Published on: 11 August 2022



Over the weekend Christ Church Grammar School Army Cadets, alongside St Hilda’s and Guildford Grammar Cadets, participated in the Term 3 Field Training Exercise (FTX) at the Bindoon training area.

Despite adverse weather, all cadets pitched in together in combined platoons to complete a 15km navigations exercise in small groups. The cadets also participated in a first aid exercise and reconnaissance of small villages along the route.

On the Monday, the cadets woke up early and after a delicious BBQ brekkie moved to Irin Barracks, where soldiers from 13 Brigade introduced the Cadets to weapons handling drills with the EF88 rifle. They also received a vehicle familiarisation from members of the 10th Light Horse Regiment.

A good time was had by all and it is fantastic to witness cadets thrive working alongside boys and girls to meet common objectives.

The Cadets program develops character and skills in the boys through the promotion of self-reliance, leadership, teamwork, responsibility, healthy risk-taking, communal living and environmental care.

Old boys who participated in the Cadets program have gone on to use their skills to great affect in their lives after leaving the School. Bill Elischer (’85) is one such example.

Having participated in Cadets in 1983 and 1984 when he was in Year 10 and 11 Bill left Christ Church and joined the British Army, leading him into several roles in British and Australian embassies in counter-terrorism and security roles.

Bill is currently the Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.