Cadets

Full Cadet Day

Our cadets traded the classroom for the great outdoors, in what proved to be an unforgettable day of adventure, team building, and personal challenges across multiple exciting locations.

The day began with cadets being transported to their respective locations to enjoy a full day of activities.  Fifty students headed to Tahara for clay target shooting with Coleraine Field and Game members, where cadets learnt to shoot at a clay in a safe and supervised environment.  The activity provided an excellent opportunity for students to challenge themselves while learning about precision and concentration.

Meanwhile, another group took to the waters of Lake Hamilton for a kayaking experience. The cadets navigated the lake's waters, developing their paddling techniques while enjoying the beautiful natural surroundings and working together as a team on the water. The instructors provided the kayakers with opportunities to not only test their paddling skills but compete in competitions on the water.

Two additional groups headed to the Outside Inn at the Wannon, where they participated in activities including the giant swing and rogaining.  These challenging exercises pushed the cadets out of their comfort zones, encouraging them to overcome fears and support their teammates through shared adventures.

All activities incorporated valuable team building exercises, fostering stronger bonds between cadets and developing their leadership and communication skills.  Bush cooking was also part of the day.  The highlight was undoubtedly the s'mores served in waffle cones as well as freshly made pancakes.

The cadets thoroughly enjoyed their break from classroom learning, embracing the opportunity to test their limits and discover new capabilities.

Interplatoon Challenge

The Interplatoon Challenge is a hotly contested day of activities putting cadets through their paces across multiple areas they have learnt over the year.  Platoons were tested on their proficiency with Ratel (radio communications) and NAVEX skills.  The competition also featured assessments of general cadet knowledge, along with field engineering challenges requiring creative problem-solving and practical application of technical skills. And finally, drill demonstrations tested the discipline and coordination that defines excellent cadet training.

With the majority of our senior leaders absent due to other school commitments it was great opportunity to see our junior leaders step up to run their platoon.  What made this challenge particularly exciting was the incredibly close competition across all events. Every point mattered, and every cadet's performance contributed to their platoon's overall standing.

The winner of the Interplatoon Challenge will be announced at the Ceremonial Parade in October.

Ex EMU - Puckapunyal

Nine of our dedicated cadets are gearing up for the adventure as they prepare to head to Exercise EMU at Puckapunyal during the first week of the school holidays.

This intensive week-long exercise will see our cadets venture into the Pucka bush alongside hundreds of cadets from units from our Battalion.  During their time in the field, our cadets will face a variety of demanding scenarios designed to test their leadership abilities, teamwork, navigation skills, and resilience.  The exercise combines practical fieldcraft with problem-solving challenges, all while living and working in a genuine military training environment.

The experience will push our cadets beyond their comfort zones as they work alongside peers from diverse backgrounds, learning to adapt, communicate effectively under pressure, and demonstrate the values and skills they have developed throughout their cadet training.

We wish our cadets the very best of luck as they embark on this exciting challenge.  We know they will represent our unit with pride and distinction during their week at Puckapunyal, bringing home skills and stories.

Parade Day

Preparations are now underway for our upcoming Ceremonial Parade, with uniforms officially issued to all participating cadets.  This significant event represents the culmination of a year's worth of training and dedication, and we are calling on our entire school community to help make it a memorable success.

We ask for parents' valuable support in ensuring students attend all parade practices and maintain their uniforms to the highest standard.  Clean and pressed uniforms are essential for creating the professional appearance that reflects the pride and discipline of our cadet program and the Defence Force.  Our cadets have been reminded of the importance of giving 100% effort during parade practice sessions.  This event is not just about individual performance, but about demonstrating the pride and respect they have for themselves, their unit, and the Defence personnel they represent when wearing the cadet uniform.

The responsibility that comes with wearing the uniform extends beyond personal presentation.  Each cadet serves as an ambassador for our program and the wider defence community, making their commitment to excellence all the more important.

Intensive parade practice will take place over the first three weeks of Term 4 leading up to the ceremonial event.  These sessions will focus on drill precision, timing, and coordination to ensure our cadets deliver a performance worthy of the occasion and the uniform they wear with pride.

Students will receive detailed information about practice schedules and specific requirements at the beginning of next term.  We encourage all cadet families to mark their calendars for Friday, 24th October.

Community Service - Legacy Week

A huge thank you to CPL Barber and CDT Bird for giving their time Friday after school to assist Legacy Hamilton in selling their badges.  Legacy Week is an annual Australian campaign held to raise awareness and funds for the partners and children of veterans who have died or been incapacitated due to their service, providing essential services such as counselling, medical support, and social assistance.  Part of the cadet experience is community service and taking time to raise much needed funds is a small sacrifice for for those families who have lost loved ones.

Issued Cadet Field Gear 

All cadets who were issued field gear prior to May Camp including japaras and webbing were expected to return these items yesterday.  Unfortunately, the returns were minimal and disappointing, with the majority of equipment still outstanding.  Students must now locate their issued gear and monitor their emails closely for instructions on when and where items can be returned.

It is crucial that all cadets understand this equipment is owned by the Defence Force and must be returned without exception.  Sports Academy students will be allocated specific time slots for returning their items to ensure an organized process.  Please note that NO cadet uniforms or equipment should be left at the front desk under any circumstances - all returns must follow the correct procedure that will be communicated via email.

MAJ(AAC) Byron