The Cadet Corporal
Page 40
THE CADET SERGEANT MAJOR
‘Thirty nine girls! And some of them with reputations for being hot,’ thought 16 year old Army Cadet Warrant Officer Graham Kirk as he scanned the company. ‘And some of them very pretty, like Cpl Allison Broadfoot and Cpl Kate O’Brien in HQ.’
It was Day 1 of the unit’s annual field camp. The cadets had just arrived in the bush and were seated in the shade waiting for their OC. Through Graham’s mind ran the roll book totals: 39 girls and 70 boys. ‘And Capt Conkey doesn’t want any ‘boy-girl’ problems this camp’.
As Graham looked at them his gaze met a pair of soft brown female eyes that smiled back. They belonged to Cadet Margaret Lake- his sister’s best friend and his devoted admirer. But Margaret was two years younger and was plain and tubby. ‘No, Margaret doesn’t set my blood on fire, not like her corporal, red-haired Barbara Brassington.’ For a few moments Graham admired Barbara.
‘Heavens, Barbara is really something!’ he thought. But then he shook his head. ‘No, don’t start thinking like that.’ That got him considering the problem of temptation- something he suffered strongly from as he really liked girls! ‘How do we prevent Fraternisation?’ he wondered.
Fraternisation- improper relationships- was forbidden by the Cadet Policy Manual. As the Company Sergeant Major one of his main duties was discipline and while he knew that the real supervision was the responsibility of the adult Officers of Cadets he also had a key role to play. ‘And the cadet sergeants are the people I must depend on to help prevent any problems,’ he thought, shifting his gaze to the sergeants standing at the back of their platoons. What bothered him was the feeling that he did not trust them all.
Graham called the company to attention and handed over to Capt Conkey and the camp began. What follows is the story of an army cadet camp and of how Graham and his friends coped with the unexpected problems that occurred. For cadets and ex-cadets the detail will inform and provide nostalgic flashbacks.
Because this is a story about teenagers, and particularly teenage relationships, there are some sexual references and coarse language. This book is written for young adults and is not suitable for Primary School children
THE CADET UNDER-OFFICER
Graham is in Year 12 and is now a Cadet Under-Officer in his army cadet unit. It is September. On the third day of annual camp he encounters 15 year old Elizabeth, who has a briefcase full of incriminating documents and is being hotly pursued by a gang of crooks. Graham knows Elizabeth from school and decides to hide her while he contacts the authorities. But who to trust? And how to do it?
Complicating matters is the fact that 15 year old Margaret, a corporal in his platoon, is in love with Graham. Jealous rear its ugly head. Problems multiply and plans go adrift. As the days go by the crooks become ever more desperate and Graham becomes involved in the most challenging adventure of his young life.
The story is set in the dry savannah country of inland North Queensland in the Charters Towers district. There is fast moving action and authentic detail about army cadets. Buy the book to join in with them as they try to use their training to overcome the mounting problems.