While many young people join the Australian Army Cadets to expand there horizons, a group of thirty Army Cadets and Staff took this to a whole new level. The cadets successfully undertook a vigorous selection process to represent Australia on a two week International Army Cadet Exchange.

 

The Army Cadet Exchange is an annual two week exchange of Cadets and Staff.  During the exchange Cadets participate in a variety of military, cultural and adventurous activities.

 

Twenty four Cadets and the six team leaders came from all corners of Australia, and gathered at Simpson Army Barracks in Victoria before heading off in small contingents to Canada, Norway, Germany and the Cayman Islands. 

 

The Australian Cadets participated in a diverse range of activities such as flights in service aircraft, rafting, scuba diving and culturally specific sporting events.

 

Concurrently Australia played host to thirty Cadets and Staff from Canada, Germany, Korea and the United Kingdom.  The overseas Cadets undertook a sightseeing tour of Sydney, and were greeted by Commander Forces Command, Major General Morrison. 

 

The Cadets then toured sights of military significance to Australia including The Royal Military College - Duntroon, the Australian Defence Force Academy, and the Australian War Memorial. In addition they participated in a variety of field and adventurous activities.

 

The Army Cadet Exchange was originally established by Colonel Lars-Gunnar Sölin of Sweden who is now the Honorary President.

 

Colonel Sölin said “The Army Cadet Exchange gives the youth of our countries the chance to travel from one end of the world to the other, and as a result build bridges of understanding in the leaders of the future.  Our youth will take the places of leadership we now occupy, whether they want to or not”.

 

Colonel Sölin went on to say that “No matter if their careers will be in business, politics or in our armed services it will serve our countries well to have future leaders who can approach issues with an open mind and an appreciation for other national cultures and points of view”.

 

In a letter sent to the Headquarters Australian Army Cadets following the exchange a parent wrote “The influence on a young person’s development and skills learnt can not be over emphasized. Luke has brought back to his family, his unit, his community and his college a glimpse of the world, its possibilities and its potential.”

 

They then went on to write “The experience has lifted others in his unit to aspire for application next year and students at his college have become more aware of the Cadet Unit and all the benefits that come with being a member of the AAC - teamwork, leadership, personal development and challenging yourself to be the best you can be.”

 

The annual Army Cadet Exchange conference this year is hosted by Australia. This conference allows the delegates from the member nations to exchange ideas and develop plans to further enhance the program. Last years conference was hosted in Ottawa by the Canadians.