Cadets & Duke of Ed

Students from Year 9 onwards have the opportunity to take part in our Cadets and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programs that encourage personal growth beyond the classroom.

Cadets

The Mentone Grammar Army Cadet Unit (MGACU) has a long and proud tradition since it was established at the School in 1943.

Following the compulsory participation in the cadet program for all students in Year 9, Frogmore students have the option to continue as a member of the Cadet Unit in Years 10, 11 & 12 to develop their skills, training and leadership of incoming Year 9 recruits.

Recruit Platoons

Year 9 students are organised into Recruit Platoons of approximately 12 – 15 students based on Mentor classes and gender groups.

Each Platoon is managed by a small number of Frogmore student cadet leaders:

  • Year 10 Corporals (2 – 4)
  • Year 11 Sergeant (1)
  • Year 12 CUO (Cadet Under Officer)
Promotions Courses & Leadership Responsibilities (Years 10 – 12)
  • Cadet Leadership for Year 10
    All students keen to continue in Cadets into Year 10 complete the Junior Leaders Course, which is held in the December of Year 9. This course runs for three days and is held on campus. Students who complete this course are eligible to be promoted to the rank of Corporal for Year 10 (please note: not all students who complete this Promotions Course are promoted to the rank). As a Corporal, students lead a section of Year 9 Recruits, teaching theory and practical lessons as well as providing support and direction when living in the field at Cadet Camp.

  • Cadet Leadership for Year 11
    Students who are keen to pursue further promotion apply to complete the Senior Leaders Course. This course runs for four days and is held in January, in the week prior to classes resuming for the academic year. Students who complete this course are eligible to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant for Year 11 (please note: not all students who complete this Promotions Course are promoted to the rank). As a Sergeant, students are posted to one of a number of roles within the unit, including assisting to lead Recruit Platoons, assisting to lead Advanced Platoons, and working as part of the Headquarters team to support the broader unit.

  • Cadet Leadership for Year 12
    Students who are keen to pursue further promotion apply to complete the Cadet Under Officer and Warrant Officer Course. This course runs for 4 days and is held in the second week of the Term 3 holidays. Students who complete this course are eligible to be promoted to the rank of CUO or WO for Year 12 (please note: not all students who complete this Promotions Course are promoted to the rank). CUOs lead platoons throughout the unit or are allocated to lead elements of the Headquarters team. A number of Warrant Officer roles exist, providing students an opportunity to lead and coordinate large teams of platoons in their training.
2026 Training Days & Dates

Cadet leaders participate in four training days held across the School year providing leadership to the Year 9 Recruit Platoons. Training days take place at school, Keysborough Playing Fields, or Brayside Park. Students will be transported to and from Mentone Grammar for any offsite training activities.

Training days consist of a range of activities including fieldcraft, first aid, and navigation, as well as marching and drill sequences.

Dates

  1. 2 March
  2. 12 June
  3. 13 July
  4. 20 August
Puckapunyal Camp & 2026 Dates

Puckapunyal is an active Australian Army training base. Frogmore cadet leaders attend the camp for four days and three nights supporting Year 9 recruits to practice the skills they have learned in prior training days.

Frogmore leaders will participate on one of the following camps (details will be provided to relevant students via C2G).

Camp Dates

  • GROUP 1: Saturday 12 September – Tuesday 15 September
    • NO SCHOOL: Wednesday 16 & Thursday 17 September (in lieu of weekend)
  • GROUP 2: Tuesday 15 September – Friday 18 September
Uniform Allocation & Equipment

As a continuation of Year 9, cadet leaders in Years 10 – 12 will retain the cadet uniform and equipment provided on loan by the Australian Army. All items remain the property of the Australian Government and must be returned in good condition.

Students will require some camp equipment for Puckapunyal. Click below to view a detailed packing list.

Puckapunyal Camp Packing & Equipment List

Duke of Ed

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (Duke of Ed) is a global youth development framework for young Australians aged 14 to 24. 

It is a non-competitive program where participants set personal goals across several sections to build life skills, resilience, and community spirit. Students can commence the Duke of Ed Bronze Award from Year 9 onwards.

If you are interested in starting the Duke of Ed in Frogmore, having not started the Bronze Award in Greenways, please contact Wendy Hong at dukeofed@mentonegrammar.net.

Award Sections

Bronze Award – minimum age 14 years
Time commitment minimum 3 months.

Silver Award – minimum age 15 years
Time commitment minimum 6 months.

Gold Award – minimum age 16 years
Time commitment minimum 12 months.

To complete any level (Bronze, Silver or Gold), participants must spend approximately one hour per week on each of the following: 

  • Voluntary Service: Giving back to a community cause or charity.
  • Physical Recreation: Improving health and fitness through sport or exercise.
  • Skills: Developing a personal interest, hobby, or practical talent (excluding sports).
  • Adventurous Journey: Planning and executing a team expedition in the outdoors.
  • Gold Residential Project: (Gold level only) A 5-day immersive experience with a new group of people.
Assessors & Online Record Book

Each participant must have an assessor for every activity – volunteer, physical recreation, skills and adventurous journey.

Students must ask each assessor to complete and sign a Volunteer Code of Conduct (Assessor Form).

Completed forms must be returned as a hard copy to:

  • Wendy Hong, Duke of Ed Coordinator (Room G115)

Assessor criteria

  • An assessor cannot be related to the student. 
  • Assessors must be over the age of 18 and experienced in the activity/know more about the activity than the student.
  • An assessor must have a Working With Children Check (WWCC).
  • A digital copy of the form can be found on the Frogmore Campus Canvas announcements and students can find hard copies on the noticeboard next to G006.
  • Once complete, each activity can be approved on the student’s Online Record Book (ORB), and the student can start logging their hours. 
Working with Children Check

Each assessor must have a working with children check. This is free as they will be doing this on a volunteer basis with the student: 

Setting Goals

The student must write a goal for each activity. This should be done in the SMART format (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time bound).

Logging Activities

A maximum of one hour per week can be logged for each activity.
This is done via the online system ‘ORB’ which is also available as an app for smart devices.

Lunch Help Sessions

If students have any questions or need assistance with the online system, they are welcome to drop-in to these help sessions:

  • Friday Day 5 & Wednesday Day 8
  • 1.00 – 1.30pm
  • Greenways Auditorium (Centre of Greenways)