Service, Courage, Respect, Integrity and Excellence. These are the core tenets of Australian Army Cadets, and it is through Service, through giving of ourselves for the good of others, that the other tenets are demonstrated.
There are many occasions in Cadets where we have the opportunity to serve, both within the Unit and without; ANZAC community services, Legacy fundraising and Remembrance Day, are visible and recognisable examples. But it is in helping behind the scenes, undertaking the physical and menial tasks without seeking accolade, that mark the esteem our cadets have for the Cadet Unit and the Cadet program.
On Sunday, we held another working bee to prepare the many AFX stores required to take 380 people into the field for eight days without running water, without electricity, without access to Uber Eats.
I thank the following cadets for giving of their precious spare time in carrying out these tasks: Zachary Straker, Sachiel Bass, Charles Alexander, Darcy Ferguson, Owen Punch, Brandon Reid, Paul Muir, Liam McEvoy, Anika Bradford, Zara Wiseman and Oliver Malzard.
Last week, despite the inclement conditions of late, we managed to bring Laser Tag and the Mobile Climbing Wall into Waverley for D Company and B Company to enjoy.
Our recruits will have a week’s respite from Cadets today (4 March), and our staff and Senior rank will use this time to discuss plans and logistics for AFX.
By the end of this week, all recruits will have had the opportunity to collect their second set of DPCU and remaining camp gear from Q Store. If your son does not have their full complement of gear ready for camp, next week will be their last opportunity.
Please remind your son to come to Q Store at lunchtime on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to collect their supplies. Otherwise, they will need to source their gear externally.
4 weeks to go!
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
E: jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Annual Field Exercise (AFX – Cadet Camp) takes place in the last week of Term 1 at Majura Military Training Area in Canberra from Sunday, 3 April – Friday, 8 April, 2022.
The Joining Instruction for the AFX has been emailed to all parents and cadets. Please read this documentation before completing the below Google form, to register your son’s attendance on camp.
>>> Click here to view the Google form.
It is important that we have the latest next of kin and health and dietary information, to ensure the best care for your son on camp.
Many have already responded. Still waiting to hear from 186!
Registration is required by Tuesday, 1 March 2022.
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
E: jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Last week was another hive of activity at Cadets.
B Company enjoyed an afternoon of Archery, C Company combined Laser Tag with a lesson on Methods of Movement, D Company were briefed on safety aspects of AFX, and A Company learnt how to cook a ration pack and how to keep clean without running water, when they weren’t scaling the heights of the Mobile Climbing Wall.
Next week, Friday 4 March, there are NO cadets for the Recruits nor Junior Rank due to the Swimming Carnival. Our staff and Senior Rank will take advantage of this time to have their AFX Briefing in preparation for camp.
5 weeks to go!
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
E: jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Last week was a hive of activity at Cadets.
A Company headed to Hugh Bamford Reserve for an afternoon of Archery, B Company enjoyed Laser Tag in the Quad, C Company learnt some important safety actions for AFX before learning how to put up an 11 x 11 military tent, and D Company tested their physical prowess on the Climbing Wall.
Interspersed with the action were lessons on ration packs, how to pack a pack for hiking, health and hygiene in the field, how to put up a hutchie, and skills in sight and sound ready for tactical manoeuvres on camp. Each Company will take turns at all these events in the coming weeks.
CPL Seroa Showing D Company How It’s Done
B Company at Laser Tag
B Company at Laser Tag
Support Company is busy bringing their skills up to par for AFX as well. Our Medics are being professionally trained by an external First Aid provider, so they can support their recruits with minor injuries on camp. Pioneers are practising the exciting activities they have planned for the recruits on camp. Signallers are practising Ratel and Media are capturing the lot on camera.
We thank our hardworking team in Q Store, led by the QM and the LOGSO, for putting together the stores requests from week to week, and preparing supplies and equipment for camp.
AFX is X Platoon’s time to shine, and we look forward to seeing the culmination of their training at Majura MTA in April.
Only 6 weeks to go until camp!
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
E: jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Annual Field Exercise (AFX – Cadet Camp), takes place in the last week of Term 1 at Majura Military Training Area in Canberra, from Sunday, 3 April – Friday, 8 April, 2022.
The Joining Instruction for the AFX has been emailed to all parents and cadets. Please read this documentation before completing the Google Form in the link below, to register your son’s attendance on camp.
>>> Click here to view and complete the Google Form.
It is important that we have the latest next of kin and health and dietary information, to ensure the best care for your son on camp.
Registration is required by Tuesday, 1 March 2022.
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
E: jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
The Golden Boot Competition on Friday, 11 February, was an exhilarating way to start the Cadet year! The incredible energy in the Quad was a great release after months of Online Cadets. Company spirit was high, and the Company Commanders did well to bring their companies together as they competed for the Golden Boot Trophy.
A Company Tug of War
A Company Tug of War
Our victors on the day were the cadets of 7 Platoon in C Company, and we congratulate them for their physical stamina as they performed push-ups, plank, tug of war, water jerry relays and leopard crawl relays to the best of their ability.
Thank you to the SUO, CUO Zachary Straker, and his team in RHQ for putting together, and running, an engaging afternoon for our recruits.
The Jerry Can Relay, Main Quad
This week, we start the rounds of exciting activities for our recruits to enjoy in the lead up to AFX, including Archery and a Mobile Climbing Wall.
Interspersed with the activities, cadets will be learning the skills they need to be safe and comfortable on camp. Only 7 weeks to go until camp!
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
E: jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Annual Field Exercise (AFX – Cadet Camp) takes place in the last week of Term 1 at Majura Military Training Area in Canberra, from Sunday, 3 April – Friday, 8 April, 2022, for all members of the Cadet Unit.
The Joining Instruction for the AFX has been emailed to all parents and cadets. Please read this documentation before completing the Google form in the link below.
>>> Click here to register your son’s attendance on camp via Google form.
It is important that we have the latest next of kin and health and dietary information to ensure the best care for your son on camp.
Registration is required by Tuesday, 1 March 2022. Thank you to the parents who have already completed this process. I look forward to the remaining 300 attending to this soon!
Please don’t hesitate to contact the Commanding Officer if you have any queries or concerns.
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
E: jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
On Friday, 11 February, we have a number of exciting activities for our recruits to look forward to in the lead up to AFX.
Interspersed with these activities, cadets will be learning the skills they need to be safe and comfortable on camp. Everyone will have a turn at everything over the coming weeks!
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
E: jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
This week, the Joining Instruction for the Annual Field Exercise (AFX – Cadet Camp) was emailed to all parents and cadets.
AFX takes place in the last week of Term 1 at Majura Military Training Area in Canberra, from Sunday, 3 April – Friday, 8 April 2022. This camp is also the Year 9 Camp and is an important component of a Waverley student’s experience at the College.
Please read the Joining Instruction and the accompanying documentation in the email, before completing the Google Form to register your son’s attendance on camp. It is important that we have the latest next of kin, and health and dietary information, to ensure the best care for your son on camp.
Registration is required by Tuesday, 1 March. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Commanding Officer if you have any queries or concerns.
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
E: jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
A warm welcome back for an exciting year of Cadets in 2022.
This term is all about AFX! AFX is the Annual Field Exercise (Cadet Camp), that is the culmination of the year’s training. This is the camp where cadets get to put into practice everything they have been taught; their field skills, how to construct a shelter, how to care for themselves without running water and electricity, how to cook their own meal, how to thrive when outside their comfort zone.
For our leaders, this is the chance for them to shine, to inspire, to command and to lead by example. We expect great things from our Corporals, Sergeants and CUOs, and they always rise to the challenge, returning from camp confident, capable and better prepared for life’s obstacles.
Please keep an eye on your emails for the Joining Instruction for AFX. There are some administrative details to attend to, so we can ensure the best care of your child on camp. Of particular note, please make sure we are aware of any health concerns or special dietary requirements, so that specific arrangements can be made.
We have much in store for this term, and look forward to being able to make as much possible as COVID-19 restrictions allow.
Cadets starts back on Friday, 4 February with the Golden Boot Competition. There will be no Cadets on your first day back at school.
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
E: jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
X Platoon is our special senior platoon for those wanting to extend themselves in fieldcraft and military skills. Having passed an extensive barrier test and physical test to be accepted, X Platoon are busy preparing for extensive activities on AFX. On Friday, they were practising stealth with methods of movement, and will be working on their navigation and survival skills over the Christmas break. Ably led by WO2 Tom Martin, we look forward to seeing the challenges they set themselves for 2022.
Ghost walking – SGT Max Van Buuren
At our last Cadet training this afternoon, we ended the year with a Scavenger Hunt, Swim Testing, Operation Bush Wookie and Drill Games. Thank you to the SUO and his team in RHQ for their diligence in maintaining the Training Program across both schools under trying circumstances.
We have much to cover in Term 1 2022, to make sure our recruits are ready for AFX (Annual Field Exercise – Cadet Camp), as well as exposing them to the many activities we should have had this year.
We start the year on 4 February with the annual Golden Boot Competition, vying platoon against platoon in military skills and cadet knowledge.
In subsequent weeks, look forward to Archery, Laser Tag and the Climbing Wall, interspersed with lessons on ratel, setting up your hutchie, how to cook a ration pack and how to keep yourself clean and healthy on camp. AFX will be a camp unlike any you have experienced, and your Corporals and Sergeants are looking forward to working with you on these skills.
Thank you to our rank and staff for their excellent leadership under difficult circumstances in 2021. 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. You can see beyond the difficulties of 2021, and know the exciting experiences possible for our recruits. Thank you for your optimism.
I wish you all a safe and relaxing holiday, to give you the energy to hit the ground running in our short leadup to AFX 2022.
Merry Christmas to everyone in the Unit, to your families, and to the wider Waverley College and St Catherine’s communities.
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
E: jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We continue to work within the parameters of the current context, while still endeavouring to expand our recruits’ Cadet skills. A reminder to all in the Unit that we are required to wear masks when on parade and conducting activities.
Company-based parades are proceeding under Directing Staff supervision and we look forward to the day when rank and St Cath’s are able to join and command their Platoons and Companies.
A small service to commemorate Remembrance Day 2021 was broadcast to the College at 11am on Thursday, 11 November. We thank the following cadets for their time in rehearsing and conducting this important Ceremonial Parade:
Command
Catafalque Party
Flag Party and Escort
Bugler
Drum Corps
School Flags
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
MAJ(AAC) Julie-Ann de Kantzow
Commanding Officer – WCCU
E: jdekantzow@waverley.nsw.edu.au
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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