Although parades will be held at the school, membership will be open to the whole community.

Colonel Brendan Casey said there would also be bivouac weekends away and promotion camps twice a year, featuring military-style activities.

“At our last annual camp, they fired rifles and machine guns, they rode in armoured vehicles, they did army obstacle courses, they worked with engineers doing vehicle search and aerial search, how to clear mine fields and booby traps – they do have a lot of fun,” he said.

OAGS principal Reverend Louis Stringer said it was a great platform for leadership development.

“Growing confidence about who they are, what they’re capable of and being able to give them some skills and take on challenges,” he said. 

Kinross Wolaroi School also has a cadet unit, but only for its students. 

Cadets must be turning 13 or older in the year they join. 

For more information on Army Cadets, go to www.armycadets.gov.au/about/ or if you are interested in joining 252ACU, send an email to 252ACU@oags.nsw.edu.au