The Cadets Story
About the Cadets at º«¹úAV Program
For the first time in history, º«¹úAV has expanded its co-curricular program to include cadets. Throughout the program, students will develop their confidence, explore their full potential and learn a range of new skills including leadership and team building.
The Cadet program seeks to support º«¹úAV’s Renaissance Woman Framework, which encourages students to become confident, resilient and graceful women, whilst developing their sense of adventure, leadership, responsibility, lateral thinking and teamwork skills.
Students of Year 9 and 10 are in the º«¹úAV Platoon of the Shore Cadet Unit and meet every Monday at Shore School, to undertake training for outdoor experiences, ceremonial activities and development of leadership skills.
Follow this space to see our cadets progress through the program.
Week 5: Bivouac Training Camp
Our Year 10 platoon have just returned from a weekend away at Bivouac Camp, as part of their fast track leadership course. Claudia and Olivia tell us all about their experiences.
Claudia of Year 10: "This was a challenge when...we couldn't use any source of light"
The Bivouac weekend was such a great experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. During the camp we learnt how to cook and eat a ration pack, which at first I was hesitant to try but found it really wasn't that bad.
Next we learnt some navigational skills such as how to use a compass. This came in handy the next day during the navigational exercise, where we had to navigate the group to the next location.
Later that day we learnt a variety of different knots, which helped us in setting up our hutches that night. In the afternoon, we learnt how to apply cam paint correctly so that we would camouflage into the bush. This was put to the test that night when we were given the task of trying to grab an object without being seen by the opposition. This was proven a challenge when we found out that we couldn't use any source of light to find our way around the bush. For some of us this meant that we ended up in crawling in muddy waters and lying in dirt.
During the night we were given the duty of radio checks. This entailed one of us to always be awake throughout the night. For me this meant getting up at 2:25am and then waking someone up at 3:05am to do their shift, before going back to bed. Overall I learnt many new things and had such a great weekend.
Olivia of Year 10: "I had the best experience and learnt so much"
We went on this camp to experience living in the field before we attend our promotions camp. On Friday afternoon, we had some lessons at Shore before we drove to Lithgow.
My favourite part of the camp was completing the night mission, with the objective to collect fuel, guarded by the ‘Lithgow poachers’, without being spotted.
We split up into groups to complete our mission. With camo paint on our faces, webbing, our uniforms and bush hats, my group did the leopard crawl through the bush on the wet and muddy ground trying to collect the fuel. The other group made as much noise as they could to distract the Lithgow Poachers’ attention away from us. Our stealthy ways lead to a successful mission, as we managed to return to base with the goods.
On the night of the radio checks, my patrol was 2:30-3:30am, a tough shift. Even though we were tired and cold, we had a partner with us the whole time, so it made it enjoyable and you could talk to each other.
Although the camp was challenging at times, I had the best experience and learnt so much. I really enjoyed roughing it up and I can’t wait to attend the promotions camp in April!
This weekend was one of the best experiences I’ve had and I am so glad I had the opportunity to join cadets.
We split up into groups to complete our mission. With camo paint on our faces, webbing, our uniforms and bush hats, my group did the leopard crawl through the bush on the wet and muddy ground trying to collect the fuel. The other group made as much noise as they could to distract the Lithgow Poachers’ attention away from us. Our stealthy ways lead to a successful mission, as we managed to return to base with the goods.

On the night of the radio checks, my patrol was 2:30-3:30am, a tough shift. Even though we were tired and cold, we had a partner with us the whole time, so it made it enjoyable and you could talk to each other. 

Although the camp was challenging at times, I had the best experience and learnt so much. I really enjoyed roughing it up and I can’t wait to attend the promotions camp in April!”
This weekend was one of the best experiences I’ve had and I am so glad I had the opportunity to join cadets.
Week 4: Drill practice
This week at Shore School, our cadets trained in their two separate platoons, respective to their year.
Our Year 9's attended class under the instruction of CUO Kendrick-Little of the Shore Cadet Unit, where they were learnt about the structure of the AAC, including Badges of Rank. After a lesson in the classroom, the girls moved outside to continue to learn drill.
Our Year 10 cadets practiced drill—including Number, Prove and Right Dress—lead by WO2 Hunt of the Shore Cadet unit. After which they were lead by CUO Muir of the Shore Cadet Unit to pratice Salute and Halt.
Week 3: March, halt, wheel, salute
Today was the first day our cadets arrived at school wearing their full Army Cadet uniform.
At lunchtime they learnt about the Australian Army Cadet Code of Conduct, how to wear their uniform and what is expected of them as a Cadet.
After school, together in camouflage, they moved to Shore where they learnt drill, such as marching, halt, wheel and salute.
Week 2: Uniforms and equipment
Into the second week of the program the students were issued their individual uniforms and equipment. Other members of the Shore Cadet Unit were on hand to help and explain the uses of equipment.
Week 1: An introduction to cadets
At the end of the School day, our girls and the cadet staff met in the Senior College courtyard and moved to Shore together. When they arrived at Shore, they were met by the Unit's OC MAJ (AAC) Hughes and 2IC CAPT (AAC) Smith, whilst familiarising themselves with the surrounds.