ARMY cadets opened the gates to their base in Ryan Road for a recruitment drive on Monday evening.
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They showed potential recruits their equipment, how they would live on the field, preparation work, and basic drills during their open day.
But it was also a chance to ask senior cadets why they continue to be involved. The common answer seemed to be the camping trips.
Cadet Harley Aitchison, 16, travels from Cloncurry after school every Monday, and has to drive home on the Barkly Highway later that night.
“The army is my lifelong goal,” the cadet said.
“I just want to protect and serve for the people of Australia...and for the adventure and the training that other people in civilian life won’t receive.
“Cadets is the closest I can get to at my own age.”
Harley became a cadet when he was 12-years-old, when a friend’s brother persuaded him to try it out.
“I loved it and I have been doing it ever since,” he said.
At the end of the year Harley will apply to enter the Mount Isa based D Company.
He aims to serve for the company one year before he upgrades to the full army.
Senior Cadet Lochlan Dwyer, 15, sees the army as a “back-up plan”.
His ambition is to become a primary school teacher.
Lochlan joined the cadets four years ago and has enjoyed it ever since his first day.
He was persuaded to join after reading an advertisement in his school’s newsletter about cadets.
“I got really excited. And it is everything I expected,” the cadet said.
His favourite part of being a cadet is the annual field exercises.
“I get to talk to real army people, and use their equipment and ride their vehicles,” he said.
Cadet Jacob Schafer, 17, said recently there were only 14 army cadets regularly involved in Mount Isa, but the number had recently increased. The new recruits were practicing drilling on open day.
The Army Cadets hoped to have at least 35 prospective recruits visiting during the open day and the number appeared to be close to the target.
Jacob said he joined to gain personal development skills such as leadership.