Marching Towards Leadership
This week, a selection of our Junior and Senior Cadets travelled 200km to Lone Pine Barracks in Singleton, to take part in the Cadet Promotions Course.
Home to the Australian Army School of Infantry and Special Forces Training Centre, Lone Pine Barracks housed our students from Sunday to Thursday, as they went through a series of learning and outdoor practical tasks to determine their future suitability for a diverse range of roles within the Shore Cadet Unit. Those who are eventually deemed to be successful candidates will then be able to advance in their rank, or receive a “promotion”.
The Cadets chosen to participate in this course had already undergone a pre-testing stage, wherein they sat a series of tests, having to mark above a specified score to be approved. During the five-day stint in Singleton, Cadets then took part in a series of indoor and outdoor learning tasks. Indoor tasks included planning a successful theory lesson, first aid, radio communication and fieldcraft, whereas outdoor tasks included mud modelling, navigation challenges and shelter construction. With their every decision being scrutinised by those in charge, these observations, coupled with a formal assessment, will help determine which Cadets will successfully reach promotion to a higher rank.
The purpose of the Promotions Course is to help Cadets become better leaders. During the week, each Cadet has the opportunity to lead, work as a team and learn from, and with, each other. The course hopes to develop a professional and supportive program for our Cadets, produce a team of leaders, and develop a partnership between Cadet leaders, staff and each of their subordinates. The skills honed in this program are easily applied to the wider schooling experience, as students are asked to refine their organisational skills, learn respect for command, focus their discipline, as well as show compassion in supporting others as part of a team.
“The most satisfying proof of the week’s success is the Cadets’ understanding that the Promotions Course is not a contest to come out on top, but a wonderful opportunity to show compassion, leadership and initiative with those around them. Officers in the Shore Cadet Unit are specifically looking for these attributes to uphold the high standard of leadership for the future of the Unit,” said Mr Shirlaw, Media Officer for Wenona’s Cadets.
Huge congratulations must go to all of our Cadets who took part in what was a demanding but rewarding week!