Skills, short for Skill-at-Arms, is the annual competition of the New Zealand Cadet Corp and comes in two types, regional and national. The regional skills is between all the units that wish to enter of one area. The National skills is between the three winners of the regional skills. The northern area skills is held at Whangaparoa Camp and generally between about 14-18 units.
Units will enter a team of thirteen, which includes 9 participants, one leader, two reserves and one manager. The team will then compete against the other units teams in various stands to determine which is the best unit.
The stands are:
Shooting
Drill
Swim Test
Test of Elementary Training Skills (TOETS)
Endurance
Required Fitness Level (RFL)
Floatation
General Service Knowledge (GSK) / Cadet Force Knowledge (CFK)
Navigation Practical
Navigation Theory
Radio Telephone Procedures (RATEL)
Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC)
There are also two other stands which don't go towards the points, but both has its own trophy:
Tug of War
Confidence Course
The aim of the competition is to find the best unit, but also to breed a spirit of competitiveness in the cadets, and a sense of pride in their units. The competition also draws cadets closer together and forges bonds between units.
