Teens embrace personal growth at Puckapunyal’s Exercise Emu

By Faith Macale

Oct 2, 2024

Going through lesson plans and activities for the battalion are (from left) Shepparton unit’s Jake Galvin, Lane Talbot, Siahn O'Sullivan, Aliza Scheetz and Scarlett Burns. Photo: Faith Macale Photo by Faith Macale

While many teens enjoyed family time during the school holidays, a group of ambitious 13 to 18-year-olds embraced a unique opportunity for personal growth at the Puckapunyal Military Area.

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From Friday, September 13, to Friday, September 27, Puckapunyal Military Area hosted Exercise Emu, a comprehensive two-week program.

About 2200 cadets and volunteers from various Victorian schools and community units took part in diverse field exercises, theoretical learning and engaging army displays.

Cadet Warrant Officer Class Two Gage Knight, 17, from 312 Army Cadet Unit — Puckapunyal, joined in 2022 as a recruit and rose to his current rank as the unit’s company sergeant major.

“I managed to rise up decently quick compared to a lot of my peers,” he said.

Rhys Wright, Gage Knight, Daniel Dinnitis, Rhien Clements and Tayden Smith after completing the first aid activity. Photos: Faith Macale Photo by Faith Macale

“I’ve put a lot of effort into cadets because I’m going to the army after school, so I see cadets as like an advancement of my career.”

CDTWO2 Knight said he never missed any parade nights or activities that Exercise Emu had.

“I strongly believe that all the effort that I’ve put in has helped me get to where I am today,” he said.

Second Lieutenant Holly Costa of the 38 Army Cadet Unit — Shepparton was also a recruit before becoming a staff member.

“I started here as a recruit when I was 15,” she said.

“I was in Year 10 at the time. I just changed schools and I was like, this seems like a great opportunity to meet new people.”

The Army Cadets from units 312, 309 and 35 stage a first aid scenario at Exercise Emu. Pictured are (clockwise from left) Tayden Smith, CDTWO2 Gage Knight, Rhien Clements and Rhys Wright. Photo: Faith Macale Photo by Faith Macale

2LT Costa was one of the few female cadets in her battalion when she started.

“At the time, it wasn’t really seen as a thing that females do, or young females,” she said.

“Now we’ve got a lot more females coming through, which is fantastic, and it’s a great opportunity for everyone.”

2LT Costa said it was very empowering to see more women enter a male-dominated career.

“It was a very, very male-dominated community and now we’re starting to include people from all different aspects of life a lot more,” she said.

“It’s amazing to see the change.”

Sergeant Scarlett Burns, also from the 38 Army Cadet Unit — Shepparton, said getting to support other women in their battalion was one of the highlights of her experience at Exercise Emu.

Rhien Clements receives first aid from Tayden Smith (left) and Rhys Wright, while Gage Knight (standing) offers support to his team during their first aid activity. Photo: Faith Macale Photo by Faith Macale

“It’s great just being able to help out the other girls here,” she said.

“Even though there’s not many, it’s mostly males, but helping out the females and just showing that it doesn’t have to just be men (in the army).”

Like CDTWO2 Knight from the Puckapunyal unit, Cadet Under Officer Lane Talbot of the 38 Army Cadet Unit — Shepparton also dreams of joining the military after high school.

Currently, CUO Talbot holds the highest rank a cadet can achieve.

“I run the unit. I do all the training plans and all that,” he said.

“I organised all the activities on the higher-up ranking.

“I’ve got the duty of care for them all.”

CUO Talbot has been in the Army Cadets for six years and said he learnt a lot of lessons which could also be applied in life outside the military base.