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. Today, participation in the Cadet program forms an integral part of the Greenways experience.

All Year 9 students are allocated to a Recruit Platoon and take part in a training program run across four separate days. The experience culminates in a four-day Camp at Puckapunyal Army Base at the end of Term 3.

At the conclusion of the compulsory program, Year 9 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

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 Year 10 Corporals, a Year 11 Sergeant and a Year 12 CUO (Cadet Under Officer).

2026 Training Days

Cadet training days may be held at school, Keysborough Playing Fields, or Braeside 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 & Dates

Puckapunyal is an active Australian Army training base. Cadets spend four days and three nights practicing skills they have learned in prior training days. This includes day and night field exercises, tent construction (hoochies), camp cooking and more.

Group 1

  • CLASSES: 9A, 9B, 9F, 9G, 9H, 9I
  • DATES: Saturday 12 September – Tuesday 15 September
  • NO SCHOOL: Wednesday 16 & Thursday 17 September (in lieu of weekend)

Group 2

  • CLASSES: 9C, 9D, 9E, 9J, 9K, 9L
  • DATES: Tuesday 15 September – Friday 18 September
Uniform Allocation & Equipment

The majority of uniform and equipment required by students whilst engaged within the Cadet program is issued on loan to students by the Australian Army via the School Cadet Unit. It remains 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 in Year 9.

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 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 Greenways 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. 

Adventurous Journey

  • Cadet Camp (Puckapunyal) can be counted as the adventurous journey component of the Bronze Award.
  • Adventurous journey assessors and supervisors can be a staff member attending Cadet Camp (details of staff to follow later in the year).
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.

Volunteering

Students are encouraged to seek out opportunities for volunteer work in their local community in places such as libraries, aged care facilities and op shops. Volunteer opportunities that arise through school will be posted on the Greenways Campus Canvas announcements.

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)