Puckapunyal base opens its gates, students get a taste of Army life

Sergeant Beau Cameron, who is based out of the Australian Defence Force’s Brisbane careers centre, said recruiting was a case of identifying what aspects of Defence would suit the individual.

“We do a lot of work these days to look at what people are passionate about in life and see if there’s something in Defence that we can offer them,” Sgt Cameron said.

“It is a very individually tailored experience.”

He said there was a wide range of opportunities within Defence.

“One of the biggest things we say is that you do not have to apply with a certain job in mind,” Sgt Cameron said.

“It’s not just armoured vehicles, heavy trucks, crawling through the mud and getting rained on. We offer everything throughout it.

“We have a broad plethora of jobs available to suit, more or less, what people want.”

At the base, students got a taste of the cutting-edge Army equipment on show.

Students were able to inspect uncrewed aircraft systems, a high-mobility artillery rocket system, a boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle and an M1A2 Abrams main battle tank.

Defence personnel also showed off their fitness skills through physical training demonstrations, as well as their talents in the creative arts, with an Army band playing tunes throughout the event.

Trooper Ashton Moffatt, who was on site to chat to students during the day, attended a Defence Work Experience Program event in Townsville while he was in school, not long before he decided to join the Australian Army in March this year.

He said the event was “really helpful” and supported him to decide what he wanted to do with his future.

“If you’re interested, come to something like this and suss it out,” Tpr Moffatt said.

“They’ve got everything for you in the Army — all kinds of people, all different jobs.

“It’s a great job to get into.”