Our leaders

Short Bio: Ben Slaughter was born and educated in Brisbane. He started his military career as a Reserve Officer Cadet while studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Queensland before transferring to the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant into the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME). Brigadier Slaughter’s career has included a variety of corps, regimental, and capability development roles throughout Australia as well as a posting to London, embedding in the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters, planning for UK joint operations in Indo-Pacific region and Africa. Brigadier Slaughter’s command appointments include Support Squadron 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 7 Combat Service Support Battalion and Joint Logistic Unit (Victoria). He has deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq with the Special Operation Task Group and with 2nd Cavalry Regiment as part of the Overwatch Battlegroup. In addition to his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, he holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Queensland University of Technology and a Masters in Strategy and Management from the University of NSW. He is a Fellow of the Defence and Strategic Studies Course and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Role Description: The Commander Australian Army Cadets is responsible to the Chief of Army for the safety, governance, judicious use of resources and proper execution of the cadet Program.  He has command responsibility for all Defence personnel involved with the Program and retains responsibility for the acceptance and conduct of all volunteers and cadets.

Short Bio: Colonel (AAC) David Hill served in the Royal Australian Air Force as a trained metal machinist and ground fitter from 1990-1996 then he transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve until 2001. Colonel (AAC) Hill joined the Australian Army Cadets as a volunteer in 2005 and in 2007 was appointed to the position of Officer Commanding 624 Platoon as Lieutenant (AAC).  In 2009 he was promoted to the rank of Captain (AAC) and appointed to the position of Second in Command of A Company Tasmania Australian Army Cadets Battalion. He was promoted to Major (AAC) and assumed command of A Company in 2011. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (AAC) and appointed as Assistant Commander Tasmania Australian Army Cadets Battalion in mid-2016 and in July 2019 he was promoted to COL (AAC) and appointed as the National Assistant Commander.

Role Description: The National Assistant Commander is the senior volunteer Army Cadets Staff within Australian Army Cadets.  As such, he is a key adviser to the Commander.  He is a conduit between the Commander and the Army Cadet Staff and can represent issues raised by volunteers and similarly he is able to articulate the Commander’s intent to volunteer forums.  The National Assistant Commander represents the views of volunteers in a number of decision making boards or other activities.

The National Regimental Sergeant Major is a key advisor to the Commander Australian Army Cadets. His role is to ensure that standards of all staff are maintained, to undertake assurance on behalf of the Commander and to provide direct feedback on any issue of concern that he believes should be brought to the attention of the Commander.

Warrant Officer Class One David Rowe grew up in Canberra and enlisted into the Army Reserve in 1980 as a Rifleman with the 3rd Battalion, the Royal New South Wales Regiment. In 1991 he moved to Melbourne to progress his academic qualifications and civilian career and served with the 1st Commando Regiment for 2 years. Warrant Officer Class One Rowe returned to Canberra in 1993 and was posted to 4th/3rd Battalion, the Royal New South Wales Regiment serving in Reconnaissance Platoon. In 1995, returning to Adelaide and was posted to Australian Defence Force Recruiting – Adelaide as a Careers Counsellor. In 2001 he returned to Adelaide Universities Regiment as an instructor. In 2004 he was posted to 10th/27th Battalion, the Royal South Australia Regiment, first serving in a training capacity before being appointed as a Company Sergeant Major. Later in 2015 Warrant Officer Class One Rowe was appointed as Regimental Sergeant Major of the Australian Army Cadets South Australia Brigade. On completion of his appointment, he served as a Career Advisor with the Directorate of Reserve Soldier Career Management Authority – Army. In 2022 he commenced his current role as the Command Regimental Sergeant Major of the Australian Army Cadets.

Short Bio: National Cadet Under Officer Amelia Bau joined the Australian Army Cadets in March of 2018 at 431 Sacred Heart College. In December of 2019, Amelia was selected to attend the CUO/WOs course in Puckapunyal Victoria. Shortly after completing the course, Amelia received the appointment of Brigade Regimental Sergeant Major for South Australia. Being only 15 years old she is the youngest cadet to hold a Brigade position in South Australia to date. At 16, Amelia obtained the rank of Regional Cadet Under Officer for the South Australian Brigade for 2021. In April of 2021 Amelia attended ATA and received the golden boomerang. In late 2021, Amelia was selected as the National Cadet Under Officer, and assumed the position at the start of 2022.

Role Description: The National Cadet Under Officer leads the National Cadet Leadership Group (which includes the National Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major and the National Cadet Adjutant) and chairs the Senior Cadet Leadership Group, comprising the senior cadets from across the nine national Regions.  The National Cadet Under Officer has a direct link with the Commander and the National Assistant Commander of the Australian Army Cadets and participates in a number of formal meetings where he is able to represent the collective cadet perspective on issues of concern, or similarly provide perspectives that staff had not considered.

Short Bio: National Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major, Cadet Warrant Officer Emily Flude joined the Australian Army Cadets in February of 2018 at 62 ACU in Launceston, Tasmania. In 2019 Emily completed her Junior Leadership Course and was award the Student of Merit. During that same year she also attended the Chief of Army Cadet Team Challenge and participated in the RSMA Drill Competition. In January of 2020 Emily completed her Senior Leadership Course and was awarded the leadership award. In 2021 Emily went on to complete her CUO course, there she was awarded a Gold Commendation, Student of Merit Award. At the beginning of July, she was appointed to the Regional Cadet Adjutant. She worked alongside the RCUO to plan TAS Battalions AFX 2021 which was a success. In late 2021, Emily was selected as the National Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major and assumed the position at the start of 2022.   

Role Description: The National Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major is a part of the National Cadet Leadership Group that advises the Commander and National Assistant Commander on issues raised by Cadets.  Additionally, the National Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major is involved as the cadet representative in the working groups for the development of the cadet Development Continuum, which develop the courses that cadets undertake. 

Short Bio: National Cadet Adjutant, Cadet Under Officer Tessa Zangalis, joined the Australian Army Cadets in July of 2018 at 302 ACU Oakleigh in Victoria. Tessa was promoted to Cadet Lance Corporal in 2019 after successfully completing Junior Leadership Course. In December 2019, Tessa attended the Senior Leadership Course and subsequently was promoted to Cadet Sergeant. In August 2020, Tessa attended the CUO/WOs course online, and later finished the in-person component in January 2021. Tessa was then promoted to Cadet Warrant Officer Class One, as the 34 Battalion Regimental Sergeant Major in January 2021. During her time as an RSM, Tessa completed the Adventure Training Award in the Victorian Grampians, and further led the CUO/WOs course both in July 2021 and January 2022 as the Course Sergeant Major. In late 2021, Tessa was selected as the National Cadet Adjutant, and assumed the position at the start of 2022

Role Description:  The NATCDTADJ is the Secretary of the National Cadet Leadership Group (NCLG). The NATCDTADJ is responsible for the administration of tasks for the NCLG and working directly alongside the NATCUO in being the link between main HQAAC elements and the Regional Cadets which make up the Senior Cadet Leadership Group (SCLG).

Short Bio: In July 2017, Kasey joined the 26 Australian Army Cadet Unit in Wollongong. Kasey Yates was promoted to Lance Corporal in September 2018 then in the following year in January 2019 was promoted to Corporal where she took up a position as a recruit section commander. In June 2019 Kasey attended the Sergeants course where she was promoted. Following the next year in 2020, Kasey attended the first online promotion course for New South Wales where she was then promoted to a Cadet Warrant Officer Class Two. Kasey was awarded a Bronze Commendation in 2021, while also participating in the National Adventure Training Award that same year, she was also awarded a Silver Commendation for being the DUX runner up. In late 2021, Kasey was selected as the National Cadet Training Officer, and assumed the position at the start of 2022.

Role Description: The National Cadet Training Officer is responsible for the administration of training for the NCLG and working directly alongside the National CUO and National Cadet Adjutant in being the link between main HQAAC elements and the Regional Cadets which make up the Senior Cadet Leadership Group (SCLG).