A team of Meriden and Trinity Grammar School cadets achieved a remarkable victory at this year’s CAS Military Skills (MilSkills) Competition.
The Milskills Competition is held each year, with cadet units competing against each other in the military skills of Navigation, Radio Telecommunications (RATEL), Fieldcraft, First Aid, and Leadership and Initiative. This year it was held on Saturday 19 October.
“The Trinity Grammar School Army Cadet Unit (TGSACU) consisted of 12 Meriden and Trinity Grammar School students,” Sergeant Varnikaa Kannan said.
The Meriden component of the team consisted of CUO Asha Cunningham, CUO Alana Ikladios, SGT Varnikaa Kannan, CUO Olivia Lee, SGT Nicole Li, CDT Juliet Loane, CUO Violet Loane, CUO Annabel Van Ede and CUO Isabella Wong.
“The first challenge for the unit was Navigation, which tested cadets’ ability to find their way using only a map and compass.”
“In RATEL, the cadets demonstrated their proficiency in relaying clear, concise messages under pressure. The unit earned an additional challenge activity because of their outstanding performance in this skill.”
“Fieldcraft involved knots and lashings, communicating through field signals, giving orders, and movement by day in the bush. We were split up into groups of four for each of the Fieldcraft segments and finally came together to receive the orders and execute our movement-by-day activity,” Sgt Kannan explained.
The cadets’ First Aid knowledge was put to the test in three different scenarios: a hand laceration, snake bite, and a case of anaphylaxis.
During Leadership and Initiative, cadets had to find the correct path in a minefield simulation.
“This was quite challenging and required a high level of teamwork because we were not allowed to directly communicate with each other,” Sgt Kannan said.
“The victory is testament to the hard work and dedication of not only our cadets but also the TGSACU staff who helped with preparation and accompanied the students on the day: CAPT (AAC) Brennan, CAPT (AAC) Reynolds Massey-Reed and LT (AAC) Orlowski.”
Congratulations to the cadets on this well-deserved and outstanding achievement!
