Twenty-year-old Larrakeyah local, Australian Army Officer Cadet Ishaq Ali, has packed a lot into his three years at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).

Officer Cadet Ali has been a trainee officer leader, Australian rules football team captain and photographer at Academy events.

Amongst all those activities, Officer Cadet Ali has also managed to distinguish himself in military training and academic studies, culminating in his graduation from ADFA on Sunday 6 December 2020, alongside 300 Navy, Army and Air Force classmates.

After finishing his high schooling at the Essington School in 2018, Officer Cadet Ali joined the Army in early 2018, commencing military training at ADFA in Canberra while simultaneously studying towards a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New South Wales Canberra.

Officer Cadet Ali was inspired to join the Army because of the active lifestyle.

“I love the sense of comradery and mateship that comes from team sports as well as working in the outdoors so I thought a career in the Army would best serve both of these interests,” Officer Cadet Ali said.

Besides his studies and military training at ADFA, Officer Cadet Ali has been active in extra-curricular activities, including being captain of successful ADFA Rams Australian rules football teams and a member to the Academy photography group.

He was also a divisional Executive Officer, providing administrative support and leadership to first year trainee officers.

“This year the opportunity I got to lead and mentor a first year division was an awesome experience to help develop myself and others,” Officer Cadet Ali said.

To anyone thinking of ADFA as a pathway to joining the Navy, Army or Air Force, Officer Cadet Ali gives a strong endorsement.

“I’d highly recommend it. It’s an amazing opportunity to undertake a university degree while being encouraged and supported to be involved in sports and other extracurricular activities,” Officer Cadet Ali said.

“The military experience and the mates you make along the way are invaluable too.”

Before joining his fellow Army graduates for an additional 12 months of training at the Royal Military College–Duntroon in Canberra, Officer Cadet Ali is looking forward to spending some leave in Darwin visiting friends.

After graduation from RMC-Duntroon in December 2021, Officer Cadet Ali is hoping to become an infantry or artillery officer.