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A fitting family trade
By Cpl Corinne Boer
Edition 1173, August 23, 2007 |
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| Family trade: LBdr Marc Jenner and his brother Pte Terry Jenner will soon join their father, Cfn Paul Jenner, and brother, Sgt Tony Jenner, as aircraft structural fitters when they complete training. |
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TWO brothers have started specialist trade training and hope to join two other family members – their older brother and father – at 5 Avn Regt at the end of the year.
LBdr Marc Jenner and Pte Terry Jenner are training to become aircraft structural fitters at the RAAF School of Technical Training in Wagga.
As the boys were growing up, the family yard was strewn with an assortment of machinery parts from Land Rovers to the tangled remains of whipper-snippers.
The boys used to tinker on various projects in their father’s shed, but will now progress to working on highly sophisticated military aircraft.
They would like to join their father, Cfn Paul Jenner, who is an aircraft structural fitter, and their brother, Sgt Tony Jenner, an avionics technician, at 5 Avn Regt.
Pte Jenner said the pair did not plan to do the course together.
“We had talked to each other about transferring but we didn’t plan to do it at the same time. I knew my brother was doing the course, and it was just lucky that we got panelled at the same time. I was overseas at the time when I applied,” he said.
The brothers are learning how to fit, inspect, test, repair, rebuild and modify aircraft frames.
“I’ve jumped out of a few planes, but up to now that’s been my only experience with them,” LBdr Jenner said. Their father had some influence in their decision to transfer, but a motorcycle accident was the main reason for LBdr Jenner’s transfer as he couldn’t continue in artillery. Pte Jenner said that it was really the trade itself that influenced his own transfer.
“My father told me about the job. I asked questions of course and he advised me what it was like and what to expect,” he said. “I have always wanted to get a trade, but when I joined the Army I wanted to join infantry first and then get a trade.”
LBdr Jenner and Pte Jenner were not aware of the Trade Transfer Bonus and received an unexpected surprise when they learned they qualified for it. The bonus is offered to personnel who transfer from non-technical trades within Army to technical trades that are becoming critical.
The trades are grouped into two categories.
Category A trades are offered $25,000 and include metalsmith, telecom systems technician, avionic technician, electronic systems technician.
Category B trades are offered $17,500 and include armament fitter, structural aircraft fitter, life support aircraft fitter and vehicle mechanic.
Payment is 50 per cent on completion of training and 50 per cent on completion of a further 12 months’ service.
Employment as a tradesperson in the Army is not just limited to males, LCpl Hanna Buchan is training to become a life support aircraft fitter. She said the bonus was a good incentive.
“I know a lot of people are thinking about doing a trade and this will encourage them to do it,” she said. “A trade is a good thing to have because it gives you recognition if you decide to leave.”
For further information vist http://intranet.defence.gov.au/ArmyWeb/sites/STAYARMY/ or www.army.gov.au/stayarmy/, email army.tradetransferteam@defence.gov.au or phone (02)6265 9116. |
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