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ADF Reserves and Cadet facilities will be upgraded as part of a new multi-billion-dollar expansion plan.
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The Commonwealth government has pledged to upgrade 73 Australian Defence Force (ADF) Reserves and Cadet facilities across the country over the next 10 years under a new $1 billion plan.
The commitment includes $53 million in accelerated infrastructure upgrades to 18 cadet facilities over the next year, targeting a 10 per cent increase in the number of ADF Cadets from approximately 28,308 to over 31,000.
This is expected to involve bolstering existing cadet units and the establishment of new units.
In addition to upgraded facilities, the investment would support the development of new mentoring and upskilling initiatives across a range of disciplines.
The initiatives are set to employ active personnel, reservists and veterans, tasked with providing administrative support, while also providing opportunities to local and Indigenous suppliers and contractors.
“In addition to the more traditional skills developed through the program, future cadets will also be engaged in STEM-focused activities including cyber security, virtual reality simulation, robotics and flight simulation,” Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said.
“The program will focus on growing cadet and volunteer numbers, and establishing new units in rural and remote areas, including in Indigenous communities.
General Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK, CVO, MC (Ret’d) is set to become the first Patron of the ADF Cadets as part of the new plan.
“Being a former cadet himself, Sir Peter will bring strong values, experience and mentorship to current and future cadets,” Minister Dutton added.
Particular sites have been prioritised for works and identified as key areas for cadet growth, given their proximity to youth development programs.
According to Assistant Minister for Defence Andrew Hastie MP, these sits are integral to the ADF’s emergency response network.
“As a former cadet myself, I know first-hand that cadets provide young Australians with opportunities to lead, grow and serve our country,” he said.
“It is a vital part of Defence’s contribution to building Australia’s future leaders.
“These important announcements will help strengthen the future of cadets and ensures that we grow the cadet program in the critical years ahead.”
This latest government investment could help boost the size of the ADF, with the initiative to provide pathway opportunities for high-performing cadets considering a career of active service.
This comes just a month after the government announced $38 billion would be invested in expanding the ADF by 30 per cent, increasing the number of personnel by 18,500 to an estimated 80,000 by 2040.
Under the plan, the ADF would command 6,000 more troops than the “critical minimum” recommended by Defence to provide “redundancy and resilience” to cover casualties in the event of an armed conflict.
This is set to represent the largest ADF force since the Vietnam War.
The plan will be rolled out across all warfighting domains and all states and territories.
The workforce growth will particularly focus on capabilities associated with the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS), as well as air, sea, land, space and cyber.
The announcement forms part of the 2020 Force Structure Plan (FSP) and has been assessed since the National Security Committee of cabinet approved the policy late last year.
[Related: PM unveils $38bn ADF enhancement plan ]
