A trio of senior Nelson Cadet Unit members fought tooth and nail for national pride against 11 Defence Force teams who represented Aotearoa’s nemesis in any competition - Australia.
Cadet staff sergeant Edie Lloyd, and cadet sergeants Hannah Buckland and Alyssa-Leigh Oosthuizen were part of a 10-person New Zealand team which triumphed at the Chief of Army Cadet Team Challenge, held in Queensland between 7 and 11 July.
The battlefield where the Kiwis were outnumbered by 11 Aussie teams was intense, with physical and mental tasks mirroring real-world military operations.
They were required to construct a bridge to cross a river, navigate to find a missing tourist, memorise an abandoned campsite and reconstruct it, build a working radio antenna from scattered components, and evacuate and treat casualties in a simulated avalanche.
Carrying stretchers and equipment for two kilometres through the thicket, creating a helicopter landing pad, a roadblock and conquering an advanced confidence course testing their endurance and teamwork, rounded off the competition.
Tasks were all judged on either competitor’s skill or time.
Nelson Cadet Unit commander Major Sophie Webber says Edie, Hannah and Alyssa-Leigh were recruited for the event for their tenacity and coherence, and the Nelson Cadet Unit’s victory in the 2024 Southern Area Skill at Arms competition was the first obstacle overcome for their eligibility.
This New Zealand Cadet Forces event sees army cadet units across Te Waipounamu (the South Island) contest in various military-related skills.
