Newborough Australian Army Cadets Commanding Officer Captain Clint Wilson recently returned from the two week trip to Germany.

Capt Wilson, who is also Police Sergeant of the Latrobe Traffic Management Unit, was selected from other army leaders nationwide to escort five teenage Australian Army cadets to Germany as part of the exchange.

The program is an international arrangement where officers escort cadets overseas so they can experience army and defence matters in a different country.

Selection was based on a written report but Capt Wilson said his role as a police officer was probably another factor which contributed to him being chosen for the task.

``It's a big responsibility to escort and supervise them, you need someone you can trust,'' he said.

The two-week program was developed by the German Army and gave Capt Wilson and the cadets a first-hand look at how the German defence force operates.

The group stayed at army barracks in Berlin and learnt the history of the Berlin Wall, visited the Stasi prison and were taught about Germany's role in the World Wars.

The cadets took a trip to Badkotzting, near the Czech Republic border, where they participated in some German sports, including long distance running, track and field events and swimming.

The cadets also had the opportunity to earn a certificate and medal in shooting and military activities.

They visited Sonthofen, the most southerly town in Germany, Munich, and the Barvarian Alps and participated in physical activities including a 30kg pack walk and a mountain climb.

Capt Wilson participated in the events with the cadets and said they all ``loved every minute of it''.

``It was great fun, everyone had a ball,'' he said.

He said it was a successful program which had helped build the teenagers' confidence.

``To see the development in these guys and girls is great,'' Capt Wilson said.

``They went in with trepidation and uncertainty and I thought some of them might have struggled with the task but they all gave 100 per cent.

``The cadets I took over came back different people.''

Capt Wilson said Army Cadets was a good way for young people to learn skills and have fun.

``It offers what you can't get anywhere else, particularly in self-development, courage, endurance, initiative and self-discipline,'' he said.

``And it's young people having fun.''