The Australian Army celebrated 125 years of service to the nation on March 1. 

1st Recruit Training Battalion (1RTB) marked the occasion on March 14 with a community day at Wagga Beach.

Army displays, capability demonstrations, the much‑loved military working dogs, and Apaches drew steady crowds throughout the day.

Corporal Codey Merlino, a military police dog handler by trade, spent last year instructing recruits in Charlie Company and now mentors future instructors in Training Standards Platoon, 1RTB.

She said the event was a reminder of why she chose to serve.

“The space down here in Wagga was perfect for showcasing our capabilities, and it was really nice to see people take the time to come down and give us that time of day,” Corporal Merlino said.

“The turnout was fantastic. Apache was non‑stop all day and was greeted by such a large crowd.

“I love capability and I love soldiering. It’s humbling and rewarding to see the impact that wearing a uniform has, not only operational and capability large-scale effects, but also the effect it has on the local community and seeing the support they have for the Australian Defence Force.”

'Honestly, the highlight would be the amount of people that genuinely wanted to know what I do day to day, and see their excitement when I explained.'

For many soldiers and officers, Army’s 125th anniversary is a celebration and a moment of reflection.

Corporal Merlino carries a deep personal connection to the milestone.

“My great-great‑grandfather was an infantryman in the 1st Battalion, AIF, and he fought in France,” she said.

“I’ve seen his uniform and his photo in the Australian War Memorial. To wear a modern version of that uniform generations later. It makes me feel like I’m doing something right in my life.”

That sense of legacy and connection became more real in the conversations Corporal Merlino had throughout the day. 

“Honestly, the highlight would be the amount of people that genuinely wanted to know what I do day to day, and see their excitement when I explained,” she said. 

“Even though my focus now is on recruit instruction, it was great to explain my trade, my role and how I contribute to Army capability.

“It was really nice to be able to close the gap between what we do and how the community sees us function.”