Uniforms smarten Waiouru Cadets

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 686, 13 May 1997, Page 7

Uniforms smarten Waiouru Cadets

With most members of the Rangitikei-Ruapehu Cadet Unit having now received their uniforms, last week's parade was an impressive event. The cadets' wait for the uniforms had been put to good use with most of their training sessions focusing on drill and personal development since they began lastOctober. They now look the part of and function wel 1 as a Cadet Unit. With weapon instruction being the main topic for the next six weeks, the cadets were issued with Steyr rifles for the training session. Once they were familiar with these weapons, it was planned to hold a live firing exercise on 8 June to demonstrate their newly-ac-quired skills. Following this topic they will move on to navigation, culminating in a night navigation exercise to utilise the

skills they have learned. Fieldcraft and adventure aetivities are also being planned for the latter part of the year. Emphasis is placed on having a variety of aetivities over the year's training sessions and this has been an incentive for the teenagers to join the unit. Belinda Marsh said she

joined because there were "heaps of cool aetivities such as camps, parades and guns" while Matthew Gray joined to "have fun." Although there are 100 cadets on the roll, school holiday s and other commitments preclude the full complement turning up for every meeting. Transport is provided for

the training nights and every effort is made to assist the teenagers to become active members. This has even included co-opting Dempsey's bus driver, Denis Morton, into the unit as one of the officers to ensure transport from the Raetihi area! As over 45 cadets come Turn to Page 12

Waiouru Cadets

FROM PAGE 7 from the Taihape region and 20 from the Raetihi-Ohakune area, transport is a major issue. In an area dominated by the Army, it was interesting to learn that most of the cadets do not have Army parents. However, several cadets indicated that they were planning to enter the military when old enough. Renata Takitimu said he hadjoined to "learn the basics before he gets into the Army" and hopes to join the | Transport Corps. The Unit is supported by 4 Logistics Battalion who provide equipment and instructors. Community services officer Ken Morton explained that the Battalion saw it as a good opportunity for the young soldiers to get instruc- | tion experience with people other than their peers. Sol- . diers who had been cadets prior to joining the Army also volunteered their time to help the Cadet Unit.