500 army cadets visit Murray Bridge for Exercise Rising Sun 2024
More than 500 Australian Army Cadets from across South Australia have given up a week of school holidays to live in the field at Murray Bridge.

This story is now free to read. Help Murray Bridge News tell more stories like this by subscribing today.
Put together school holidays, 500 teenagers, staff and the bush and what do you get?
Exercise Rising Sun 2024.
The annual field exercise aims to test and affirm Australian Army Cadets' understanding of their development in an experience-based, tiered training, Army-like, collective environment.
From September 28 to October 4, cadets went through a variety of challenges and courses at the army range on Murray Bridge's east side.
The exercise provided personal development opportunities, supplementing and enhancing the experiences available to cadets in unit activities.
The cadets lived without creature comforts and technology while learning survival techniques, first aid and developing comradeship.
They pushed themselves to their limits.
Thirty-seven nominees for the 2025 Chief of Army Cadet Team Challenge completed a five-kilometre walk wearing webbing and a beep test.
While this was happening, 27 nominees for an Adventure Training Award completed a 7.5km pack march and also a beep test.



Cadets participate in a beep test, a firing range and a 7.5km pack march. Photos: Australian Army Cadets South Australia/Facebook.
The cadets trialed a new pilot weapons course, which was intended to be introduced to all of the Australian Army Cadets.
In addition to the weapons course, all cadets had the opportunity to fire the Army’s current in service weapon, the eF88 Austeyr, under one-on-one supervision of trained Australian Army personnel.
Volunteers from the SA State Emergency Service helped cadets participate in a number of rescue training activities.
Cadets on the medics course learnt to provide lifesaving first aid in a calm and confident manner.



Rescue training, cadets on patrol moving bases and the medical cadets. Photos: Australian Army Cadets South Australia/Facebook.
The 15 cadets on a mechanics course learnt all about cars, from changing a tyre to checking an engine and learning how to use tools safely.
They were instructed by diesel mechanic Craftsman Geoff McMahon from 16 Regiment Woodside.
Throughout the week, cadets on a survival course learnt how to survive in the outback with limited resources.
They constructed their own shelters, made their own tools such as a bow saw, fishing rods, and water filtration devices.
Meanwhile the catering course cooked their own breakfasts, lunches and dinners for the week.
The culminating point of this course was a mystery box challenge, where cadets prepared a three course meal for the guests at their restaurant.



Mechanics course cadets change a tyre; Cadet Meinharat and Cadet Anderson bake a cake from their supplies; and catering cadets cook up a storm. Photos: Australian Army Cadets South Australia/Facebook.
As a reward, on the last night, all cadets were served a barbecue dinner.
This was followed by various social activities, which included an outdoor disco, a fresh fruit juice stall, a rock climbing wall, an indoor cinema, rides in the Army’s 40M vehicle, sumo suit wrestling, a velcro wall and a bungee run.
There was a final parade to recognise the service and achievements of cadets, Army cadet staff, units and battalions within the South Australian Australian Army Cadet Brigade.



A bungee run, barbecue dinner and sumo wrestling were a part of the last night's festivities. Photos: Australian Army Cadets South Australia/Facebook.