Initiative bridges age gap

Strain shows: Young members of Bridges Coy take to the 240km Hume and Hovell trek. Photo by Adventurous Training Wing

ARMY has launched a new recruiting initiative to broaden candidacy for officer training at RMC.

Some younger, high quality, candidates had been invited to reapply after they had gained a wider range of life experience but, rather than wait, they started another career. These candidates can now start a new 14-week program, designed to prepare them to undertake the 18 months of officer training.

Called Bridges Coy, after RMC’s founding Commandant, the program provides a character-building experience for people, with little experience of life outside of home or school, by improving the candidate’s personal confidence, independence, initiative, physical and mental robustness, and teamwork; it improves personal organisation and familiarises participants with the reality of Army life.

Bridges Coy began in March with attendance at the Army’s seven-week Common Recruit Training Course (CRTC) at the Army Recruit Training Centre (ARTC).

The new recruits were exposed to soldiers and soldiering and learned of the role of an officer from the perspective of a new soldier.

A further six weeks of training, under the direction of the Adventurous Training Wing, followed with sea kayaking, caving, abseiling, climbing and walking 240km on the Hume and Hovell track between Tumut and Woomargama in NSW.

Twelve cadets completed the Bridges Coy program. OC Bridges Coy Capt Giles Cornelia, who watched their progress closely, said they had “developed impressive levels of teamwork, determination and self-confidence during the program”.

“They have collectively and individually risen to the significant challenges of this initiative and can be proud of their achievements in this first step of their military career,” Capt Cornelia said.

The cadets returned to RMC in time for the Trooping of the Colour parade and, after a well-deserved break, will begin the new term as members of RMC’s Third Class of the Corps of Staff Cadets.

Brig Chris Appleton, Commandant RMC said that had performed brilliantly.

“I am confidant that they are well prepared to enter the college, and if they continue as well as they have, they will go on to be very successful Army officers,” he said.

“I am so pleased with the results I am planning to take a much larger group into Bridges Coy in 2006.”