Air Force News :: Features

Ringside Seats
Roll up, roll up, roll up.... Welcome to a special behind-the-weight machines look at the ADF tri-Service PTI School at Victoria’s HMAS Cerberus. Photos by LS Gavin Hainsworth

Everyone’s favourite time, push-up time.

LAC Symonds in a test of physical and mental strength.

“Irrespective of the colour of your uniform...you are still driven by a high standard of professionalism, that being to display the ethics and values of what you stand for, no matter which Service you belong to.” - FSGT Brian Mann, tri-Service PTI course co-ordinator and Air Force PTI since 1983.

“Sport has played a huge part in my life. My first goal in life was to be a PE teacher, however, as sport ruled my priorities in my high school years, requirements to proceed to uni were not met. In hindsight, I am happy that I did not take that option, as I would not have joined the Air Force and become a PTI. zI believe a PE teacher at a school could not match the experiences I have had to date as a PTI. I have been a PTI for 24 years and I am just as excited about the job today as I was on day one.” - WOFF Mick Bonasia, training and development advisor, ADFPTS.

PL Rowe pushes the limits with the free weights.

PHYSICAL fitness is vital for the well-being of individual members of the ADF and for the ADF as an entity.

That is the opinion of three Air Force students, CPL Brendan Rowe, LAC Lance Symonds and LAC David Slowiak, on the first tri-Service Basic Physical Training course for 2006.

Rowe and Symonds are former techos from RAAF Base Williamtown while Slowiak is a former ADG.

While they admit none are outstanding sportsmen, they are dedicated to keeping fit and keen to help others do the same. That is why they have put themselves through a vigorous course selection process and now have given up 24 weeks of their lives to become Air Force PTIs.

The course is held at the ADF Physical Training School (ADFPTS), the tri-Service training school for all ADF PTIs at Navy’s HMAS Cerberus, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

The school offers three courses; a basic PT course, a 24-week course aimed to train Servicemen and women to transfer to the category; an advanced PT course, a four-week course aimed to qualify selected personnel for PT Supervisor billets; and a Navy-specific Military Fitness Leaders Course, aimed at providing non-PTI fitness ‘leaders’.

The courses cover a range of topics, including anatomy and physiology, physical training, instruction, sports injuries, first aid, workplace and industrial relations, conflict resolution, nutrition and diet, computer skills and ADF sports activities. They are presented in field, classroom and testing sessions.

The courses are extremely demanding and students are encouraged to perform at their best at all times.

The minimum pass mark is 75 per cent and all students are regularly assessed on their physical, leadership and academic abilities as well as their attitude and leadership potential.

The three Air Force students have a variety of backgrounds, sporting and otherwise.

CPL Rowe comes from a strong sporting family (his father played State-level cricket) and played rugby union and cricket when he was younger. His current interests are mountain biking and general fitness training.

He wants to promote sport and adventurous training when he is posted after the course, but more importantly said,
“I want to provide enthusiasm in physical training and help others achieve both their personal physical fitness goals as well as the ADF’s.”

LAC Slowiak is a boxer who competed at amateur level for more than six years before joining the Air Force and subsequently turning professional. He is keen to be involved in the Military PTI and circuits areas and also to introduce boxing-related exercises at his next posting.

“Boxing is not an approved sport, but a lot of people have asked me if they can do some form of boxing-related activity,” he said. “ I want to pass on the knowledge I have learned [on the course] to other ADF members.”

Aussie Rules player and weightlifter LAC Symonds is keen to specialise in rehab as well as promoting general fitness when he graduates.

“Weight training dominated my adolescence,” he said. “I enjoy not only the training and the benefits [of fitness and health] but also the education behind it.”

While he is looking forward to helping other people attain their personal fitness goals, he is also looking forward to being able to continue his own training and to ultimately participating in ADF weightlifting competitions.

Despite their different backgrounds and sporting interests, all three men agree on the importance of physical fitness and its benefits to the ADF and its individual members.

They also agreed that while the maintenance of physical fitness as part of the Individual Readiness process should remain a personal responsibility, units and squadrons should provide periods of compulsory training.

“Army do this, even in times of high operational activity, but in the squadrons the focus is on keeping the aircraft flying,” CPL Rowe said. “If squadrons can organise barbecues, they should be able to organise PT as well.”

LAC Symonds believes two compulsory periods a week are necessary. “We are in the military and it is stated very clearly at recruiting that fitness is a major part of the ADF. However, a lot of members forget that.”

The ADFPTS has launched its own website. Information on PT training and the mustering/branch can be found at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/NavyWeb/sites/ADFPTS.