2025 Cadet Bivouac Camp - Singleton
It was a welcome return to the Singleton Military Area for the Bivouac Camp in October with cadets promptly establishing camp in the open ranges before organising an afternoon rotation of fieldcraft activities and platoon challenges. These consisted of camouflage and concealment and section formations which built capacity among younger cadets who were given the opportunity to lead their peers in acting section leader roles.
With the threat of looming thunderstorms many cadets were quick to place further emphasis on perfecting their hootchies and finding creative solutions to their shelter needs. Due to there being no running water on site the cadets also experienced a newfound appreciation of the importance of preserving water and managing their jerry supplies.
Day Two was devoted to planning navigation exercise checkpoints and activities over the expanse of the Singleton range. False starts to the exercise beckoned as the new leadership group underestimated the size of the area and planning time involved to safely run such an activity.
It was a matter of 'take two' on Sunday and the exercise went off without a hitch with many of the furthest checkpoints being reached and successful team building exercises conducted along the way before all cadets returned for Sunday mass at sunset presided over by Fr Dan Drum who travelled to Singleton specifically for the occasion beneath the brokenback ranges.
The cadets then settled in for their final night on camp fuelled by the dinner supplied in their 24 hour ration pack that was used during the navigation exercise. The following morning was devoted to clean up and pack down and despite the length of the previous day’s walking there was a positive buzz and many happy smiling faces on the last morning of camp before returning to the College with a sense of accomplishment after many younger cadets experienced their first camp in Singleton, which the unit has a long history of attending.
With the threat of looming thunderstorms many cadets were quick to place further emphasis on perfecting their hootchies and finding creative solutions to their shelter needs. Due to there being no running water on site the cadets also experienced a newfound appreciation of the importance of preserving water and managing their jerry supplies.
Day Two was devoted to planning navigation exercise checkpoints and activities over the expanse of the Singleton range. False starts to the exercise beckoned as the new leadership group underestimated the size of the area and planning time involved to safely run such an activity.
It was a matter of 'take two' on Sunday and the exercise went off without a hitch with many of the furthest checkpoints being reached and successful team building exercises conducted along the way before all cadets returned for Sunday mass at sunset presided over by Fr Dan Drum who travelled to Singleton specifically for the occasion beneath the brokenback ranges.
The cadets then settled in for their final night on camp fuelled by the dinner supplied in their 24 hour ration pack that was used during the navigation exercise. The following morning was devoted to clean up and pack down and despite the length of the previous day’s walking there was a positive buzz and many happy smiling faces on the last morning of camp before returning to the College with a sense of accomplishment after many younger cadets experienced their first camp in Singleton, which the unit has a long history of attending.
Mr Michael Boulus
Cadet Coordinator
