About 248 Army Cadet Unit - City of Sydney (Gadigal)
Established in 2022, 248 ACU is a community-based cadet unit at Victoria Barracks, Sydney. Anyone aged 13-16 may join the unit, regardless of what school you go to or which area you come from. 248 ACU is part of 22 AAC Battalion, within the NSW Australian Army Cadet Brigade.
“Gadigal” is the name of the indigenous people whose ancestral lands included the area upon which Victoria Barracks, Sydney is located. Permission was granted in 2022 by the Local Aboriginal Land Council to use the name for 248 ACU.
- Visit 248 ACU’s Facebook Page
- Connect with 22 AAC Bn’s Facebook Page
- Read about Victoria Barracks, Sydney
Unit Structure
Like most Army Cadet Units, 248 ACU is headed up by the Officer Commanding (OC), who is the senior adult leader with command of the unit. The OC is supported by other adult volunteers (Adult Cadet Staff, ACS) who deliver, administer and support the AAC program at the unit level.
Cadets within 248 ACU are organised into platoons, depending on the level of training which they are undertaking. All cadets are led by fellow cadets - non-commissioned officers (NCOs) who are more senior and have attained rank and position. In accordance with the Cadet Development Curriculum (CDC), cadet NCOs may be section, platoon or company leaders, or they may be a specialist with a certain skill. All cadet NCOs are capable of teaching lessons (delivering periods of instruction), and are the role models for more junior cadets.
Parade Nights
248 ACU parades during the school term, weekly on Tuesday nights. This is where our cadets do the majority of their learning and skills development, and regular attendance is a must. During parade nights, cadets wear general duty DPCU uniform, and uphold the customs and traditions of the AAC and the Australian Army whilst they are “on duty”.
What is cadets?
Army Cadets is Australia’s leading youth development activity, fostering skills and leadership aligned with Army and Defence values. The Australian Army Cadets (AAC) is one of three services in the Australian Defence Force Cadets (ADFC). Over 18,000 young men and young women are in the Army Cadets, all across Australia. For more facts, see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
What activities do cadets do?
The Australian Army Cadets (AAC) program allows youth to undertake core military-like activities such as navigation, drill, first aid, field craft, radio communications, survival techniques and safety. Cadets can also elect to participate in activities such as abseiling, watermanship and archery.
Army Cadets are provided with excellent opportunities to develop individual self-esteem, leadership, initiative, and problem solving in a safe, challenging and fun environment. Also, Army Cadets are encouraged to embrace the values learned in the AAC and apply them to their everyday lives in order to be better citizens. Our core values are: Service, Courage, Respect, Integrity and Excellence.
Training and commitment
Our training program follows the Cadet Development Curriculum, and through regular attendance (and a few assessments), cadets become eligible for increasing recognition, starting with the completion of the C1A Cadet Recruit course.
Promotion up the ranks
During the course of their cadet “careers”, cadets will become eligible for promotion. Promotion is exciting, but it does come with leadership responsibilities! Except for Cadet Lance Corporal (CDTLCPL), all ranks require the completion of a week-long Promotion Course in order to qualify for promotion. The highest rank that cadets can reach is Cadet Under Officer (CUO). Find out more about cadet ranks.
Insignia and colours
The insignia of the Australian Army Cadets is the the torch and the sword, with the torch symbolising our youth members “lighting the way”, and the sword for strength and courage. Our badge contains the torch and sword, crossed upon a wreath, with a Rising Sun crest symbolising our connection to the Australian Army.
Our corps colours are blue and gold. On our uniform, we wear the blue shoulder patch (often called a “flash” or a “biscuit”) with embroidered gold thread, that incorporates the torch, sword and Rising Sun. Fun fact: When worn on our uniform, the sword on the shoulder patch always points to the advance!
Want to find out more?
Read our frequently asked questions, or contact us.