2008 SCACU Annual Camp

The 2008 Scotch College Army Cadet Unit Annual Camp went underway from the 12-17th of September (the Advance Party went to Puckapunyal on the 10th). It was an enjoyable camp where there were lots of interesting activities. I arrived on the evening of the 13th as I had state chess finals that morning-afternoon.

The days were split up like this (for Alpha company):
12th - Arrival and setting up camp
13th - Abseiling
14th - Boating
15th - Ranged shooting
16th - NavEx and Confidence course
17th - Packup, renaturalisation and departure

Jokes on Cadet Camp

As is expected, some funny stuff always appear on camps. Here is some of the funny stuff that happened...

Someone gets bitten by a snake and you turkey slap them.

"Turn up this absolute gangsta music." (on the bus to Puckapunyal)

Lachy Webster tried to make coffee in a kidney cup on the fire.

"Demeris is going to have a 5-minute chat and then you can go to bed and have some fun."

"If anyone gets in my way, I'll cut them down." (after talking about teamwork)

I slipped down while trying to kick my friend.

"I got some fat guy in my year level to make the sign." (talking about the big 3 sign for the platoon)

Scotch Annual Cadet Camp Finished

I have just returned from a Puckapunyal military base. Overall, it has been a pretty good experience and I especially liked the live firing.

I woke up with the urge to vomit and feeling dizzy on the final day. I had to take some Panadol tablets and fell asleep a couple more times. The teachers and the platoon were very helpful while I was sick.

On the trip back we watched Scooby-Doo, a 2002 live-action film. The film concerns Mystery Inc. (Shaggy, Fred, Scooby-Doo, Velma and Daphne) investigating an island, owned by the eccentric Emile Mondavarious, where teenagers are turning into mindless zombies. They end up unravelling a rather bewildering plan. The film includes Matthew Lillard, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze, Jr., Linda Cardellini, Rowan Atkinson and Neil Fanning.

Here is what we did on the days...

Day 1

Arrival in bush
Abseiling (25 metres)

Day 2

Navigational exercise
Shelter building (using wood)
Night navigational exercise
Lantern Stalk

Day 3

Arrival in barracks
Drill using rifles

Day 4

Live firing (using, as I recall, the 5.56mm F88 Austeyr rifle)
Personal training (just a whole lot of exercise, and I found it particularly difficult)
Drill with rifles
Lantern stalk

Day 5

Drill with rifles
Concert night (with the whole unit)
Skit night (with Alpha company)

Day 6
Drill with rifles
Parade

Scotch Annual Cadet Camp

I will be off in the Scotch ACU Annual Camp from the 14th-19th of September. This will be two nights in the bush and three nights at a military base. The first activity my company is doing will be abseiling.