Defining moment in cadets’ lives

In a test of endurance and skills, 75 Army cadets pushed themselves the hardest and furthest in their teenage lives during a four-day Adventure Training Award (ATA) at Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney.

CAPTION: Cadet Warrant Officer Class 2 Hunter Folkes, of Sydney Grammar Army Cadet Unit, swings over the rope pit during the Adventure Training Award at Holsworthy Barracks. Photo by Trooper Jarrod McAneney.

Commander of NSW Australian Army Cadets (AAC) Brigade Colonel Warwick Young said the ATA was the toughest competition cadets would face during their time in the youth development organisation.

“The cadets’ personal journeys over their four-day stint at Holsworthy was a defining moment in their lives because of the award’s arduous and challenging nature,” Colonel Young said.

“They will remember the ATA as being one of the highlights of their young lives due to the hard physical nature of the competition.”

During the ATA, cadets undertook a cross-country navigation task, during which they were exposed to activities to test their initiative and skills to achieve complex tasks.

CAPTION: Cadets Sergeant Da Costa, Sergeant Jack Lockhart, Warrant Officer Sasha Huby-Stewart and Warrant Officer Class 2 Rufus Howell plan before conducting a navigation assessment. Photo by Trooper Jarrod McAneney.

Each participant was tested and assessed individually on activities, including casualty evacuation and field engineering, which looks at their pioneering skills with knots and lashings.

They also underwent tests of courage with a 30m high ropes course, an above-water obstacle course in a 50m swimming pool and a land-based obstacle course.

Commander 5 Brigade Brigadier Mick Garraway visited the ATA on its closing day and presented an AAC Gold Commendation to Cadet Under Officer Jacob Maslin for being the Dux of the ATA.

He also presented an AAC Silver Commendation to Cadet Warrant Officer Class One Kasey Yates for having the second highest aggregate score on the ATA and a Bronze Commendation to Cadet Corporal Claire Le Creurer for adherence to Army values.

The AAC is a leading national youth development organisation, with the character and values of the Australian Army, founded on strong community partnership, fostering, and supporting an ongoing interest in the Australian Army.

There are more than 18,000 Army cadets in 257 units spread across Australia.

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