A HALLS Head teen has honoured her Australian Air Force Cadet Squadron after she was named dux in a cadet junior non commissioned officer course.
Charlotte Pye, 15, used her school holidays to complete a 12-day intensive course at Pearce Air Base, north of Perth.
About 80 people took the course, which involved living in the compound and learning about the different ceremonies involved with air force life, mapping, history, leadership and what living on base is like.
“It’s to help you get to grips with what it’s like to live on base, like going to the mess hall for meals and keeping your room incredibly tidy,” she said.
“I also had to give lessons to other people in the course to show you understand what was being taught.
“People from every squadron in Western Australia attended – there were about 80 people from Kalgoorlie right through to Albany there.”
Charlotte has been part of the 707 Squadron in Mandurah since October 2012 and said the members were like “a second family”.
“It’s something I look forward to each week – it’s a really good lifestyle and I’ve made friends through it,” she said.
The Frederick Irwin Anglican School student said her experiences with her squadron had helped her pick a path for life after high school.
“After I finish school I want to join the air force or join the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra – I would like to become a medical officer,” she said.
Her next challenge will be a camp where she learns to fly a plane.
“I will get to fly a Cessna – you go up as a pilot but there is a trained professional right there with you so it’s safe,” she said.
Charlotte’s squadron meet on Wednesday nights at Coodanup Community College and is for people aged 13-20 years.
For more information on the squadron call 9534 7556 or go to cadetnet.gov.au