AUSTRALIAN ARMY CADETS NEW SOUTH WALES BRIGADE 224 Army Cadet Unit (Canberra) Cadet Precinct, HMAS Harman, Canberra Avenue, HARMAN ACT 2600 Telephone 612 768 65 (Monday parade nights 6.30-9.30 p.m.) RECRUITING INFORMATION - 224 ARMY CADET UNIT (CANBERRA) 2015 THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE CADETS The Australian Defence Force Cadets (ADFC) is a community-based organisation made up of some 27,000 youth and 2000 adult staff in more than 430 units throughout Australia. The ADFC aspires to be Australia’s leading youth development organisation recognised by the community as developing youth with a sense of purpose, responsibility, respect of self and others, leadership ability and a commitment to voluntary service. As an ADFC Cadet, young Australians are able to take part in adventurous, fulfilling and educational activities in a military setting. The Australian Defence Force Cadets (ADFC) comprises the Australian Navy Cadets (ANC), the Australian Army Cadets (AAC) and the Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) The opportunities provided through the ADFC are made possible because of the thousands of qualified adult volunteer officers and instructors operating in cadet units all over Australia. The ADFC is strongly supported by the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Serving military personnel work hand in hand with the Navy, Army and Air Force Cadets to support ADFC activities. For many young people, participation in the ADF Cadets is the first voluntary step towards recruitment in the permanent forces or reserve forces. For those who choose to pursue non-military careers, they leave Cadets with skills and attributes that set them up for life. CHARTER OF THE ADFC The ADFC is a training and development organization for Australian youth. Its purpose is to provide a unique opportunity to experience aspects of life within the Australian Defence Force (ADF), by participating in activities undertaken within a military framework. Cadet training provides progressive, interesting and challenging training intended to encourage the development of positive personal and team characteristics. Cadet training encourages the achievement of success in life with a spirit of service to Australia through commitment within the local community, and it provides an understanding of the ADF, specifically its place within the community, and its career options. WHAT IS THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY CADETS (AAC)? The Australian Army Cadets (AAC) is a youth development organisation sponsored by the Australian Defence Force, dedicated to providing opportunities for all young Australians to obtain comprehensive personal challenges and growth, enhanced self-esteem and self-discipline, and adventurous enjoyment in a military setting. The AAC is actually the oldest youth organization in Australia, cadet units having been set up towards the end of the 19 th century. Since then there have been many changes in the AAC. The AAC’s members are not actually members of the Army despite the close connection and the uniform. The Australian Army Cadets (AAC) is controlled by the Directorate of Army Cadets, based at Army Headquarters in Canberra. Discipline is similar to school in some ways, but a lot different in others, and we exert a lot more discipline than in the schools. This is because we try to reflect the Army environment and hence Army discipline. So far as is possible given the circumstances, we try to run our Unit like an Army Unit, within the great limitations imposed on us. Of course, we do take into account the age of our cadets when doing this. Cadets have to conduct themselves at the Unit, and in public when in AAC uniform, in such a way as to reflect credit on the AAC. Our rules on appearance for cadets are essentially the same as the Army’s rules. We wear a uniform which is very much like the Army uniform. Male cadets must have their hair cut in keeping with Army style – that is, neat, trimmed, short and tidy at all times. Female cadets have to either have short hair or wear it pinned up. Unusual haircuts are not permitted to be worn when you are in uniform. Male cadets are NOT permitted to wear earrings or visible body piercings while in uniform. Female cadets are permitted only to wear one single keeper earring of gold or silver stud type with an orb not greater than 5 mm in diameter in the lobe of each ear. No other type of earring or visible body piercing may be worn whilst in uniform. UNIT IDENTIFICATION. The local unit is 224 Army Cadet Unit (Canberra), or ‘224ACU’ for short. 224 ACU belongs to the New South Wales Army Cadet Brigade, which has its Headquarters in Sydney. There is only one AAC unit in Canberra, which has an establishment of 7 Army Cadet Staff, and some 100-120 cadets, including senior cadets. Our ACS include personnel with extensive Australian Regular Army and Australian Army General Reserve experience as well as long experience with cadets. Our Sponsor Unit is 8 Signal Regiment, which provides assistance from time to time with 224ACU unit activities. 2 AIM OF MILITARY TRAINING WITHIN THE AAC. The aim is to develop and interest in the Army and its traditions, to encourage cadets to continue military or community service, to give cadets a foundation of military knowledge and discipline, to develop the qualities of leadership, self-discipline, self-reliance and initiative, and to provide training that may contribute to Army common induction training ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR THE AAC AND OTHER POLICIES. The AAC is authorised under Section 62 of the Defence Act 1903. It is subject to the Cadet Forces Regulations, Australian Army Cadet Corps Policy Manual, Training Management Program (TMP) and the Army/AAC Standing Orders on Dress. EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCILA ISSUES The Australian Army Cadets (AAC) is an equal opportunity organisation that does not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, sex or religion. The AAC has a no drugs policy (this includes tobacco and alcohol) and is committed to a zero tolerance of sexual and other forms of harassment. There is a strict no-fraternisation rule whilst on AAC activities. ELIGIBILITY/ REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLMENT. The AAC is open to boys and girls. You must have either reached the age of 13 years, or will reach the age of 13 years during the calendar year of enrolment, but not yet at the age of 18 years. Recruiting intakes are on the first three Monday evenings of first and third school terms, that is, in February and July/August. You need to be physically fit enough to undertake normal activities such as marching, camping and strenuous outdoor activities such as cross-country navigation. You must be an Australian citizen or hold permanent resident status. You need to complete an application for enrolment form, and a next of kin details and medical statement form. Further information on medical requirements is under the heading ‘HOW DO YOU JOIN THE AAC. 4. Medical’, below. You must not already be a member of the AAFC or ANC or a member of the Australian Defence Force. RELATIONSHIP OF THE AAC WITH THE ARMY. The AAC is affiliated with the Australian Army, although, as stated above, AAC members are NOT members of the Army. The Army sponsors AAC units, although we have to meet some of our own costs. If you join the AAC, there is no obligation whatever to join any branch of the ADF such as the Army. You may resign from the AAC whenever you wish. [If you do resign, you must return ALL items of uniform and equipment, and you must be up-to-date with your dues.] Conversely, being in the AAC does NOT entitle you to a place in the Army or any other branch of the ADF. However, we feel that service in the AAC will place you at a distinct advantage if you apply for the ADF, because you will have some knowledge of how the ADF works (especially the Army) and will be better able to give informed and confident answers at the interview. OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS. As a cadet in the AAC, you have the following obligations and commitments: 1. to attend all weekly parades during school terms. 2. to attend a minimum two weekend bivouacs per year. 3. to apply for all leave, giving reasons if unable to attend for exceptional circumstances, or illness, or school examinations. Apply in advance if possible. If not, telephone on the night of the parade and submit a completed leave form on your return. 4. to ensure that cadet participation does not affect school achievements. 5. to pay your dues on time (or make special arrangements for payment). 6. to obey lawful orders and commands. 7. to attend the 8-day annual camp (October school holidays each year). 8. to undertake the tests (exams) in each subject in the Cadet training syllabus. 9. to wear the uniform correctly and in such a way as to bring credit upon the AAC 10. to keep appearance (such as hair styles, etc) within Army rules whilst in uniform 11. to NOT wear or use items of AAC equipment or uniform for non-AAC purposes. 12. TO RETURN ALL UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT WHEN YOU LEAVE. NOTE: It is expected that you will return the uniform & equipment automatically without us having to follow you up to ask you to do so. TRAINING AND SYLLABUS There is a standard AAC syllabus throughout Australia, which we call the Training Management Program, or TMP. Although there is some flexibility in extra subjects offered, we have to teach the core syllabus or TMP. The training program is arranged in 6-month segments. This is followed by more specialised training, and after completing promotion training and obtaining sufficient experience and expertise, a few cadets can take on duties as instructors themselves.