Keeping it in the family

Volume 48, No. 12, July 13, 2006

ROTHERS IN ARMS: SGT Chris Rhone, AC Recruits Bradley McGarrity and Troy McGarrity, all brothers and now fellow members of the Air Force. Photo by LAC Casey Smith

AC Recruits Brad and Troy McGarrity are true brothers in arms after graduating from their training courses at 1RTU RAAF Base Edinburgh on June 21.

Keeping it all in the family was due largely to the influence and example of their brother, SGT Christopher Rhone, of the Defence Force Recruiting Centre in Parramatta, who is also an AVTECH.

Both Brad and Troy, from Narara on the NSW Central Coast, have always looked up to their older brother, so it came as no surprise when they enlisted at Parramatta.

After undergoing their training between April 11 and June 21, ACR Brad McGarrity, 22, completed Course 7/06, B flight and ACR Troy McGarrity, 18, completed Course 7/06, A flight.

Recruit Flight Adjutant, FSGT Russell Vine, said it was pure coincidence that they were training together in the same place at the same time.

Now the real training begins for Brad and Troy who, for the time being at least, will remain inseparable at the School of Technical Training, RAAF Base Wagga Wagga. There, coincidentally, they have been allocated adjoining rooms.

Brad began his 12 months of ALSFITT training on July 10 and Troy began a six-month AVTECH course on July 3.

SGT Rhone, a 16½-year Service veteran, believes he was influential in his brothers also joining the Air Force.

“I have heard of fathers and sons serving with the Air Force but I don’t know if too many families have three brothers in Service,” SGT Rhone said.

“I have always been a bit of an aviation buff and I liked aircraft.

“I think I influenced them. For as long as I can remember, Troy wanted to be in the Air Force in avionics, which I am in.

“Brad had never been out of Gosford before and I think that’s why he decided he wanted to broaden his horizons. That’s when he started to talk to me about what sort of jobs he could pursue,” SGT Rhone said.

“Since I was 16, I have always wanted to join the Defence Force, but I wanted to get little bit of life experience first,” AC Recruit Brad McGarrity said.

“I travelled overseas for four to six months and worked for two months at a camp in Albany, upstate New York, in the States, supervising seven to 15-year-old children.

“After that it seemed like the right time to sign up and the Air Force was the most attractive Service for me.

“Ever since Chris joined, he’s been talking about the positives of Air Force life, the mateship, and the opportunities to see the world.

“It’s possible Troy and I might be transferred together again. Hopefully, one day, we will end up at the same base but I would like to be stationed at Richmond first up.”

Troy also has his heart set on a life after training at either Richmond, working on the Hercules, or at Edinburgh, working on Orions.

“The work here at Wagga will definitely be a challenge,” Troy said. “I am looking forward to it and there will be more study involved to be an aviation technician.

“I like being here. But for now I can’t wait to get into the wider Air Force, to go from training at Wagga Wagga and into a squadron.

He said, “From a very young age I always had my eyes set on the Air Force; I just needed to figure out what job I wanted.”

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