Week 4 - Getting Division Intake 268

27 April 2009

As the recruits of Getting Division head towards the end of week four of their training, pressure is on as they strive towards earning their first weekend of leave. All the recruits have spent the weekend ironing, folding, polishing and preparing their uniforms in a bid to pass their weekly locker inspections. They’ve also been studying hard, preparing for their formative assessment, which provides an initial indication as to their understanding of the numerous theory modules instructed over the past two weeks. Topics within the exam include RAN Organization, Duties and Responsibilities, the Divisional System and Ships of the RAN.

This week recruits began their first session of external instruction. This involved classes taking part in RAN Steyr Training. This involved recruits’ learning all the requirements to safely handle and operate the in service rifle the F88 Austeyr.

Other activities included Survival at Sea, where recruits learned the fundamentals of survival in the case of ship sinking. This also involved the recruits donning Thermal Protective Suits (TPS) and Pattern 50N Lifejackets, practicing survival techniques in the water and getting into a life raft safely.

The final activities included basic seamanship and corrosion control where recruits practiced not tying and throwing heaving lines used in the berthing of a ship. And the Austeyr familiarisation course, where the recruits were drilled by the gunnery staff in handling the weapon safely. This involved drills for every situation from loading the weapon and ammunition blockage, and even stripping the weapon down to its basic groups. This is all in preparation for their first live fire on Friday.

On Thursday evening the Division will stand Warrant Officers rounds, whereby they will all clean, prepare and present their accommodation block to the Recruit School Warrant Officer for inspection. This is an important milestone in their training as it marks their transition from the junior class of Recruit School to the intermediate class. Furthermore their weekend leave is determined by the overall result of the Warrant Officer rounds. During the rounds the Warrant Officer will inspect the cleanliness of the ablutions, block foyer and cabins as well as the state of each Recruit’s locker.

Next week the Recruits continue their outside instruction and two of the classes will have their first week at sea on board Seahorse Spirit. They have all come along way since day one of their training. Of course there is still a lot of knowledge to impart on the new Recruits and the work will continue to increase over the weeks to come.

Jack Speak

Dolphins:

1. Timber piles driven into the sea bed close to shore to provide a berth for ships.

2. The qualification badge of the Submarine Service. A newly qualified submariner is required by tradition to ‘drink his dolphins’ i.e., to recover his new dolphin badge from the bottom of a large glass of rum – by drinking it in one go.

Recruit Comment

" I sit here surrounded,
A horde of people,
Men and Women,
All the same,
All equal,
We stand High,
We march forward,
With five values in our hearts,
Honour, Honesty, Courage, Integrity and Loyalty,
We are the Rankin Division Recruits,
We are members of the R.A.N."

RCTCK Coupland, 18, Adelaide, SA