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Conditions of Entry:

You will need to be aged between 17 to 50 years inclusive. If you are 17 the Army Reserve does require that you provide written consent from your parents or legal guardian. You need to be an Australian citizen (or meet the Army's nationality requirements). This means that you must have permanent residency status and have applied for citizenship. If this is the case, you will need to produce proof of your citizenship application. You also need to have suitable passes in Year 9 English and Maths. You will need to produce your birth certificate as evidence of your date of birth. In special circumstances proof by Statutory Declaration is acceptable. However, photocopies of birth certificates (unless officially issued or certified) or District Registrar receipts are not acceptable.

 

A firer & safety officer make
their way through a Sneaker
Range (Above), members of the
unit practice with the Weapon
Training Simulation System
(Left), briefing prior to hitting
the water (Below) and firing the
84mm Carl Gustav anti armour
weapon (Bottom).

Positions:

There are many positions within an
infantry battalion.

The main building blocks of the unit
are its rifle sections. They consist of
8-10 men & are the smallest groups to
operate independantly. Each member
is trained as a rifleman, machine
gunner & scout during their Initial
Employment Training. Infantry
soldiers can go on to specialise as
Signallers, Mortarmen, Pioneers,
Drivers, Intelligence Dutymen, Clerks
and Storemen.

Non-infantry postings within the
battalion include Medical Personel,
Drivers, Storepersons, Clerks, Pay
Clerks, Cooks and Stewards.

The Recruit Course:


Your training in the army begins with 45 days of challenging training at the Army Recruit Training
Centre at Kapooka in New South Wales (10 minutes out of Wagga Wagga). It is here where all soldiers
train and where you'll receive expert training under some of the Army's best instructors. No one is
saying this training will be easy, but when you make it, it's a great feeling.  Just ask anyone who's done
it before.
Where possible, this training will be arranged to fit in with any other commitments you may have. If
you're studying or just finished school, then this is a great way to develop new skills and earn cash.
You'll walk out with around $2,000 tax-free regardless of any income or benefits you may be receiving,
because while you're at Kapooka all food and accommodation is supplied.
So what sort of training will you be doing these first 45 days?  Basically you'll be trained in the skills all
soldiers need.  In other words, you'll learn how to work effectively and efficiently as a member of the
Australian Army. To become an effective part-time soldier you'll need to develop a range of skills and
have a knowledge of how the army operates. This is achieved through a detailed training programme
which includes learning about weapons, first aid, navigation, communications and surviving in the field. 
You'll also learn about the different jobs in the Army and what is expected of a part time soldier.
Naturally, physical fitness is particularly important in the Army Reserve, so you'll spend a lot of time
improving your fitness.  It pays to be as fit as you can before you join, but don't worry, with the help of
expert Physical Training Instructors, you are sure to become very fit. A strong emphasis is also placed
on personal organisation, teamwork and self-discipline.  It is these qualities that will stay with you for
the rest of your life
After successfully completing your training at Kapooka, your achievements will be recognised at a
ceremony called a "Passing out Parade".  This is where you're congratulated on your efforts and it's
usually a very proud moment.  It's a time to celebrate and enjoy a barbecue with your family and friends,
including the new friends you will have made along the way.
There was a time when this sort of training was call basic training, the truth is it's far from basic. In 45
days you'll face new challenges and develop new skills and by doing so you'll gain a definite edge.