His understanding of conflicts like World War One (WWI) is impressive.

“In reality, it was not a pleasant experience on the battlefield and all the accounts from past soldiers and soldiers who continue to fight today is that being in a war and on a battlefield is confronting, it’s messy, dangerous and its devastating with lasting implications,” he said.

“So I think we have to recognise the significance lies in that sacrifice which forged those values we consider so integral to the Australian identity.”

The 17-year-old year 11 Nowra High student is getting ready for what will be a special trip.

He was selected as one of six students from NSW as a premier’s Anzac Ambassador for 2018.

Oscar will be travelling overseas from, October 28,  on a 10-day tour of Greece, Belgium, France and England.

The Nowra High student found out about the opportunity after he was tagged on Facebook by a few friends and some school staff members.

He then followed things up and sent in an application.

“I only started the process with three days left before the submission was due and that was fun,” he said.

He also had to write a 1000 word addressing the question ‘what is the significance of the centenary of Anzac Day for modern Australia.

So Oscar what is the significance?

“I believe the significance of Anzac Day is for us to reflect on the values that these servicemen and women made during World War One and how those values shaped the Australians identity and continue to influence the way we live and the way we perceive ourselves as a nation today,” he said.

The fact that some teenagers like him lied about their age and went to war is not lost on Oscar.

“I suppose it’s confronting in the sense that myself and a lot of my peers could have been in that position 100 years ago,” he said.

He often looks at his fellow students, think they could have lied about their ages and went to war.

“It really shows how much we take out freedoms and securities for granted,” he said.

Oscar thinks it’s good for people of his age to reflect on things like WWI.

“I think it instils a sense of appreciation and gratitude to people who did make that sacrifice at such a young age so that we can live the way we do,” he said.

Oscar is not about glorifying war.

“That was one of the big points I made in my essay as well,” he said.

The tour group, when they are in Belgium and France, will visit various memorials and cemeteries.

He expects those visits to be confronting and emotional.

“I think for anyone visiting these places that it gives a real sense of depth and reality to something that we may otherwise hear about or just view on television,” he said.

He is sure the visits will be profound and reinforce many of his beliefs.

Oscar comes home on November 8

He will address his fellow students when he comes back but is not sure if it will be on Remembrance Day, November 11.