Our Senior Rank are looking forward to welcoming our recruits on AFX on Sunday, 7 April 2024. They have been working so hard with planning and logistics and I want to thank our leadership team for their dedication and enthusiasm as they prepare for their culminating leadership activity following four years of Cadet training.
Our recruits are in most excellent hands:
They are ably supported by their compatriots in Years 11 and 12, working together as a team to ensure the success of AFX.
On Saturday 13 April 2024, all Waverley College Year 9 recruits will be sent the Intention Form and Continuation Agreement, where they have the opportunity to continue with Cadets for another 12 months, inspired by the camaraderie, the leadership opportunities and the unique experiences that our program offers.
These forms will be due back by Friday, 26 April 2024.
A reminder to all Year 9 parents/carers that AFX doubles as the Year 9 Camp which is a compulsory week of school. Any applications for leave require school approval.
With only three weeks to go until we leave for camp at Holsworthy Army Barracks, I would advise everyone in the Unit to go through the Equipment List this weekend and make sure you have everything you need.
Q Store will be open Wednesday, 20 March and Wednesday, 27 March at recess and lunch for those last-minute provisions.
*Please note – there will be no provision to issue any gear or equipment after Wednesday, 27 March as Q store will be closed.
The WCACU Annual Field Exercise (AFX) is fast approaching and is an exciting and challenging way to extend our cadets and leaders and really test their skills and development in an authentic context.
The pride and camaraderie that builds within Companies and HQ over the course of the week is something our young people will cherish as they continue their educational journey and, for some, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the machinations of a working military base, Holsworthy Barracks, which provides the context for our camp.
Details about AFX have been emailed to all families via the Joining Instruction (JI). Please carefully read through the information and equipment list and complete all necessary administration by 1 March 2024.
Click here to view the Years 10-12 AFX Form
Welcome back to Cadets for 2024.
This Term will be a busy and a short one as we make our final preparations for Annual Field Exercise (AFX – Cadet Camp) to be held in the last week of Term 1. This camp doubles as the Year 9 Camp for Waverley Boys and is a compulsory week of school. Our Senior Rank are working very hard in the background, planning an exciting and engaging camp that extends our recruits, as well as their own leadership skills.
All members of the Unit will receive the AFX Joining Instruction this week, along with the Equipment List and instructions for completing medical and dietary information. Please attend to the administration requirements by 1 March 2024 to ensure the best possible care for your sons.
Cadet training continues this Term after school on Friday afternoons from 3:30pm – 5:30pm. Please avoid making medical and other appointments during this time. Should your son be unable to attend due to illness or unavoidable clashes, an application for leave can be made via email to cadets@waverley.nsw.edu.au
I would ask all parents/carers and cadets to please take note of key dates below for the first half of 2024. In particular, if your son is interested in pursuing rank and leadership training, please note the Promotions Course dates in the July school holidays as attendance on course is a pre-requisite for promotion.
| DATE | EVENT | SPECIAL NOTES |
| FRI 2 FEB | Home Training | First parade for 2024 |
| FRI 9 FEB | Golden Boot Competition | |
| FRI 16 FEB | Home Training | |
| FRI 23 FEB | Home Training | |
| FRI 1 MAR | NO CADETS for recruits | School Swimming Carnival |
| FRI 8 MAR | Home Training | |
| FRI 15 MAR | Home Training | |
| THU 22 MAR | AFX Safety Briefing | Last parade for our recruits |
| FRI 5 APR | AFX Advance Party Departs | Selected senior cadets only |
| SUN 7 APR | AFX Main Body Departs 0630 | Whole Unit including Recruits |
| FRI 12 APR | AFX Ends 1630 | Whole Unit including Recruits |
| SUN 28 APR | Intention Forms Due | Decision to continue Cadets |
| WED 1 MAY | Waverley College ANZAC Ceremonial Parade | Selected cadets |
| SUN 16 JUN | Passing Out Parade | Year 12 graduation and annual awards ceremony |
| MON 15 JUL – SAT 20 JUL | Promotions Course Camp – Winbourne Conference Centre | For recruits to train to become a Corporal |
Today is the last Home Training for our recruits as they complete the first two terms of their Cadet experience. A big thank you to the SUO and his team for their constant commitment in attending O Group every Monday to plan and executing the Training Program every Friday. Our Company Commanders and CSMs have done a great job in leading their rank and recruits and Company spirit is high.
Next week, Pioneers and Engineers are heading to the Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym for an enjoyable afternoon of bouldering and climbing. Please ensure you have sent in your parent permission slips to Ms Stanley. Rank will have training specific to them as we complete the year on Friday, 24 November.
In the holidays, the inaugural WEC Trek camp will take place at Douglas Park as 30 of our cadets compete in navigation, ratel, field skills, leadership and teamwork for the Waverley Extension Camp Award. We wish them all the best for their preparation and competition.
A huge thank you to all our rank and staff for their excellent leadership in 2023. Corporals, Sergeants, Warrant Officers, Cadet Under Officers and Directing Staff, I thank you all for your commitment and passion and belief in the vision of this youth development program.
We look forward to seeing you all again on Friday, 2 February 2024 and ask that you take a moment to note the Key Dates for the 2024 Cadet Year below.
Click here to view the Cadets Key Dates 2024
I wish you all a safe and relaxing holiday and a very Merry Christmas.
Friday, 17 November is the final Home Training for our recruits for this year.
It can be difficult as we approach the Christmas holidays to remain focussed on warm Friday afternoons and to treat Cadets and the members of our Cadet Unit with courtesy and respect. Last Friday, I spoke to the recruits about this very topic, following weeks of continual disrespect towards rank and staff.
Friday afternoons are about practising and preparing for the culminating activity of the recruit year, the Annual Field Exercise (AFX). Continual disrespectful behaviour from some of our recruits on Fridays is indicative, then, of the kind of behaviour we predict on AFX. Such behaviour on a military base poses a real safety concern and is not something I will tolerate.
Cadets is a vastly different context to the rest of the school week, and provides an excellent opportunity for growth, for tolerance, and for learning how to conduct oneself in a respectful and professional way. Our core tenets reflect those of the AAC and encourage Service, Courage, Integrity and Excellence, but it is Respect which must underpin everything we do to foster an inclusive, collaborative and positive experience in Cadets. I would encourage all to be mindful of keeping their interactions respectful at all times.
It takes courage for young people to check their behaviour, to think twice before acting and speaking, and it is not something that the instant, modern world facilitates. I ask all cadets to be vigilant with their own conduct, to ensure our platoons and companies are exhibiting behaviour of which we can all be proud.
While the recruits are on their Year 8 Camp, Cadets on Friday, 24 November will be for senior cadets only.
Various activities are planned for the day, including a CPX for Senior Rank, a CPL session and an excursion to the Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym for our Pioneers, Engineers and X Platoons. Please keep an eye on your emails and the Routine Orders for more information.
Remembrance Day is an opportunity for our College community to come together and reflect on the blessings of our lives; blessings that are possible because of the altruism of our servicemen and women in the defence of our country.
On Friday, 10 November, the Cadet Unit is proud to conduct Ceremonial Parades for both Waverley College and St Catherine’s School at 10:45am, and on Saturday, 11 November, our Catafalque Party and Flag Bearers will be assisting Waverley Council with their service in Waverley Park.
We thank the following cadets for their service to the community and for their many hours of rehearsal.
| Rohan | BAKER |
| Kimmi | BILMON |
| James | BIRBAS |
| Patrick | BLACKALL |
| Oliver | BRACIC |
| Anika | BRADFORD |
| Daniela | COMINO |
| Ruby | CONGDON |
| Cate | DARLING |
| Toby | FERNANDES |
| Remy | FRAMPTON |
| James | GRANT |
| Natalie | HA |
| Emma | HARTWIG |
| Yannick | HOTT |
| Lachlan | HOY |
| Lachlan | JONES |
| Lara | KARLOVSKY |
| Blake | KHOR |
| Georgina | KIMPTON |
| Julia | MALLAM |
| Chiara | MARSHALL |
| Declan | MCAULIFFE |
| Finnian | MCCARTHY |
| Zoe | NGU |
| Meg | O’CONNOR |
| Ethan | OOI |
| Luca | PATRICK-WATKINS |
| Renato | ROVACCHI |
| Abigail | SALEM |
| Amelie | SALEM |
| Lauren | SHEEHAN |
| Fox | STAPLETON |
| Jamie | VANDERKEMP |
| Benjamin | WEBB |
| Zara | WISEMAN |
Cadets is an inclusive and varied co-curricular activity providing many different experiences and opportunities in which our cadets can develop leadership, initiative, service and excellence.
This Term will see our leaders serving the community with three Remembrance Day Ceremonial Parades – for Waverley College, for St Catherine’s School and for Waverley Council.
Some of our lucky cadets will travel to Holsworthy Barracks tomorrow for a Live Fire activity and in December we are holding our inaugural WEC Trek Camp. This exciting initiative is a camp to extend some of our seniors in field skills and teamwork as they compete in a scenario-based activity for the Silver Award. Next year, a Gold Award will also be on offer. This camp is designed as a pre-cursor to the National Adventure Training Award (ATA) and is also excellent preparation for AFX.
The WCACU community will be pleased to hear of a recent appointment at HQ AAC 2nd Brigade. Anthony Evans, Waverley Old Boy and long serving member of our Cadet Unit, has just been appointed the Assistant Commander of 2nd Brigade at Holsworthy. We congratulate LTCOL(AAC) Evans on his new appointment and look forward to working closely with him in all our endeavours.
On Saturday, 28 October 2023, 40 lucky cadets are travelling to Holsworthy Army Base for a Live Shoot run by HQ AAC 2nd Brigade. I know all our candidates are really looking forward to this extraordinary opportunity. Earlier in the day, Randwick Barracks are holding an Open Day for the general public from 9am-12pm which would be a great adjunct to the afternoon’s activity. Please see the details below.
Over the course of this Term, all cadets will be swim tested in their DPCU cadet uniform in preparation for AFX. This is a pre-requisite to being able to participate in any water activities on camp. Please keep an eye on the Routine Orders from week to week to see when your son needs to complete this and ensure they come to school with their PE uniform and towel in a plastic bag.
Term 4 is a short term in the Cadet Calendar – just six Fridays for the Recruits! Dress Code for recruits will be 4B Summer Field Dress which means the DPCU shirt with shirt sleeves down, DPCU trousers bloused and the field hat. In warmer weather, recruits chose not to wear an undershirt but the DPCU shirt must always be worn. Under no circumstances should the undershirt be worn alone.
As of next week, we have a number of exciting external activities including Archery, Laser Tag, Snake Man and Swim Testing. Please keep an eye on the Waverley App and the Routine Orders from week to week to know what to bring.
Tomorrow, Saturday 14 October, our CAS Milskills Team will compete against Barker, Knox, St Aloysius’ and Trinity for the coveted Military Skills Trophy. Our team has been diligently training for weeks to bring their skills up to speed, and we are very proud of their dedication and teamwork.
A big thank you to WO2 Lachlan Isaac and SGT Rohan Baker for their initiative and leadership. We wish the Team all the best for the competition.
| BAKER | Rohan |
| BALLESTY | Harry |
| COFFEY | Alexandra |
| COMINO | Daniela |
| DIMOPOULOS | Anna |
| GRANT | James |
| HA | Natalie |
| HOTT | Yannick |
| HOY | Lachlan |
| ISAAC | Lachlan |
| ROVACCHI | Renato |
| SALEM | Amelie |
| STAPLETON | Fox |
| VANDERKEMP | Jamie |
| WEBB | Benjamin |
| BRACIC | Oliver |
| FERNANDES | Toby |
| LYNN | Taj |
| SIMCOCKS | Lucas |
| CONGDON | Ruby |
| KIMPTON | Georgina |
| MCCARTHY | Campbell |
| RIZOS-PARKER | Eve-Jasmine |
| TRUSTRUM | Jasmine |
Friday, 8 September is the final Unit Training for Term 3. We thank our recruits for an excellent start to their Cadet journey and for their enthusiasm for Bivouac, which will give some context to their training between now and AFX in 2024.
The first training back in Term 4 will be Friday, 13 October. Dress for recruits will be Summer Field – DPCU shirt sleeves down, DPCU trousers bloused, field hat (essential), undershirt (optional).
We wish our CAS Milskills Team all the best for their final preparations and for their competition against Barker, Knox, St Aloysius’ and Trinity on Saturday, 14 October. Thank you to WO2 Lachlan Isaac and SGT Rohan Baker for their excellent leadership in running the Milskills training sessions.
Those who were invited to express interest in the AAC Live Fire on Saturday, 28 October will receive a permission slip this week. Please ensure these are returned quickly to lock in our numbers for this exciting opportunity.
Thank you to the WCACU community for supporting our Legacy Day fundraising. The boys raised over $900 to this worthy cause and we thank them for their service in the cold wind tunnels around Bondi and Waverley on Friday morning.
Bivouac is fast approaching, and we are looking forward to taking our recruits on their first Cadet adventure.
On Friday, 25 August, cadets are asked to come to school in their DPCU Field Dress, complete with field hat, and their backpack labelled and packed with their gear. There will be designated areas on the lower tennis courts to store bags in Company locations until lunchtime.
Cadets will form up in bus lines on the Centenary Quad directly after lunch.
The Cadet Unit will be supporting local Legacy branches by selling badges and bears on Friday, 1 September to the local community. There will be cadets at Charing Cross and Bondi Junction, so please look out for them and support this worthy cause. Merchandise will also be available in the Staff Common Room and to students at recess. Cash only, I’m afraid, so please come prepared.
Image: courtesy Legacy website
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which Waverley College is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
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