On the SF path

Commander SOComd Maj-Gen Duncan Lewis joins the second platoon of SFDRS soldiers for PT. Photo by Cpl Sean Burton, SOComd

By Capt Gabrielle Turnbull and Cpl Sean Burton

THE first platoon to enter the Special Forces Direct Recruiting Scheme (SFDRS) has passed the Special Forces Entry Test (SFET) and begun the Commando Training Course at Holsworthy Barracks.

Forty-eight personnel marched into ARTC Kapooka in January this year to commence training as part of the first SFDRS platoon. This training culminated in August with 21 soldiers passing the SFET at the Special Forces Training Centre (SFTC) Singleton.

Working towards the SFET now are 30 soldiers from the second SFDRS platoon, who are getting to grips with eight weeks of Accelerated Infantry Training (AIT) at SFTC.

During a recent visit to SFTC, Commander SOComd Maj-Gen Duncan Lewis joined the second group of SFDRS soldiers and the SFTC staff for PT, participating in a 45-minute circuit class and later a rappelling lesson.

Maj-Gen Lewis said the current in-service lateral recruitment program was providing SOComd with quality personnel, but the ADF’s recent high operational tempo was taking its toll on the number of in service soldiers applying for entry into Special Forces.

“SOComd’s development means we need more high-quality applicants and we need them now, therefore we have had to widen the pool of potential applicants through the introduction of the SFDRS,” he said.

“I’m very impressed by the standard of applicants currently training at the SFTC. The SFDRS is attracting fit and intelligent young men and we’ve got excellent staff training them.”

Conducting the PT lesson was SFTC PTI Sgt Scott Bredden, who said the SFDRS soldiers were performing to the standard that SFTC was demanding.

“They’re very motivated and focused, which means they’re good to work with and they appear to thrive on the workload,” he said.

Defence Recruiting has received about 1674 SFDRS applications since the scheme was launched last October.

The SFDRS soldier’s average age is 24, five years older than the standard ARA applicant, most have a tertiary education and at least half have University degrees.

It is expected, subject to a formal review of the trial, that by 2006 the SFDRS will reach a steady rate of about one platoon a year.