Figure 1.--.
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Figure 1.--. |
Cadet programs first appeared in private schools. There was no Goverment coordination of these programs. The cadet program in state schools were introducted in the Australian state of Victoria. In fact this was the forst cadet orogram at stte schools anywhere in the British empire, including Britain itself.
The boys ages usually vary from 12-18.
Activities include: archery, abseiling (repeling), rifles shooting, rock climbing, horse riding. You get lessons in 1st Aid, survival, living in the bush, campcraft, self-defense etc. There is usally a camp of training called Bivouac and a normal camp to use the skill and learn to patrol.
Cadets are not as popular as Boy Scouts, but there is stil an average of 100 boys per regiment and there are about 40 regiments.
The Australian Cadet uniform vary slightly between each regiment. Usually all cadets wear Australian Army DPCU (Camo clothes) and each regiment have their
individual headware, except for officers who have the Australian Army Slouch hat. Boots are black and leather.
The previous uniform used to be just plain tannish green.
Most Australia Army Cadet units now wear the standard Camo Uniform (DPCU) from the Australian Army. Each separate unit has different headdress from berets
to balmorals (scottish hats), however most Officers do wear the Australian Slouch hats (the regulation army hat).
Each unit's rank has a lanyard--a cord that signifies the color of the unit which is worn on the left shoulder. The rank brassard is the rank the Cadet holds which is worn on the right shoulder. Cadet Under Officer (CUDs) wear shoulder slides which is
slid onto the shoulder tabs who also wear the lanyard. Each Cadet under the rank of CUO has to also wear flashes on their shoulder tabs which is also in
the color of the unit. Specialist platoons (ie Medics, pioneers, signals, administrative, etc) wear brassards on their left shoulder that signify the platoon
they belong in eg Medics have a red cross on their brassard. Some units do not wear brassards but rather stitch their rank and platoonal recognition
straight to their DPCU shirts.
A unit in North Shore Sydney has just recently upgraded their unit into a full size battalion. Which means the addition of wings and companys. Usually the pioneers wear a loop of rope as their insignia, Signals (lightning bolt), Medics (Red Cross), Quaters
Store/Q-Store (Crate), Admininistrative (Pen). The battalion which was mentioned has additional wings which are and wear. The Planning Wing wears a Red Cloth tied around left arm instead of brassard. The Red Cloth signifies Staff Officers. The Training and Development wing wears an Orange Cloth and signifies Training Officers.
Muir, John F. "Army Cadets in Echuca" (Defense Publish Services, 2005). 37p.
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