The Peninsula School Cadet Unit was established in 1964 and since that time has operated most successfully within the School as part of the Personal Development Programme. There is a weekend bivouac in Term 2 and an annual camp at the end of Term 3 as well as a structured training programme.
The Unit is formed on a voluntary basis. This flexibility means that we are able to construct an exciting and adaptable training program. Students are able to join for a Semester, although we do encourage cadets to experience the Unit Bivouac and/or Annual Camp as these are two of the highlights of the cadet year. Enrolments are on-going and students may join the unit from the beginning of year 7.
In the first year, the cadets learn the basics of living and surviving in the field. Training at this stage includes hygiene, survival, living in the field, cooking, basic first aid, accepting responsibility for others, learning to function as part of a team, basic field engineering, etc.
In the second year and beyond, cadets are given the responsibility for delivering lessons to cadet recruits and they are given leadership opportunities in preparation for promotion courses. They are able to choose a specialist activity and train, according to their choice, as a signaler, a medic, a field engineer, a member of the Q-store or as part of the intelligence section.
Involvement in the cadet corps including training of a military but strictly non-warlike nature.
Students may, if they wish, continue their involvement through Years 10, 11 and 12. By this time they have usually attended promotion courses and are activity involved in the leadership and administration of the unit, serving as Non-Commissioned Officers (COs) or Cadet Under Officers (CUOs). This training greatly assists them in leadership roles in other positions of responsibility within the School and it is no coincidence that each year, the School's Prefect Body consists of a large number of cadets and former cadets. It must be emphasized that a cadet in The Peninsula School Cadet Unit is not, in anyway, a member of the Australian Army.
Each cadet is issued with clothing and other equipment to the value of $400 (approx.). All issued items become the responsibility of the cadet and are to be well maintained. An annual levy will be charged to each Cadet to recover some of the equipment costs and to help defray the costs of rations and transport for the Bivouac and Annual Camp. |
