canadian Forces during the war of 1812 at Fort George, a Canadian National Historic site.
On the final Day of the march the Canadian Cadets pull their school’s cannon (a replica cannon from the war of 1812) to Queenston Heights which is the location in which the Canadians repelled the American forces (Battle of Queenston Heights) and is also the location of a Canadian National Monument, Brock’s Monument as well as an American, British, and Canadian National Cemetery. Upon arrival at the heights the cannon is fired honoring the fallen of the battle as well as honoring the accomplishments of the cadets in finishing the FALL EX March.
Completion of FALL EX is a requirement for RLA recruits to become cadets. Upon completion the cadet is awarded the “BAKER BADGE.” The Baker Badge features a “Baker” rifle (which was used by British and Canadian Forces during the War of 1812) cast in gold on a red in color (Canadian Nation color) triangular background. The Baker Badge signifies that the wearer has been accepted as a member of Robert Land Academy. ORMA cadets finishing the march will be awarded a Baker Badge by RLA Academy Headmaster LTCOL Bowman. Few Americans have been awarded the Baker Badge and it is the only Foreign Military Device authorized on the Oak Ridge Military Academy Cadet uniform.
For most cadets and soldiers it is a rare event to participate in a foreign military training event which will make this a once in a lifetime experience for some of our cadets. We congratulate our Cadets Flores, Hunt, and Danieli and ORMA’s MSG Hengeveld for earning their Baker Badge.
