Week 3 - Getting Division Intake 268
20 April 2009The recruits have now completed their third week of training. Most have completed the RAN swim test and physical training assessment. The recruits are beginning to make good progress in the maintenance of their uniforms, improving their overall standard of drill and learning the fundamental theory of naval life.
The recruits have now been issued with the majority of their uniform. This has presented some new challenges with the maintenance of their ‘kit’ (uniform) to keep them at the high standards required. An important lesson for the recruits is the military method of presenting their kit for inspection, otherwise known as a kit muster.
Kit musters are generally performed at random in order to confirm and ensure a sailor has a full set of uniform and that they have been maintaining it to a good state of repair. Kit musters are also issued as a means of corrective training to assist a sailor in perfecting the fundamental skills required to maintain his or her uniform, hence it is essential that every sailor embraces the requirement to wear their uniform with pride.
Week three continued with theory lessons whereby the recruits learnt about security, RAN organisation, drug and alcohol awareness, the Defence Force Disciplinary Act and several other lessons integral to the preparation of the Recruits life in the military.
Next week however the recruits will commence five weeks of practical instruction where they will be instructed in Survival at Sea techniques, First Aid, Austeyr familiarisation (weapon training), Combat Survivability (fire, flood and emergency at sea), Seamanship and Corrosion Control skills. Additionally the recruits will commence rotational periods of a full week at sea onboard Seahorse Spirit (DMO tender vessel) where they will experience first hand the basic routines conducted in Australian warships. The next five weeks will be a challenging but rewarding time for the Recruits as they continue their transition from civilian to sailor.
Recruit Comment
"I’ve been learning things here that I can’t learn anywhere else. For the most part, I love being here. Watching the senior recruits practice for graduation gives us motivation to do better whilst we are here and make it to our own graduation.";RCTCTS Curtis Williams, 19 years old from Warilla, NSW
