IETs march in to their own unit

Volume 11, No. 56, November 16, 2006
By Lt John Taylor

Standing unsupported: IETs get familiar with the Minimi.

Inside, outside: IETs on a stretcher-carry during their IET course at 1RAR.

FORTY-TWO proud infantry soldiers have completed their Initial Employment Training (IET) and marched into 1RAR, only these men are not unfamiliar to the battalion.

In the past three months, these soldiers have been part of a new concept where IET courses are conducted at infantry battalions in order to support the recent increase in Army recruitment.

The RAInf IET course conducted at the School of Inf in Singleton was mirrored in Townsville from August to November.

Conducting the training inside the operationally-focused Ready Battalion Group was most definitely a great eye-opener for the soldiers, who were exposed not only to battalion life, but more importantly, assets and resources.

Pte Nathan Philip said attending the course had been a great experience.

“Conducting the training in the battalion makes the transition into 1RAR so much easier,” he said.

Throughout the training, soldiers were exposed to various support assets normally available to the 3 Bde such as inserting and extracting from field exercises by air frames.

The soldiers completed a highly demanding training program, which included several lengthy activities where they pushed through very arduous tasks.

Pte Robert Talevski described one endurance activity as the “most mentally and physically challenging thing I have experienced. I honestly did not believe I would be able to get through it, but working with my mates we pushed through to the end.”

1RAR has hailed this example of “training your own soldiers” as a success, with the end result being something of which 1RAR and the School of Inf can be proud.