Ashburton Cadet Unit has done it again – won the NZ Cadet Corps Te Rangatahi Annual Efficiency Trophy.
The trophy was introduced in 1987 and the unit have now won it six times, an achievement which has been only by one other unit, the City of Dunedin Unit.
Unit commander Major Cezarne Rodgers said she was proud of what the unit had achieved.
To win the national trophy, they first had to win the Southern Efficiency Award.
Having won the South Island trophy, a Warrant Officer from the New Zealand Army then comes to the unit and marks on how the unit looks, its drill, uniform presentations, and how members operate and work together.
‘‘There are also challenges such as impromptu speeches and physical challenges,’’ Rodgers said.
From here, alongside two North Island units, the unit with the highest points receives the trophy.
The New Zealand Cadet Forces is a voluntary, uniformed organisation which provides military-style leadership, personal development opportunities and adventurebased training to youth aged between 13 and 19.
It provides youth with a hands on nationally co-ordinated training programme, while a number of local, regional and national courses provide further experience and qualifications in specific training areas.
The Ashburton Cadet Unit is recruiting for new members, alongside the Ashburton Air Training Corps (No 24 Ashburton Squadron). Recruits need to be between the ages of 13 and 15, or 12-years -old in year 9 at high school. A cadet open night will be February 29 from 6-9pm, or drop in February 22 or March 7 during those hours. The unit meets at 254 Cameron St.
The air training corps open nights are February 22 and 29, from 7 to 9pm at Hanger 4, Ashburton Airport, Seafield Rd.
