NEW SOLDIERS GO ON P ARADE
EMOTIONAL families farewelled 12 young indigenous recruits as they begin their training in the Army Indigenous Development Program to kickstart their Defence Force careers.
The group participated in a ceremony to mark their official enlistment at the Defence Force Recruiting Centre yesterday, before beginning their journey to a five- month training stint in Batchelor in the Northern Territory, about 100km south of Darwin.
Many of the enlistees travelled from rural or remote communities and will travel together to the training camp.
Commander 3rd Brigade Brigadier Scott Winter welcomed the recruits and said the sense of anticipation at the ceremony was strong.
“To the families, you are entrusting us with your most valuable possession. We’re good for it, we undertake to look after them on your behalf and trust you will get them back maybe even a little bit improved,” he said during an address at the ceremony.
Brigadier Winter said the foundations laid in Army training would benefit the recruits no matter what career path they decided to take.
“We’re looking at the next generation of leaders in front of us,” he said.
The five months of training will include physical training, a TAFE Certificate II in Foundation Skills, weapon handling, drill and adventure training, and cultural studies.