Cadets Home Training – Term 1 Overview

Term 1 has marked a strong and successful start to our Home Training program, with cadets training every Friday after school. This consistent commitment has allowed cadets to build skills, confidence, and cohesion as a unit while preparing for upcoming camps and activities.

Across the term, cadets have participated in a wide range of practical and engaging activities, including navigation training, pool sessions focused on water safety and lifesaving skills, trial pack marches, knot tying, and fieldcraft skills such as building hutchies. These sessions have provided valuable opportunities for cadets to apply theoretical knowledge in realistic, hands-on contexts.

A highlight of the term has been the leadership shown by our senior cadets. As part of the first term of our own cadet program, senior leaders have stepped up to plan, prepare, and deliver lessons to a high standard, demonstrating initiative, responsibility, and strong leadership skills. Their efforts have been supported by a high level of engagement from cadets across all year levels.

Below are reflections from cadets on some of the Home Training activities they have participated in this term.

The practice pack march for cadets was both physically challenging but rewarding. Carrying a heavy pack whilst marching down to Queen Elizabeth Park tested both physical strength and mental determination. At times it felt tiring, especially when walking up long flights of stairs in the heat, but everyone encouraged each other to keep going. The march helped us prepare for camp by showing what it will really be like to move with full equipment. It helped to build teamwork, resilience, and discipline within the group. By the end, even though we were exhausted, there was a strong sense of achievement and pride in completing the march together as a team.

– CPL Eva Diessl (Year 10)

Last week’s home training pool session was a positive and enjoyable experience. It was great to stay active while still practising important lifesaving skills in the water. We started by completing laps of the pool to build our endurance and warm up. We also practised pool safety jumps, which helped us learn how to safely enter the water. We completed lifesaving drills, which allowed us to work on rescue skills and teamwork. One of the most challenging parts of the session was swimming while wearing our cadet uniform, which made the activity more realistic and helped us understand how much harder rescues can be with extra weight. Overall, the session was a great learning experience and helped build confidence in the water.

– LCPL Elizabeth Ravens (Year 10)

During our home training on 6 March, we practiced tying a range of different knots in preparation for our upcoming cadet camp. This session gave us the opportunity to revisit skills we had been briefly introduced to last year while continuing to build our confidence in tying them correctly. Knot tying is an important skill needed for cadets, as it is often used during field activities and on camps. Learning about the different types of knots was enjoyable and made the session both interesting and informative.

– CDT Amelia Winnall (Year 9)

This week in Home Training, my platoon (G38) practised setting up hoochies in preparation for AFX. We learned how to pitch them in the right spot and secure them properly so the hoochie would stay stable and hold up in different weather conditions. It took plenty of teamwork and problem solving to get everything set up correctly, especially when it came to tying the knots! It was a really helpful training because it gave us the chance to practise an important field skill before AFX. Overall, it made us feel more confident, prepared and excited for camp.

– CDT Aditi Knowles (Year 9)

– CAPT(AAC) Ashleigh Leck
Training Officer