Defence

Feature

Hats off at ADFA

By Belinda Halls

ADFA Parade Ground

With the throwing of their hats up into the air, the graduating class of 2005 farewell the work place and the training ground they called home - the Australian Defence Force Academy, or more commonly referred to as ADFA.

As they march on the ADFA Parade Ground for the last time, a combination of excitement and joy, anxiety and sadness runs through the 216 Navy Midshipmen and Army and Air Force Officer Cadets.

They stand in front of a crowd filled with familiar faces. There are those who have supported them and those who have provided inspiration for where they would like to head.

They are cheered and applauded with great pride; by the Chief of the Defence Force, Secretary and the Service Chiefs, by their parents; by the military and academic staff, by their brothers and sisters; by their fellow cadets and their friends.

So who exactly are these 216 individuals who are about to move onto the next chapter of their military career?

Major military prizewinners
L to R: MIDN Joshua Watkins (Chief of Navy prize), OCDT Courtney Hoe (CDF Sword), OCDT Thomas Monks-Corrigan (Commander-in-Chief Medal), OFFCDT Samantha Maloney (Chief of Air Force prize) and OCDT Joshua Porter (Chief of Army prize).

The graduating class are:

• 22% Navy, 46% Army, 32% Air Force
• 81% Male, 19% Female
• In addition, there are 10 foreign students from Thailand, Singapore and New Zealand.
• Those who graduated from the University of New South Wales at ADFA in 2005 successfully completed the Bachelor of Arts degree (40%), Bachelor of Science (28%), Bachelor of Engineering (24%), Bachelor of Technology (6%) and the relatively new Bachelor of Business degree (2%).

This year marks ADFA's 21st year of operation and during this time there has been many changes - structural, environmental, cultural and technological.

In January 1986, the first civilian street class joined the Academy. This first year intake was made up of 329 Australians and 10 overseas entrants.

This class was:

• 27% Navy, 42% Army, 28% Air Force and 3% Overseas
• 84% Male, 16% Female
• They studied Arts (30%), Science (36%) and Engineering (34%)
• 40% originated from NSW, QLD (24%), WA (12%), VIC (12%), SA/NT (6%), TAS (3%) and ACT (3%).

Now, twenty years on, the incoming class for 2006 is:

• 20% Navy, 48% Army, and 32% Air Force.
• 76% Male, 24% Female
• They have come from all over the country, with the greatest number from Queensland (30%), then Victoria (22%) and New South Wales (21%).
• The most popular degrees are the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science, with Engineering, Technology and the increasingly popular Business degree also on offer.

During the Graduation Parade on Thurs, 8 December 2005 the major military prizes were awarded to those individuals who have excelled during their time at ADFA. The most prestigious military prize, the Commander-in-Chief Medal was awarded to Army Officer Cadet Thomas Monks-Corrigan by the Governor General, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery. This media is awarded for the most outstanding military and academic achievement, leadership, personal example and performance of duty over the three years at the Academy.

The Chief of the Defence Sword was awarded to Army Officer Cadet Courtney Hoe for her leadership abilities, personal example and performance of duty.

Midshipman Joshua Watkin, Officer Cadet Joshua Porter and Officer Cadet Samantha Maloney were awarded the Chief of Navy, Chief of Army and Chief of Air Force prizes respectively for the most outstanding military and academic achievement over their time at ADFA.

During the graduation week activities at ADFA, Air Force Officer Cadet Matthew Brown was awarded a University Medal by the University of New South Wales for his outstanding academic achievement whilst completing his Bachelor of Engineering (Aeronautical).

The graduating class throwing their hats into the air on the ADFA Parade Ground.

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