For twenty-one-year-old Springwood local, Australian Army Officer Cadet James Boidin, the experience of living through the 2013 Blue Mountains bushfires inspired his decision to join the Australian Army.

“Growing up in Springwood, I learn the importance of mateship and sticking together through adversity,” Officer Cadet Boidin said.

“I wanted to join the Army as it gave me the opportunity to develop my character and leadership to become a person of high morals, have greater influence on people and develop skillsets, which can be used into the future.”

The first step in Officer Cadet Boidin’s Army career came to a close as he joined with 300 Navy, Army and Air Force classmates as they graduated from the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) on Sunday 6 December 2020.

After finishing his high schooling at Winmalee High School in 2017, Officer Cadet Boidin joined the Army in early 2018, commencing military training at ADFA in Canberra while simultaneously studying towards a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of New South Wales Canberra.

Besides his studies and military training at ADFA, Officer Cadet Boidin has been active in extra-curricular activities, especially the Adventure Training club, which has seen him have opportunities to hike, rock climb and adventure across NSW and the ACT.

A particular highlight of Officer Cadet Boidin’s time at ADFA was the Academy’s Leadership Challenge Two, which sees second year trainee officers put through their paces in the field.

“We were faced with constant adversity and challenges that would not have been possible to complete without the support of everyone in the team,” Officer Cadet Boidin said.

“Conducted at Jervis Bay training area, I could not have picked a more glorious place to spend two weeks of arduous training.”

For those interested in ADFA as pathway to commencing a Navy, Army or Air Force career, Officer Cadet Boidin said coming in with an open mind and a desire to get involved will stand you in good stead.

“If you join with a positive attitude and the right mindset, you will set yourself up for success and develop positively,” Officer Cadet Boidin said.

ADFA is the right place for motivated and determined people willing to take that extra step in developing to become the best version of themselves.”

Before joining his fellow Army graduates for an additional 12 months of training at the Royal Military College–Duntroon in Canberra, Officer Cadet Boidin is looking forward to spending Christmas in Springwood with family.

After graduating from RMC-Duntroon in December 2021, Officer Cadet Boidin will return to the University of New South Wales Canberra to complete his honours year in Engineering, before commencing as a civil engineer in the Army.