Week 2 - Moran Division Intake 269

11 May 2009

This week of training involved the second ‘kit up’ for all classes. At present recruits are required to wear a RAN tracksuit but will move into what is considered to be their working uniform commonly referred to in the RAN as Whisky 9’s next week. They will all be taught this week and over the weekend how to iron and care for their uniforms correctly, prior to proceeding on parade for the first time next Wednesday morning. During the course of the week Recruits carried on with drill, academic progression and more administrative requirements as well as keeping watches at Recruit School.

The most challenging activity that the Recruits faced this week was an evolution called Shakedown. In the Fleet the objective of this exercise is to ensure that a ship is safe and operationally ready. At Recruit School, classes conduct a series of activities throughout the day such as the trust fall, a forced march, swimming activities and learning lift and carry techniques. The primary emphasis is on teamwork and communication, showing the recruits that the way to succeed in a task when you are physically and mentally tired is to pull together and help one another.

Recruits are learning, through these exercises, about their strengths and weaknesses and how to trust each other. Throughout each activity the classes are given the opportunity to score as many points as possible for their class. These points, together with other points collected throughout recruit training go towards the awarding of the coveted Divisional Class Shield. The day is very challenging both physically and mentally and is often nominated, by many recruits, as one of the most enjoyable days whilst under training.

Although some recruits are still learning to cope with homesickness, most recruits are becoming accustomed to the daily routine of Recruit School. They have been relatively busy this week but their daily tempo will soon increase with additional tasks allocated to them and starting outside instructional components which will also test their teamwork, communication and leadership skills.

Jack Speak

Steel Deck Barbie – Barbecue held on the ship’s flightdeck.

Recruit Comment

"I have learned that team work is a number one priority without this we cannot work effectively in the Navy, shakedown helped us to start working as a team and complete shakedown."; RCT Martin 18 years from Harvey Bay, QLD.