Week 8 - Waller Division Intake 267

Welcome to Week 8 of Recruit School training for GE267. This week Waller Division participated in Combat Survivability, Sea Familiarisation, Survival at Sea & F88 Austeyr Training.

The week commenced with Adelaide and Brisbane classes being the last Waller division classes to conduct Combat Survivability at the School of Survivability and Ship’s Safety’. As well as being fully trained in fire fighting and damage control, our Recruits must escape a smoke filled compartment utilising teamwork and wearing a breathing apparatus called an ELSRD (Emergency Life Support Respiratory Device). Included in the weeks activity is a full fire extinguisher lesson consisting of the correct use and how to fill and charge a fire extinguisher.

Adelaide class preparing for damage control exercise

Members from Brisbane class during flooding exercise

Newcastle and Melbourne classes embarked onboard ‘Seahorse Spirit’ for a week of sea experience. ‘Seahorse Spirit’ sailed out into Bass Strait and back, giving the recruits a simulated experience of life at sea. During the week, recruits were introduced to a variety of aspects that they will encounter during life at sea. The activities conducted during the week enabled them to consolidate their combat survivability training a familiarise themselves with emergency stations, life raft drills & fire drills as well as being responsible for bridge watch keeping & basic galley and scullery duties. Sea sickness was experienced by some of our recruits, but most found their sea legs after a few days.

Newcastle class in the cafe at sea

Recruit Welling showing what happens when you leave your cap sculling in the mess deck!

Canberra, Darwin and Melbourne Classes continued to learn the correct handling techniques and usage of the F88 Austeyr Rifle. The F88 Steyr is the Australian Defence Force’s choice of small arms, and two weeks is dedicated to the correct methods of firing and safety procedures involved. The F88 Steyr course consists of hands-on training, and recruits become fully conversant in not only firing the weapon, but also assembling, disassembling and cleaning it. The “Live Fire” component enables the recruits to fire live rounds in a controlled environment, whilst learning special sighting and firing techniques to ensure the most accurate shot. With most of the recruits having never handled a weapon before, this was an exciting but also daunting few weeks for some.

Melbourne class also continued their parade training with the focus being ‘on’ and ‘off’ caps with chin stay down and saluting.

Melbourne class practising saluting

Melbourne class practising “off caps”

Jack Speak

Duff – Sailors term for sweets served with a meal.

Recruit Comment

"I really enjoyed Sea phase and the experience of being out in Bass Strait on a ship."; RCTMT Joel Reeves 17yrs old from Moreton Bay, QLD.