Army cadet unit to be set up

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 630, 2 April 1996, Page 7

Army cadet unit to be set up

By

Michele

Monaghan

Waimarino and Taihape youth will soon have something to sink their teeth into on a per manent basis, when an army cadet unit is set up for young people 13 years and over. Cadet and officer recruiting for the Rangitikei-Ruapehu Cadet Unit should take place this week, with visits to Taihape and Ruapehu colleges planned. Waiouru community services officer Ken Morton is co-ordinating the establishment of the cadet unit and said it is envisaged around 100 young people from Raetihi, Ohakune, Waiouru, Taihape and surrounding areas will take advantage of the new opportunity. "There are three things young people want. Something adventurous, something that gets them out of the area and a bit of competition. Rather than separate youth groups we are fulfilling all three areas with one organisation," Mr Morton said. Before a cadet unit can be established approval from various community organisations is needed. Mr Morton said the police, colleges, probation officers, Children and Young Persons Service and the local Returned Services Association have all said the establishment of a cadet unit is a very positive move. Young people will attend one training night a week and one training weekend a month. The list of adventurous acti vities planned is long and includes canoeing, bushcraft, fire fighting, radio operatipn, camping, tramping and firearms safety. With the establishment of the unit comes the need for adult supervision and officers will also be recruited. To be an officer in the cadet unit you need to be under 48 years old and preferably have some Defence Force experience. Regular and Territorial Force personnel are not eligible. Training will be provided before a defence force commission is gi ven. A parent support group will also be set up in an administrative capacity and this group will basically be responsible for arranging transport and fund raising. The New Zealand Defence Force does not provide funding for a cadet unit until it has been established for one year, said Mr Morton. As for the cadets themselves, they will undergo a one month probation period before being accepted into the unit. They will then be issued with a uniform and after more training a corps belt can be worn.