224 Army Cadet Unit
Australian Army Cadets | HMAS Harman
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The Making of a Leader: Insights from AAC’s Leadership Courses
Leadership courses are a huge part within an individual's cadet career. They help shape and prepare us to take on the next rank and role within a unit, battalion, brigade or even national leadership role.
Within the Australian Army Cadets, we participate in numerous activities. National, brigade, battalion, and unit levels. Having the opportunities to participate in some of these activities allows us to engage with cadets all over Australia. Leadership courses are a huge part of an individual’s cadet career. They help shape and prepare us to take on the next rank and role within a unit, battalion, brigade or even national leadership role.
One such milestone is the Junior Non-Comissioned Officer (JNCO) course, a foundational experience that challenges cadets to navigate leadership and fieldcraft in a dynamic environment.
Held at Holsworthy Barracks, this week-long course conducted in July 2022 gave me an immersive experience, fostering friendships among cadets from across the brigade.
Despite the challenges of inclement weather, early mornings, and late nights, the course served as a personal and leadership development, marking the beginning of enduring friendships and the start of my leadership journey.
Building upon the JNCO foundation, the Sergeant’s course I attended during July 2023 honed cadets’ leadership and drill skills. A focus on preparing cadets to instruct drill lessons in their home units included the use of Austeyrs in drill routines.
Completing assessments such as the delivery of orders, qualities of an SNCO, managing a platoon location, and delivering a complex drill lesson, cadets emerged as skilled leaders and recognised individuals.
Notably, my hard work throughout this course was rewarded with the Student of Merit award, an honour proudly displayed on my uniform.
The pinnacle of my AAC leadership journey was the January 2024 course, emphasising advanced leadership and training management. Five challenging assessments, coupled with engaging theory and practical subjects, refined cadets’ abilities. Sword, banner, and cane drill experiences added a unique dimension to the training.
The course served as an end of the entire journey, fostering a sense of unity and shared accomplishment among cadets poised to assume higher ranks within the organization. These courses extend beyond the realm of the AAC, imparting valuable life skills applicable in various facets of personal and professional life.
The bonds formed during these experiences endure, creating a network of support and friendship that lasts a lifetime. The AAC’s commitment to excellence ensures that every cadet not only becomes a proficient leader within the organization but also a resilient and capable individual ready to tackle the challenges of the future.
