Emu parade for AAC Victoria
School’s out and dedicated cadets gather for annual training camp

Commander AAC Brig Neil Miller talks to cadets at Ex Emu. Photos provided by Maj (AAC) Julie Hope

By Maj (AAC) Julie Hope

THOUSANDS of students have ditched their school uniforms for cams to attend a week of adventure in the bush classroom known as the Australian Army Cadet (AAC) Annual Camp.

Support and training from ADF personnel has been integral to the success of the annual camp, and the most anticipated event on the AAC calendar for cadets.

During this year’s September school holidays, more than 1200 army cadets from all over Victoria were divided into two intakes and were camped out at Puckapunyal Army Base for Exercise Emu – a week of adventurous and challenging activities planned by AAC-HQ Victoria.

The large deployment required a team of well-trained and committed logistic specialists, and this year the exercise was fortunate to be well supported by 4CSSB.

More than 30 reserve staff attended the camp providing AAC-HQ with the much-needed services of drivers, medics, cooks and stores personnel.

The aim of annual camp was to familiarise or qualify cadets in a range of skills, from basic training for junior cadets, to advanced courses for more senior cadets seeking a career in the ADF.

CO 4CSSB Lt-Col Alan Quaife said Commander 4 Bde Brig Wayne Dunbar was a strong advocate of army cadets.

“The on-going 4 Bde support of army cadets strengthens the reserve affiliations and provides a diverse variety of additional reserve training opportunities,” he said.

4/19PWLHR provided a static display of armoured vehicles and also provided as direct support to their fostered cadet units.
Exercise Emu was also well supported by other individual foster units, including 2/10 Mdm Rgt, Mon UR, Melbourne University Regt, 5/6 and 8/7RVR, RTC Victoria as well as the DFSS, 26 Tpt Sqn and ALTC Bandiana.

Sig Reece Lawson and Tpr Nicholas Owen from 108 Sig Sqn spent the entire fortnight maintaining comms for the many cadet units in the field.

Sig Lawson described annual camp as an awesome experience, while for Tpr Owen, cadet camp gave him the chance to clock up good experience, having recently come to 108 from the armoured corps.

“I loved being able to help out and provide the cadets with advice on radio operation,” Sig Lawson said.

Tpr Owen agreed and said it was great to gain extra knowledge while being able to show cadets a role in the ADF they could strive for.

Commander AAC Brig Neil Miller said the support and training given to the cadets by ADF members during annual camp enabled them to develop a range of skills while providing them with an insight into life in the ADF.

“Having the support of reserve members at the camp is a practical way to highlight the ADF as a potential career,” he said.

“Exposure to ADF members and the training conducted by them also further enhances the military-like experiences and opportunities available to the youth of Victoria through cadets.”

During a hectic fortnight in the bush, Pte Jason Carrick of 4 CSSB was one of five medics at the camp’s RAP and often found himself in the thick of the action.

Apart from the usual sprains, strains, stings and bouts of homesickness, the medics were involved in organising the emergency airlift of a critically ill cadet.

The nearby McIvor District Hospital the first aid received at the camp was instrumental in making the patient stable enough to be transported to Melbourne.

A former army cadet from 30 ACU Sunshine, Pte Carrick, said it was the second year running he had volunteered to support cadet camp, and he’s not the only one to recognise the benefits.

“The word spread from last year about the opportunities and others in my unit were keen to help when this year’s camp came around,” he said.

“We were pretty flat out, but it was great practice, as we were able to use core skills that we generally don’t get a chance to use in our unit.

Pte Carrick said the interaction he had with cadets during daily health and hygiene checks enabled him to develop a whole new range of people skills.

“If you can get through to a young home-sick cadet then you can get through to a soldier,” he said.

The medics were extremely popular at camp, as they drove around visiting units in their fully kitted-out field ambulance.

They often found cadets scrambling all over the vehicle, eager to learn more about what they do.

“The cadets loved it and it gave them a chance to see the sorts of career opportunities available in the ADF,” Pte Carrick said.