Appies link up on Op Citadel

For many serving within the ranks of the Army, the term Army Apprentice, or ex Appie, is something they are not likely to understand.

The Army for many years enlisted and trained its own tradesmen direct from the high schools and the youth of Australia.

Many teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 years were enlisted to undertake a four-year apprenticeship, covering about nine different technical trades, and requiring an initial enlistment period of 9 years service.

The Apprentice scheme was successful in a number of areas but was phased-out by the Army in the mid-1990s. The scheme had its roots at Balcombe Barracks in Victoria, in about 1948, but eventually moved to Latchford Barracks, Bonegilla, in northern Victoria. The apprentice scheme gave birth to a number of unofficial customs, such as Crab Night, and had a language of its own – odd, or even intakes and sproggs (first-year Appie) to name but a few. The apprentice scheme has also seen many of its former members rise to prominence across all ranks and corps of the Australian Army.

A significant milestone was achieved by ex-apprentices on Op Citadel in East Timor recently. As part of 3RAR Bn Gp, three generations of “even intake” apprentices worked together for six months, contributing nearly 60 years of combined experience to the AUSBATT.

XO 3RAR Bn Gp Maj Paul Prickett is a 28th Intake Electrical Mechanic and AAS Balcombe graduate in his 30th year of service.

Having enlisted in 1973, he is also a 1977 Portsea graduate and among his postings he returned to the Apprentices School at Bonegilla in 1989/90 as a commander of an apprentice company.

ASM 3RAR Bn Gp Tech Sup Pl WO2 Mick Williams, is a 38th Intake Fitter/Armourer Machinist and was in the first intake of apprentices to graduate from AAS Bonegellia after enlisting in 1983.

A member of 3RAR Bn Gp Communications Sup Pl, Cpl Corey Denning, is a 48th Intake Technician Electronics and AAS Bonegilla graduate in his 10th year of service.

Cpl Denning is posted to 136 Sig Sqn in Brisbane.