Reflections On My Time With The Australian Army Cadets

Cadets for me was a challenging, yet forgiving journey full of experiences that has developed me in a way I wouldn’t think was possible. Starting out as a shy kid, I didn’t think I would be able to get along with the people around me. But throughout the difficult and stressful experiences we shared, strong bonds were formed with my peers, and before I knew it, I had already made incredible friends who I consider as some of the most important people in my life.

Developing these relationships made me realise the importance of “belonging” and appreciating the people that hang around our everyday lives. Friends are there to support and push you along a difficult track. They’re there to help you build your Hutchi when it’s pouring down rain in the middle of the night. They’re there to help you with your webbing when you’re struggling to get up that steep hill. They’re there to help you, to support you and most importantly, to share the struggle when times get difficult.

The cadet program isn’t just about getting to experience what the army is like, it’s learning to overcome challenges we don’t usually face in our normal lives. For me, that was building my confidence and social skills.

Cadets have shaped me in a way I thought couldn’t be possible, but thanks to the incredible experiences and the amazing friends I was able to share them with, I was able to step out of my comfort zone and push myself to the limit. I couldn’t be more thankful to cadets for the success I’ve been able to achieve and the skills I’ve learned as a leader which I’m able to take and use in future careers.