Australian Army Cadets

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Australian Army Cadets
Active	1906–present
Country	Australia
Role	Youth military organisation
Part of	Australian Defence Force Cadets
Motto(s)	Service, Courage, Respect, Integrity and Excellence
Website	armycadets.gov.au
Commanders
Commander	Brigadier Ben Slaughter
Deputy Commander	Colonel Mitchell Kent

The Australian Army Cadets (AAC) is the youth military program and organisation of the Australian Army, tasked with supporting participants to contribute to society, fostering interest in defence force careers, and developing support for the forces.^[1] The program has more than 19,000 army cadets between the ages of 12 and 20 based in more than 200 units around Australia.^[2] The values of the AAC are "Service, Courage, Respect, Integrity and Excellence".^[3]

The cadet programme has strong links to the Australian Army and is a part of the Australian Defence Force Cadets. However, its members are not members of the Australian Defence Force by virtue only of their membership of the AAC. The AAC is a youth development program building resilience^{[clarification needed]} in young Australians from all backgrounds.^{[citation needed]}

Activities of the AAC include but are not limited to drill and ceremonial parade, abseiling, seamanship, navigation, field camping and first aid.^[4]

Background

The Australian Army Cadets is authorised under Section 62 of the Defence Act 1903 with lawful policies provided in the Cadet Forces Regulations 2013 (originally authorised under Cadet Forces Regulations 1977). The Australian Army Cadets is a youth organisation that is modelled on the Australian Army. It differs from Scouts Australia and other youth exploration groups as its main focus is that of learning and using military and leadership skills. The organisation boasts a nationwide reach with Cadet units in every state and territory in Australia.

Youth must be at least 12 years of age, and not have reached the age of 17 years to be eligible to apply for enrolment into the AAC.^[2] Once enrolled, they may remain as a cadet until the last day of the year they attain the age of 18 years old, however age extensions exist for Battalion Ranks (Battalion CUO/RSM, e.g.) to the age of 19, however this is a very rare occurrence. A cadet in the AAC is not considered to be a member of the Australian Defence Force, nor are cadets allowed to be a member of the Defence Force or any other cadet service during their time as a cadet.

Research studies have shown that cadets have performed better than non-cadets in Australian Defence Force Training, and 25.4% of the Australian Defence Force has been in the Australian Defence Force Cadets. From 2001 to 2005, cadets made up 10% of applications and 11% of total Australian Defence Force enlistments.^[5]

History

ANZAC Day

.

established the Commonwealth Cadet Corps in Australia on 16 July 1906.

However, military training to students commenced in 1851 in the Port Phillip Colony of New South Wales, the year Victoria separated from NSW, when Sergeant Major Cleary from the 12th Regiment of Foot, based at Victoria Barracks (Melbourne), commenced drill instruction to students at Scotch College before the establishment of their cadet unit in 1884 when The Volunteer (Cadet) Act 1884 came into effect. A school holiday was proclaimed on 19 November 1886 to mark the occasion of the first public parade of the Victorian Cadet Force at Albert Park. More than 2000 cadets representing the units of 41 state schools, 11 independent or private schools and one catholic school were inspected by the Governor.

In 1910, the universal training scheme was introduced. Under the scheme, all medically fit males 14–20 years of age had to serve in cadets. Boys who did not comply were charged and dealt with by the courts. Training cadets were divided into two groups. Senior cadets aged between 16 and 18 years of age were attached to Militia Units (now known as Army Reserve Units), called Regimental Detachments, while students aged between 14 and 16 years of age remained as school cadets. Officers came from teaching staff and selected cadets were made "Cadet Lieutenants". In 1939, the outbreak of

, Sydney. At this time, there were 46,000 cadets in Australia.

In 1975, the ACC was disbanded by the Whitlam Labor government and was re-raised by the Fraser Liberal government on 1 October 1976. By 1981, the ACC had 20,650 cadets. As a result of the Beazley Defence review white paper in 1984, full military support was withdrawn from school based cadet units, now classed as Limited Support Units (LSU). Military support for LSUs was limited solely to the discretionary loan of equipment for Annual camps. Uniforms, transport, rations and personal equipment all had to be funded by the school, parents or community organisations such as the RSL. As a result, most government school based cadet units closed between 1984 and 1986. Instead, full military support was provided to cadet units based at existing Army depots, now classified as Regional Cadet Units (RCU). Some school based units in disadvantaged areas or located some distance from a military depot were given RCU status. Many RCUs attracted cadets from the nearby school based units recently closed down. In NSW, the first RCU formed was 20 RCU Ashfield, originally Punchbowl High School Cadets, and then based at the 2 Construction Group depot of RAE in Haberfield, Sydney in early 1984. By 1998, however all cadet units again received full support. During 1993, the Australian Cadet Corps was renamed the Australian Army Cadet Corps. Many cadet units were now re-equipped with

DPCU

uniforms replacing the older green uniforms. In 2001, the Australian Army Cadet Corps was renamed the Australian Army Cadets as part of major reforms brought about with the Topley review and during 2004, the title of Regional Cadet Unit (RCU) was dropped in favour of Army Cadet Unit (ACU).

Michael Jeffery

presented a replacement banner on behalf of the Duke to Parade Commander and National Cadet Adjutant CUO Christopher Casey (of 236 ACU Toukley) on behalf of the AAC to commemorate the centenary of the cadets on 24 September 2005, with the old Duke of Edinburgh Banner laid up at the Soldiers Chapel at Kapooka during the 2006 Chief of Army Cadet Team Challenge.

The AAC celebrated its centenary since the establishment of the Commonwealth Cadet Corps on 16 July 2006, as opposed to the centenaries of individual units, with the Victorian Brigade holding a large parade to mark the event.

As of 2019, the largest individual AAC unit is the Knox Grammar School Army Cadet Unit (KGSACU), with 1100 members.^[9]

Structure

• Headquarters of the Australian Army.
• Headquarters Australian Army Cadets (HQAAC).
• Regional Headquarters (Brigades or Battalions, depending on number of cadets).
  • Headquarters New South Wales AAC Brigade (HQ NSW AAC BDE) (Which includes the Australian Capital Territory and Norfolk Island)
  • Headquarters New South Wales 2nd AAC Brigade (HQ NSW 2nd AAC BDE)
  • Headquarters
    Victoria
    AAC Brigade (HQ VIC AAC BDE)
  • Headquarters North Queensland AAC Brigade (HQ NQLD AAC BDE)
  • Headquarters South Queensland AAC Brigade (HQ SQLD AAC BDE)
  • Headquarters Tasmania AAC Battalion (HQ TAS AAC BN)
  • Headquarters Northern Territory AAC Battalion (HQ NT AAC BN)
  • Headquarters Western Australia AAC Brigade (HQ WA AAC BDE)
  • Headquarters South Australia AAC Brigade (HQ SA AAC BDE)
• Brigades are then broken up into Battalions.
• Cadet Units are usually based on a company structure (the larger units are based on a battalion structure), and are under the control of both the Battalion and Brigade HQs.

_{Note: Although most regional headquarters are state based, Queensland has been split into North and South due to their combined size. Additionally, most School Based Units (SBUs) in New South Wales are part of New South Wales 2nd Australian Army Cadets Brigade.}

Controversies

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The Australian public generally view the AAC as a positive youth development program. Political views have constantly changed throughout the years.^[10] The AAC has been subject to criticism, most notably because of its military uniform, program, discipline and structure in youth training. In the 1970s, under the Whitlam government, the AAC was briefly disestablished from defence force and government control and support and military-like training was suspended and reviewed. However, many units continued under private operation.

In 2007, a Scotch College Cadet Unit cadet, Nathan Francis, died from an anaphylactic reaction to a combat ration pack, resulting in the particular type of rations being withdrawn from use.^[11]

National Cadet Advisory Council

The National Cadet Advisory Council is the link between cadets and officers in the Australian Army Cadets, system. The NATCAC, as it is commonly known, endeavours in improve cadets and the standard of cadets any way it can. The NATCAC generally meets once a year, with regional CAC's meeting at least once a school semester. Although named the same, this should not be confused with the National Cadet Advisory Council^[12] of Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary.

Meets at least once a year. Items to be discussed are compiled previous to the meeting by the NATCUO, and are based around what was brought up in RCAC meetings. Minutes from each meeting are recorded and passed onto the CO of the AAC.

Members of the NATCAC

The NATCAC is chaired by the

. The Regional Cadet Under Officer and Regional Cadet RSM of each AAC region make up the council. The regions are divided as follows; North Queensland, South Queensland, New South Wales, New South Wales 2nd, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory.

Uniform

Cadets wear "

in both barracks and ceremonial orders of dress. In order to distinguish cadets from Australian soldiers, cadets wear a blue oval patch in a similar shape to the ADF service badges but with the Corps's "sword and torch emblem" on it, epaulets always have the prefix "Army Cadet" for cadets or "AAC" for instructors added to them. Cadet's slouch hats generally have a metal "sword and torch" badge at the front and a blue and yellow patch on the right side, although some School-Based Units issue their own badges.

Previously cadets could also wear ceremonial uniform identical to that of the Australian Army.^[13]

Cadets of more senior ranks may wear additional accouterments that help to distinguish their rank, such as a red sash for Cadet Sergeants and Cadet Warrant Officer Class Two, Sam Browne belts for Cadet Warrant Officer Class One and Cadet Under Officers.

Cadets Rank System

ADFC Cadets	CDT 9 (Special Grade)		CDT 8	CDT 7		CDT 6		CDT 5	CDT 4	CDT 3	CDT 2	CDT 1	CDT (R)
Australian Army Cadets[14] v t e											No equivalent
	National Cadet Under Officer	Regional Cadet Under Officer	Cadet Under Officer	Cadet Warrant Officer[a]	Cadet Warrant Officer Class One	Cadet Warrant Officer Class Two		Cadet Sergeant	Cadet Corporal	Cadet Lance Corporal		Cadet	Cadet Recruit
	NATCUO	RCUO	CUO	CDTWO	CDTWO1	CDTWO2		CDTSGT	CDTCPL	CDTLCPL		CDT	CDTREC
Australian Army Cadets (prior to 2012)											No equivalent	No insignia
	National Cadet Under Officer	Regional Cadet Under Officer	Cadet Under Officer	Cadet Warrant Officer (RSM)	Cadet Warrant Officer Class One	Cadet Warrant Officer Class Two	Cadet Staff Sergeant (Phased out 2011)	Cadet Sergeant	Cadet Corporal	Cadet Lance Corporal (formerly Cadet First Class)		Cadet	Cadet Recruit
	NATCUO	RCUO	CUO	CDTWO	CDTWO1	CDTWO2	CDTSSGT	CDTSGT	CDTCPL	CDTLCPL		CDT	CDTREC

Officer of Cadets (OOC) ranks

Insignia
Rank	Colonel (AAC)	Lieutenant Colonel (AAC)	Major (AAC)	Captain (AAC)	Lieutenant (AAC)	Second Lieutenant (AAC)	Unit Assistant/Trainee Officer of Cadets (AAC) (No longer used 08/2022)	Defence Approved Helper
Abbreviation	COL (AAC)	LTCOL (AAC)	MAJ (AAC)	CAPT (AAC)	LT (AAC)	2LT (AAC)	UA/TOOC (AAC)	DAH

Former Instructor of Cadets (IOC) ranks

Australian Army Cadets (AAC)
Insignia
Rank	Warrant Officer Class One AAC (No longer in use as of 2020)	Warrant Officer Class Two AAC (No longer in use as of 2020)	Staff Sergeant AAC (Phased out as of 2019)	Sergeant AAC (No longer in use as of 2020)	Corporal AAC (No longer in use as of 2020)	Lance Corporal AAC (No longer in use as of 2020)		Trainee Officer of Cadets (No longer in use as of 2022)
Abbreviation	WO1 (AAC)	WO2 (AAC)	SSGT (AAC)	SGT (AAC)	CPL (AAC)	LCPL (AAC)		TOOC

See also

• Australian Air Force Cadets
• Australian Navy Cadets
• Australian Defence Force Cadets
• Cadets (youth program)

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Australian Army Cadets.

• Official Australian Army Cadets (AAC) Website
• AAC Members Website