Login
iscover
An official ceremony has marked the establishment of Sydney’s first community-based cadet unit.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Defence has announced the establishment of a new Australian Army Cadets unit – 248 Army Cadet Unit (ACU) City of Sydney (Gadigal).
The unit’s establishment was celebrated at an official ceremony at Victoria Barracks, Paddington earlier this month.
Sydney’s first community-based unit, 248 ACU (Gadigal), is expected to help improve access to Army’s cadet program for youth in the central and eastern suburbs of Sydney.
Brigadier Malcolm Wells, Chief of Staff at Headquarters Forces Command, welcomed the establishment of 248 ACU, noting the benefits for the local community.
“To have an Army Cadet Unit located here, in the Australian Army’s most iconic barracks, in the heart of Australia’s most influential city, represents something that we are very proud of,” BRIG Wells said.
“We look forward to doing what we can to ensure this unit – which we would like to feel a special connection to – is, at least, the finest in the brigade, if not the nation.”
Australian Army Cadets Captain Alan Yeung has been named as Officer Commanding of the new unit.
“The Gadigal name is quite special,” CAPT Yeung said.
“We’re hoping for much more tie-in with the local community, especially the local Indigenous community.
“Previously, in this area, there was no Army cadet unit that community members could join; they had to be part of a school-based unit.”
Cadet Under Officer Lachi Kankanamage welcomed his appointment as Company Commander 248 ACU.
“Cadets has taught me a lot of leadership skills that I’ve transferred to my role as vice-captain in high school,” Cadet Under Officer Kankanamage said.
The establishment of 248 ACU comes just a month after the 13th Engineer Regiment (13 ER) of the Australian Army was formed.
The new regiment, based on the current 13 Field Squadron, is expected to include a new squadron and an evolved focus on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
The 13 ER will also be tasked with providing geospatial, combat and force support engineering capabilities, in a bid to support joint manoeuvre and survivability.
[Related: New Army unit unveiled]
