Cadets geared for Waiouru

LANCE Corporal Stephen Pilling (second right) puts the cadets through their paces under lights at the Albert Park Drive rooms under the watchful eye of Warrant Officer Class 2 Cameron Hancock. 180061AD

By Dean Taylor

If you think it is fresh here overnight, spare a thought for the eight Te Awamutu Community cadets heading to Waiouru Army Camp in the school holidays.

The cadets have been preparing for the weeklong course, a highlight of the Cadet Unit’s year.

Warrant Officer Class 2, Cameron Hancock, says the camp, alongside real soldiers, gives the cadets the chance to put what they have learnt into practice, as well as learn many new skills.

The course will include intensive training in arms, navigation and abseiling - plus the cadets will get to ride in an Iroquois.
Upon their return the unit will be looking to attract more recruits into their ranks.

Cameron says being a cadet has lots of benefits. The Te Awamutu College student says he has made hundreds of friends outside school through cadets, plus has learnt lots of great skills.

Cadets are affiliated to regular army units, in Te Awamutu’s case the Hauraki Regiment and 1st Health. They take part in community events, such as Anzac Day and Armistice Day marches, hold regular local camps and meet weekly during school terms for three hours on a Wednesday evening.

Cadets is open to any secondary school aged student (generally 13 to 18-yearolds). In Cameron’s case he has always aspired to a military career and says being a cadet will give him a head start.

“It’s like I’ve already done my basic training,” he says.

Anyone interested in trying out Te Awamutu Community Cadet Unit is welcome to attend on a Wednesday evening from next term at the Old Parks depot on Albert Park Drive or contact Unit Commander Lieutenant Richard Thompson by phone/fax 871 4985 or email romeotango@xtra.co.nz.