Leaders are not born, nor are they made by a title. Leaders are developed through courage, hard work and self awareness.
The Monivae Cadet Corp has a tradition of leadership that requires a special type of training. The Cadet program offers students the opportunity to complete a series of promotion courses to gain qualifications as junior leaders (Corporals) or senior leaders (Sergeants) at Puckapunyal. The course focuses on instructing drill and theory, navigation, leadership and field craft.
Promotions Courses at Puckapunyal
Ten Monivae Cadets and two Cadet staff members participated in the nine day Promotions Course camp held at Puckapunyal Army base in the first week of the school holidays. Katrina Davis and Schree Perkins completed the Junior Leaders Course (JLC) and are now qualified to be promoted to Corporals. Monique Edwards, Evie Dowling, Caitlyn Hastings, Mia Ormiston, Nathan Lewis and Charles Wright completed the Senior Leaders Course and are now qualified to the rank of Sargeant. Sarah Wall and Damien Tully both completed the Cadet Under Officer / Warrent Officer (CUO/WO) course to fill senior roles in the Monivae unit.
2LT Philip O'Keefe and LT (AAC) Gerard Bourke were in command of a platoon in the Junior Leaders Course. Both were responsible for the training and management of 28 cadets training to be leaders of a section (ten cadets) with school and community-based units in Victoria and New South Wales.
The Course Camp was held in the National Service Lines at the Puckapunyal army base. It consisted of training in classrooms, on the parade ground and out in the field. Cadets are taught using a particular pattern called the "blue-print" which is used in all army training. They are then assessed on the manner in which they use this pattern in the teaching of theory and drill lessons. All ten Monivae College cadets were deemed competent at the skills assessed over the week.
All students impressed the assessors but special commendation went to Katrina Davis who was nominated as the leading cadet in her platoon. She attained top marks in all areas and was one of three nominated for Dux of the course.