The 17-year-old Cadet Sergeant was awarded a silver commendation for his efforts in the 2018 Adventure Training Award held in Canberra. 

He and fellow Tasmanian Cadet Warrant Officer Class Two Keyarna Blackaby, 16, of Hobart, were two of the three cadets to receive commendations at the end of the week, nationally.

Cadet Warrant Officer Class Two Blackaby was presented a bronze commendation for her efforts in remaining calm and taking charge during a medical situation with her syndicate.

“There was watermanship and raft construction, long-distance hiking, first aid assessments, peacekeeping and negotiation scenarios, obstacle courses on land and physically suspended above bodies of water, simulated weapons handling and safety, navigation skills, and quick decision exercises,” Cadet Sergeant Maulette-Shelley said.

The Adventure Training Award is the Australian Army Cadets’ premier activity, and is a series of field activities undertaken by senior cadets.

Cadet Sergeant Maulette-Shelley is now preparing for Anzac Day, where he will attend the dawn service with his family, before commanding the Launceston cadets in the morning parade.

“For me personally, Anzac Day is about paying respect to people who have served the country and who are serving, because it’s a huge sacrifice that people make for the betterment of other people’s lives.”

He hopes to join the Australian Army one day, and said the cadet program was a “natural progression”.

“My grandfather Brian Shelley was in the Army Cadets when he was my age, so I wanted to do something that would make him proud and make the rest of my family proud as well.

“It was a big part of his life for a long time - he was a Sergeant of the Army Cadets for three years. I’m basically following in his footsteps, doing that now.”

Cadet Sergeant Maulette-Shelley said the program was a “really good opportunity” for young Australians.

“It’s not something that a lot of kids do, and you’re not sitting on your backside for a whole weekend - you’re learning things, you’re leading people.”