Publication:Sea Talk Summer 2006/Shakedown at Recruit School

By LEUT Emma Conway, pics by LSPHs Gavin Hainsworth and Phillip 'Rex' Hunt

To a sailor, the word 'shakedown' brings to mind the end of a period alongside, the introduction of new faces among the crew and the beginnings of a hard slog leading into a workup.

For a recruit, it's a daunting challenge amid the confusion of their first week of training at the RAN Recruit School.

Training at the Recruit School is run as close to that of a ship as possible.

The shakedown at the beginning of the 11-week course is designed to familiarise recruits with their classmates and get them thinking about teamwork and communication - all things that will greatly affect their ability to progress through the remainder of their course (the workup phase).

During shakedown, recruits participate in a range of activities.

These include the RAN fitness test comprising pushups, situps and a 2.4 km run.

The swim test simulates escaping from a sinking ship. The skills required include conducting a safety jump from a three metre platform, swimming underwater for 10m, 50m survival stroke and then treading water for 15 minutes. The entire activity is conducted in overalls.

The day also includes two forced marches. These periods allow instructors to become more familiar with their classes and classmates to become more familiar with each other.

The instructors use the forced march to gain insight into individual personalities. During the march, initiative activities must be completed. This challenges the class to work as a team.

They are challenged physically and mentally and encouraged to work together to complete the tasks. This shared achievement builds up camaraderie and forms the beginnings of the bonds of friendship that can often last through entire careers.

Not everyone enjoys the experience.

The purpose of the exercise is to push the newest members of the Navy beyond their comfort zones, expose them to new experiences and introduce them to capabilities they probably never knew they had.

This voyage of self-discovery is not always a comfortable one.

But once the day is over, most recruits feel a sense of achievement and the beginnings of pride and commitment to their class, their training and their new life in the Royal Australian Navy.