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Brothers in arms
By Cpl Corinne Boer

Volume 11, No. 61, March 08, 2007
 
Three of a kind: Twins, Ptes Stephen and Daniel Spain with their brother Peter. All three did recruit training at Kapooka last year after joining together.
Photo by Cpl Corinne Boer
SIBLING rivalry was expected among three brothers when they attended Kapooka, but the staff soon discovered the bond was simply unbreakable and a true form of mateship.

In fact during the training the brothers, all from 9RQR, were as relaxed as the country town of Hervey Bay that they come from.
Twins Stephen and Daniel, 17, and their brother Peter, 19, joined the Army Reserve last year and did their recruit training at Kapooka in December.

The twins were in the same platoon and said some of the instructors would attempt to play up on sibling rivalry.

“They would yell as we were doing BFAs that your brother is beating you or would say that the other brother shot better,” Pte Daniel Spain said.

Rather than attempt to outdo each other the brothers all trained together to physically prepare themselves for Kapooka and encourage each other to produce faster BFA times.

“It’s all about team work, not trying to be better than everyone else. It’s the same with the unit, it’s the same with anything really,” Pte Peter Spain said. “You try to help your mates out, not show them up.”

He said they were encouraged to join the Army Reserve by their older sister and brother in-law, who are both in the Army.

“We joined for more challenges, to see Australia and to learn new skills,” he said. “I enjoy the outdoors and I have mates in who enjoy the lifestyle.”

The three come from a large family of 11 children, the eldest being 25 and the youngest nine. So they received a lot of support and encouragement from their family.

“Our parents thought it was a really good idea to broaden our horizons and to learn new things,” Pte Peter Spain said.

“Our Mum in particular realised that as more kids leave the load for her lightens, so when she found out we were all going to Kapooka for a month she was all for it.”