Blayney resident Kathlyn Schmarr has recently returned from nine days at Singleton Army Base as the Course Cadet Commander for the Australian Army Cadet Promotion Courses.
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Held in January and July each year, more than 180 cadets from throughout NSW attended the recent camp.
Three promotion courses were held, the Junior Leaders Course, the Senior Leaders Course and the Cadet Under Officer/Cadet Warrant Officer Course.
Participants are given the skills and training to qualify for promotion within their unit.
As Course Commander, Kathlyn was responsible for the command and control of the camp through daily conferencing and monitoring and mentoring of junior cadet staff.
Kathlyn, 18, is the current NSW Regional Cadet Under Officer (RCUO), having applied and being promoted to the position in September 2013. Previous to that appointment she was a member of the 200 ACU at Cowra which she joined as a 13-year-old.
"I paraded at Cowra once a week during school terms for four-and-a-half years. During that time I was given the opportunity to gain and develop leadership skills that allowed me to rise through the cadet ranks from recruit to the top rank in the state. There are approximately 7000 cadets in NSW, including members from large private school units and I am particularly proud to have a cadet background from a small regional platoon such as Cowra," Kathlyn said.
In May this year Kathlyn attended the Chief of Army Cadet Team Challenge over four days in Brisbane.
While in Brisbane she represented NSW on the National Cadet Advisory Council which is the link between cadets and HQ.
However, the highlight so far as RCUO has been leading the Australian Army Cadet contingent who marched in the 2014 Sydney ANZAC Day Parade.
"The cadets carried the World War 1 banners and it was a great honour to march with those flags," Kathlyn said.
Currently a first year nursing student at CSU Bathurst, Kathlyn completed her secondary studies at Blayney High School last year.
"I am working part time at Uralba Retirement Village in Carcoar and I would like to thank management for supporting me with shifts around my cadet and university commitments. Ultimately I hope to combine nursing with a career in the defence forces on completion of my studies."
