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MEET THE CUOS

11 PLATOON COMMANDER

CUO ARJUN RAMAN (left)

2020/21 | CDT (JLC) 2021/22 | CPL (SLC) 2022/23 | SGT (CWC) 2023/24 | CUO

10 PLATOON COMMANDER

CUO TOBY CAIRNS (left)

2020/21 | CDT (JLC) 2021/22 | LCPL (SLC) 2022/23 | SGT (CWC) 2023/24 | CUO

PATHFINDER TREK

CUO ROGER XU (middle)

2020/21 | CDT (JLC) 2021/22 | CPL (SLC) 2022/23 | SGT (CWC) 2023/24 | CUO

FOOD SECURITY

CUO CALLUM WOOD (right)

2020/21 | CDT (JLC) 2021/22 | CPL (SLC) 2022/23 | SGT (CWC) 2023/24 | CUO

Whatresponsibilitiesdoesyourrank entail?

CUORAMAN

“Myresponsibilityistoleadmyplatoonand ensureeachcadetgetsthebestoutofthe programandenjoysit”

CUOCAIRNS

“Myroleistotrain,assessandsupervise10 Platoon,workingcloselywithmyChainof Commandtoensurethatourwholeplatoon hasaproductive,safeandenjoyabletimeat everytrainingparade”

CUOXU

“Icommandahighlyskilledanddemanded platoonwhooverseetrekupandaround TrekControlatAFX Wetrainourboystobe adaptive,andfitandtoworkwellasateam andintheheatofthemoment Thiswill ensurethesafetyandqualityofexperiences ofourcadets”

CUOWOOD

“IworkcloselywithmyOIC'sMrOrellana andMsGandintocoordinatetraining paradesinmanagingthelittletimewehave tostorefood,organiseequipmentandserve PLT'sinatimelyfashion”

Whatwasyourfavouriteexperience duringthetrainingparade?

CUOXU

“Inthelasttrainingparade,followingwith steaminghotstarttothetrainingparade involvinglessonswith13PLT,theboysgot downtotheSeniorPoolforamixofteam buildingandfitness.Weplayedpoolrugby anddidlapsofrunningandswimmingtocap offourtrainingday,anditjustencapsulated thespiritofbrotherhoodthatcharacterized theessenceoftheCorps”

CUOWOOD

“Myfavouritepartofthetrainingparadeshas tobeeatingthefoodswepreparecatering forotherplatoons Gettingthesatisfactionof tryingyourownfoodandknowingthatyou haveservedupgreatmealstoothercadets isarewardinitself”

CUOCAIRNS

“Myfavouriteexperienceduringtraining paradeswasmyfirst-yearexperience completingtheConfidenceCourse Ifeelit helpedourplatooncreateastrongerbond andbuiltthefoundationsofteamworkand camaraderiethatlastedthewholeCorps year”

CUORAMAN

“Myfavouriteexperiencewoulddefinitelybe howmyplatoonworksasateaminvarious initiativesoractivitiesthatweundertakeand seeinghowtheypushthemselvesoutof theircomfortzonesineachactivitywedo”

Whatwasyourfavourite experienceduringtheAFX?

CUORAMAN

“MyfavouriteexperiencefromAFXwere sittingaroundthecampfires,atdinners whetheritwasafteralongtrekorafteraday atbase.Itwasalwaysgreattosharestories andhavealaugharoundthecampfirewhile eatingdinner.”

CUOWOOD

“Ifelloffacliffonce Butpeopleinmy platooncameandhelpedmeimmediately!It wassuchatouchingmomenttoseethe strongbrotherhoodbetweenmymates.It alsomademerealizehowpowerfulour cadetcommunityis.”

CUOXU

“Lastyeartrekking,wefound7PLTinthe bottomofour2ndvalleycrossingthatdayoneoftheircadetshadabrokenankle,and oneofminewasstrugglingtowalk Wetook anhourtomakeourselvesuptheotherside ofthemountainwhenwewereradioedtogo backdowntohelp7PLTgotheotherwayto afiretrackwheretheCASEVAChad access.Thechallengeofhelpingboth injuredboysgettosafetyagainstthe elementstaughtmetoembracedifficultyand becameacherishedexperiencefora lifetime.”

CUOCAIRNS

“MymostmemorableexperiencesfromAFX weremadeatthecampfires,eatingdinner, andtellingstoriesafteralongdayoftrekking andcompletinginitiatives.Itmadethenights allthemorefunhavingmatesaroundyou sharingtheirexperiencesandhavingagood laugh.”

Whatisyouradvicetothecadets?

CUOWOOD

“Makethemostofcorpsasitisaonce-in-alifetimeopportunity,andtheskillsand achievementsyouearnlastforever”

CUOCAIRNS

“Myadvicetocadetswouldbetoalways haveapositiveattitude.Iassureyouthat youwillenjoythecorpsalotmoreifyou applyyourselfandput100%effortintoall theactivitiesyoutakepartin.Noteveryone hasthechanceandprivilegetobeapartof theTKSCC.”

CUORAMAN

“Giveiteverythingyou’vegot,enjoyit In Corps,yougetwhatyouputin Oncamp, stopandreflectonyourexperiencesandthe journeyyou’reon.Makesureyoukeep learningandaskingquestionsbecausethere isnostupidquestion,andyouonlyhaveso manyyearsatKing’s.Therearesomany opportunitiesatKing'sembraceeveryone andenjoyit.”

CUOXU

“Appreciatewhatyouhavebeforeit'sgone It'sprobablybeensaidmanytimes,butthat's becauseit'strue I'vemetmanyolderpeople whotellmehowwhentheylookback,they realizedthatthetimeoftheirliveswas actuallyinschool,despitetherepetitiveness andstructurethatwekidsconformtohate. Solookaround,takemomentstostoptakeit allinbeforethosemomentsrunout.”

SPECIALIST PLATOON SPOTLIGHT

Pathfinders

CUO ROGER XU

CUO RUPERT BEGG

What does Pathfinders do during training parades and AFX?

“Every week both pathfinder platoons train 2nd year platoons for 2 periods, teaching them the skills of camouflage and concealment whilst mixing in fitness and endurance, both mental and physical. In remaining periods, we variate physically gruelling activities and tests such as circuits and 2ks that ensure the team are physically and mentally fit to operate as a single, cohesive unit at AFX and beyond.”

What’s Pathfinders’ role in TKSCC?

“As CUOs of Pathfinder Trek and Roping, formerly Recon, we command a highly skilled and demanded platoon who oversee trek up and around Trek Control at AFX. We train our boys to be adaptive, fit and to work well as a team and in the heat of the moment, as an individual We are also often called to attend to CASEVACs in the area before professional help can arrive, and supervise trek control in the chaos of night, so that the TKSCC can conduct AFX balancing safety, and the quality of experiences of its cadets.”

Why should people join Pathfinders?

“Every year, the pathfinder/recon platoons have been statistically one of the highly demanded platoons in the corps. And there is good reason for that. Aside from the distinctive webbing and camouflage we wear; our platoon offers you the truest representation of what it means to be in the army Both mental and physical strength are developed like no other platoon in the corps, and our freedom to target specific aspects of training and use technology like night vision goggles is unparalleled.”

A Trip into the Past Brian Templar Barton

(TKS 1907-08) GREAT SWIMMER

Born on October 12, 1887 in Wellington, Brian attended The King's School from 1907 to 1908, earning the 1st XV Rugby Honour Cap in 1908. The school awards annually the Brian Barton Cup for football and the Nanima Barton Cup for swimming, both in honour of his family

Before enlisting on December 7, 1914, at Holdsworthy, he worked as a grazier and had some surveyor training He embarked on the Troopship 'Suevic' from Sydney on December 21, 1914, to join the 6th Light Horse in Egypt

By May 15, 1915, he was headed to Gallipoli, where he contracted jaundice and enteric fever at Anzac Cove on September 29, 1915. After treatment at the 21st General Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt, he was sent back to Australia on December 13, 1915.

Once recovered, he returned to Egypt, joining the 2nd Light Horse at Tel-elKebir on June 21, 1916, and later returned to his original unit, participating in Palestine operations, including Beersheba

In November 1917, while near Jaffa for an attack on 'Ypres Salient' near Bald Hill, a delayed artillery barrage resulted in his and another officer's death.

He is buried at Ramleh War Cemetery.

Lest we forget.

Tips for AFX

Advices from cadets about AFX to 1st year cadets

CUO WILL ROGERS

“Take thick ropes, that will make you sleep better throughout the camp.”

CPL JEREMY BLATCHFROD

“AFX is my favourite part of my life. Come to me if y’all need help.

“Enjoy.”

CUO ALEX PELLIZZON

PADRE'S WEEKLY BIBLE VERSE

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

– Philippians 4:13

The Bible passage Philippians 4:13 provides cadets with a compass, endowing them with steadfast faith and resolve. It builds courage and perseverance by building resilience and reminding them that they can conquer any difficulty they face during their training and beyond with God's strength.

Provided by CPL Deenan Navaratnam

MESSAGE FROM RSM MASON

"1st Year cadets tend to believe some false rumours about AFX and a lot worry about these rumours before AFX and during AFX. Ignore these rumours that the older cadets make. AFX is one of the best experiences you can have in high school life. Ignore all of those and have fun during AFX. I am sure that it will be great”