Rigged
for action
 |
|
Neatly
tied: Ptes Jordan Kotarac, Travis Roome and Michael Smith
pack a G12 cargo parachute during the Basic Parachute Rigger
Course. Pte Roome received the Student of Merit award. Photo
by Cpl Cameron Jamieson
|
By
Cpl Cameron Jamieson
IT’S the place in the Army where you want to hear people say it
wasn’t just rigged, but rigged to perfection.
And the latest score-check proves the culprits have been getting
away with it for decades.
The latest Parachute Riggers course has marched out from the Army
Logistic Training Centre, making a total of 550 Army parachute
riggers that have been trained since 1966.
Parachute Rigger Instructor Sgt Craig Robertson said the staff
of the Parachute Rigger Platoon was proud of the continuing high
standards applied to the trade training of riggers.
“Although it’s a small trade the quality of training is of the
highest standard because the results must be perfect,” he said.
Riggers must also be able to jump with a parachute they have packed
themselves, and so their confidence in their work must not falter.
“And over the decades these high standards have been constantly
maintained across hundreds of students.”
Pte Travis Roome, who received the Student of Merit award on the
latest rigger’s course, said it was an honour to become a member
of a trade with four decades of traditions and high expectations.
“It takes a while for the level of responsibility to sink in,
but you do learn that you a have a person’s life in your hands
when you pack a personnel parachute,” he said.
“The rigging trade is also a great way of indulging in the rush
of parachuting, which creates an unbelievable feeling inside of
you.”
Unlike many rigging students who are transferees from other corps
and jobs within the Army, Pte Roome enlisted specifically to become
a parachute rigger.
“I came to this trade from off the street,” he said.
“I had done a lot of living before I joined the Army, but the
rigging trade has brought me to a new level of taking pride in
my work and my job.
“I’ve also learnt a lot more about teamwork, which is essential
in both rigging and parachuting.”
