After recruit training all reserve soldiers will need to complete their Initial Employment Training (IET) usually at one of the Army’s Corps Schools. This involves learning your job within the Corps you enlist into. Depending on what job or trade you are enlisted in will depend on the length of your IET.

As a general rule the training will be anywhere between 2 and 7 weeks duration. You can choose to do it in one block or break up the modules over 18 months. The Corps Schools are in various locations around Australia. Detailed information on most of the jobs and trades in the Army can be found at the Defence Jobs: Army website.

Yes you will be paid whilst you are on the recruit course. Up to date information about pay and entitlements can be found on the Defence Jobs: Army website.

You will be required to bring your Tax File Number, along with your bank account number and BSB for your bank account, to allow direct payment into your bank account.  Prior to attending recruit training you should ascertain the current net rate of pay from your recruiting centre/unit and ensure that it is sufficient to cover all financial commitments for the duration of recruit training.

If it is not, you should make some form of alternative arrangements for these obligations. There is little opportunity to rectify these problems once the course has commenced.  Particular attention should be paid to personal banking arrangements.  There will be an opportunity to visit a Rediteller Automatic Teller Machine during training.

The required haircut for a male recruit is a number two all over, so if you want to get your haircut you should choose this style; however, all male recruits will have a haircut in the first week of training, if you have a haircut prior to arrival, you will have it cut again once you get to 1RTB.

Female recruits are required to wear their hair in a neat, tidy bun on the back of their head if they have long hair. It is advisable to practice putting your hair up in a bun quickly and neatly prior to arrival – there is very little time each morning to spend on doing hair. Bring hair nets, bobby pins and plenty of hair bands with you. The standard for a short female haircut is that it must be neat and tidy, and not touch the bottom of your collar.

Your civilian clothes should be ‘neat civilian attire.’ For males the minimum standard for neat civilian attire is jeans (in good order, no rips/tears), a belt, collared shirt (polo shirts are acceptable) and leather shoes (not runners of skate shoes).

Females should bring the equivalent of male attire. Do not bring any revealing or showy clothes as you will not be permitted to wear them. Ensure that you bring a pair of enclosed shoes such as dress shoes, you cannot wear sandals.

You should be aware that the majority of your time will be spent in uniform, this includes evenings. Civilian attire is required for when you have local leave (trips to the City of Wagga Wagga).

You will ‘March-In’ to your recruit course, that is arrive to the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, on a Friday. You will finish your recruit course 28 days after you March-In. This is usually on a Friday afternoon.

YES! You must ensure that you are physically fit before joining the 1RTB.  Regardless of what sporting history you have, the type of physical activity that is required by the Army is very intense and challenges even the fittest recruit.  If you follow the four week training program on your Joining Instruction you will be off to a good start.  If you find that the program doesn’t challenge you, concentrate on running approximately 2.4km in the fastest time you can and on your upper body strength.

You will be required to complete a 2.4km run test, among others, at 1RTB.  If you can complete this run in about 10 minutes for males and 11 minutes for females you can then focus on building your upper body strength.  You are also required to complete an Army Swim Test at 1RTB.  This involves swimming 30m fully clothed and then treading water for 2 minutes fully clothed.  If you are a weak swimmer practice this test wearing heavy pants such as jeans to ensure you can pass it on arrival at 1RTB. It is important to remember that with some reasonable preparation, recruit training is quite achievable for you.

Yes.  You can bring your mobile phone with you, but be aware that you will only be allowed to use the phone at certain times and cannot receive or make calls during training hours.

For recruits with glasses it is recommended that you don’t wear contact lenses, as much of the training is not suitable for them.  If you have an old pair of glasses bring those and a strap to hold them on your head for activities such as the obstacle course where you need to keep them on at all times.

During a normal working day at recruit training you will not have much time to yourself.  You may get about ½ hour in the evening to do your own administration or write a letter but this will generally be all the time you have.  You will not get any weekends off during the period of the recruit course.  Please remember, the course is not very long and there will be ample opportunity for time off once you have completed recruit training.

No. Meal times are relatively short, and you will most likely be preparing to move onto further training during your lunch and dinner times. You will have about half an hour to eat your meal. The recruit mess often feeds up to 1000 recruits at any one time, there is little time or space to sit and relax during meal times.

The first step is to follow the four week training program that you will have been provided. You can expect to do pack marching, you will be required to climb ropes and complete the obstacle course. To prepare for rope climbing, the obstacle course and other combat tests you should work on building your overall body strength with the aim of being able to lift and support your own weight, plus military webbing.

A good activity to develop this fitness is to do chin-ups. Complete sets of 2-3 chin-ups, making sure you bring your chest all the way to the bar. If you have never walked with a pack, you may wish to do some bushwalking with a pack. Start by walking for 10-20 minutes and gradually build up to one hour over a period of a number of weeks. You should aim to maintain a pace of 11 minutes per kilometre – this is the rate you will be expected to maintain during training.

Boots are part of the standard uniform, and you will wear them for the majority of the training. The course is structured so that you won’t be wearing your boots all day for the first few days; however, for much of the training you can expect to wear your boots for up to fourteen hours a day. You may develop rubbing or blisters as you wear your boots in. If this does happen, you will be provided appropriate blister treatment.

Yes you should be in possession of your movement details to and from 1RTB, and you should bring a copy of these movement details with you to 1RTB. You will receive a movements brief from staff at 1RTB in the first week of training, at which time you will confirm your return movement details. If you have any questions about your movements prior to attending 1RTB, you should speak to your unit Chief Clerk.

You are not permitted to make any changes to your movements once you commence training – unless it is for unforseen compassionate and/or operational reasons.

Your unit is responsible to complete a ‘Student Booking Request’ to Integrated Travel Solutions, who will arrange for your movements to and from 1RTB. You should make sure you are involved in this process, so that you are aware of the travel plans being made for you. You can travel back to your home location with your family – if you indicate this on your Student Booking Request, and this is accompanied with a letter of approval from your Commanding Officer.

Questions/enquiries about travel can be made to Integrated Travel Solutions on 1800 333 362.

You can expect the first call home on the night of the raise on the first Tuesday to say they have arrived, then they will have little opportunity to phone home for the next two weeks. The first few hours on arrival at Kapooka are very hectic - the recruits will have very little time to think about calling home, tough most will probably think about home from time to time.

The first few hours and days at Kapooka are often very challenging for the recruit. Your son/daughter/partner will most likely have a range of emotions, including homesickness; many may question their reason for joining the Army. Living in such a regimented and structured environment can come as quite a shock. Some feel intimidated by others in their platoon, who they perceive to be fitter, older, or stronger. Some recruits will make friends easily, for others it will be more difficult; though recruits live in a four-person room, and they generally make friends with their room-mates very quickly.

Your son/daughter/partner may express many of these emotions when they phone home, especially in the early stages of training. At this stage of their training they need your encouragement and support; focus on the positive aspects of why they made the decision to join the army. The course is not easy, but it is fair and can be passed with application.

If you have any real concerns for the welfare of your son/daughter/partner please phone the recruit’s Platoon Commander on the number provided in the letter that was sent out to you just after the recruit’s arrival at 1RTB. There is also a duty officer on 24 hours a day who can be contacted via mobile phone 0428 270769.

If you need to get a message to your son/daughter you should contact their Platoon Commander.

The Platoon Commander’s number is provided in the letter that was sent out to you just after your son/daughter arrived at 1RTB. If the matter is important and urgent, there is also a duty officer that can be contacted 24 hours a day, on 0428 270769.

Recruit training is very intense. The daily program typically runs from six o’clock in the morning and continues to ten o’clock at night. Much of this time is spent in formal training situations – classroom, parade ground, physical training and weapons training are a few examples of what the recruit will be doing every day.

There is very little time in-between each lesson for a recruit to call home, and they are often busy doing personal or group administration. Placing restrictions on phone time allows the recruit to focus their efforts on training, administration and interaction with other recruits (early on they will be making friends, as the course continues they will generally be helping each other, or being helped by their team-mates).

Periods of time are formally allocated for recruits to have access to their phone; this allows them to know that this is a time they are free to call home, and they are encouraged to do so. Allocating periods of time in this way provides the recruit the ‘freedom’ to call home – they know they are not expected to be doing anything else during these periods.

If you need to contact your son/daughter/partner if something of an urgent nature arises, or there is a family emergency, you can contact the recruits Platoon Commander – the Platoon Commander’s number is provided on the letter that was sent out to you just after the recruit’s arrival at 1RTB.

There is also a Duty Officer who can be contacted via mobile phone 24 hours a day 0428 270769.

Periods of time are formally allocated for recruits to have access to their phone, and they are encouraged to call home to keep in contact during these times; however, for urgent matters, and family emergencies, please don’t wait for one of these occasions, call the recruit’s Platoon Commander, or the Duty Officer.

The March-Out Parade is held on the last Friday of the recruit course. An information package and letter will be sent out to you well in advance of this date. The information package provides details of the parade, the post-parade function, and some information on Wagga and accommodation in the region.

The March-Out Parade commences at ten o’clock in the morning for Regular recruits, and at half-past three o’clock for Reserve Recruits. All visitors and guests are asked to be seated 15 minutes prior to the start of the parade. Visitor parking is provided at the entrance of Blamey Barracks, and you will be taken to the Parade Ground by a bus service. You will need to allow ten to fifteen minutes to get from the car-park to the Parade Ground.

You can bring as many people as you like. Our only requirement is that you tell us in advance how many you intend to bring so that the staff can cater for everybody.

The first thing that will happen is First Aid treatment: all staff at 1RTB are trained in First Aid, so the immediate assessment and treatment will happen at any time or day an injury occurs. If a recruit receives an injury while at 1RTB, they are covered by Defence. 1RTB has its own fully equipped medical centre, which is staffed by doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists and others: the majority of injuries and rehabilitation can be treated at the Kapooka Medical Centre. If necessary an injured recruit can be transferred to Hospital facilities in Wagga.

If the injury will effect training, the recruit will be transferred to ‘Digger James’ Platoon. Digger James Platoon is a rehabilitation Platoon, and the recruit will undergo rehabilitation as required for their injury. Once fully fit they will be returned to training. A recruit undergoing rehabilitation is likely to march-out at a date later than originally intended; if this is the case, the revised march-out date will be communicated to the recruit and his/her family as soon as practical.

Sharp Shot Images cover the March-Out Parade with both video and still photographs. Their staff regularly visit recruit training activities, and as such they offer a variety of photographic presentations, including a March-Out Parade video and still photographs. Their lab is located in Bardo Lane, 26 Tarcutta Street, Wagga Wagga (tel. [02] 6921 9292).

They also have a shop-front open at the Edmonson VC Soldiers Club on the day of March-Out Parades (1100h – 1400h and afternoon times for Reserves.). The Edmonson VC Soldiers Club is the venue for the March-Out Function, you will have ample time and opportunity to order a March-Out Parade DVD and photographs during the function.

Sharp Shot Images is a local photography business contracted to capture images of recruits in training to allow the recruits, and family members to purchase as memories of their time at Kapooka. Their lab is located in Bardo Lane, 26 Tarcutta Street, Wagga Wagga (tel. [02] 6921 9292). They also have a shop-front open at the Edmonson VC Soldiers Club on the day of March-Out Parades (1100h – 1400h and afternoon times for Reserves.).

The Edmonson VC Soldiers Club is the venue for the March-Out Function, you will have ample time and opportunity to view, and order, photos of your son/daughter taken during their training. A March-Out Parade DVD and photographs will also be available at this time.

You can view some images of recruit training activities on the 1st Recruit Training Battalion webpage.

By Air.
Wagga airport is located at Forest Hill, approximately 10 kms east of Wagga and 22 kms from Kapooka.  There is no bus service from the airport but a taxi service is available. Cost of a one-way taxi fare to Kapooka is approximately $50.00 to $60.00.

By Rail.
Wagga railway station is located at the south end of Bayliss Street near the Sturt Highway intersection.  There is no bus service to 1 RTB Kapooka but it can be accessed via a 12km taxi trip.

By Road.
From North.  Drive to Wagga via the Olympic Highway or the Hume and Sturt Highways.  Drive west for approximately 5km from Wagga on the Sturt Highway and turn left onto the Olympic Highway which heads towards Albury and Melbourne. Kapooka is located approximately 5km on this road with the turnoff on the right just prior to the road/rail overhead bridge.

From South.  Drive towards Wagga on the Olympic Highway.  The Kapooka turnoff is located on the left, immediately after crossing the road/rail overhead bridge, approximately 8km north of the village of Uranquinty.

Google maps provides directions on how to get to Kapooka from the Wagga Wagga City Centre.

On completion of recruit training you will be relocated to your Corps School, where you will undertake ‘Initial Employment Training.’ This involves learning your job within the Corps you enlist into. The length of Initial Employment Training depends on the job or trade you have enlisted to do.

As a general rule the training will be anywhere between 6 and 18 months duration. The Corps Schools are in various locations around Australia.  Detailed information on most of the jobs and trades in the Army can be found at the Defence Jobs: Army website.

Yes you will be paid whilst you are on the recruit course. Up to date information about pay and entitlements can be found on the Defence Jobs: Army website.

You will be required to bring your Tax File Number, along with your bank account number and BSB for your bank account, to allow direct payment into your bank account.  Prior to attending recruit training you should ascertain the current net rate of pay from your recruiting centre/unit and ensure that it is sufficient to cover all financial commitments for the duration of recruit training.

If it is not, you should make some form of alternative arrangements for these obligations. There is little opportunity to rectify these problems once the course has commenced.  Particular attention should be paid to personal banking arrangements.  There will be an opportunity to visit a Rediteller Automatic Teller Machine during training.

The required haircut for a male recruit is a number two all over, so if you want to get your haircut you should choose this style; however, all male recruits will have a haircut in the first week of training, if you have a haircut prior to arrival, you will have it cut again once you get to 1RTB.

Female recruits are required to wear their hair in a neat, tidy bun on the back of their head if they have long hair. It is advisable to practice putting your hair up in a bun quickly and neatly prior to arrival – there is very little time each morning to spend on doing hair. Bring hair nets, bobby pins and plenty of hair bands with you. The standard for a short female haircut is that it must be neat and tidy, and not touch the bottom of your collar.

Your civilian clothes should be ‘neat civilian attire.’ For males the minimum standard for neat civilian attire is jeans (in good order, no rips/tears), a belt, collared shirt (polo shirts are acceptable) and leather shoes (not runners of skate shoes).

Females should bring the equivalent of male attire. Do not bring any revealing or showy clothes as you will not be permitted to wear them. Ensure that you bring a pair of enclosed shoes such as dress shoes, you cannot wear sandals.

You should be aware that the majority of your time will be spent in uniform, this includes evenings. Civilian attire is required for when you have local leave (trips to the City of Wagga Wagga).

You will ‘March-In’ to your recruit course, that is arrive to the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, on a Tuesday. You may be required to attend the recruiting centre on the day prior to this to conduct your pre-enlistment fitness training. If you do need to attend prior, the recruiting staff will let you know.

You will finish your recruit course 80 days after you March-In. This is usually on a Friday morning.

YES! You must ensure that you are physically fit before joining the Army.  Regardless of what sporting history you have, the type of physical activity that is required by the Army is very intense and challenges even the fittest recruit.  If you follow the four week training program on your Joining Instruction you will be off to a good start.  If you find that the program doesn’t challenge you, concentrate on running approximately 2.4km in the fastest time you can and on your upper body strength.

You will be required to complete a 2.4km run test, among others, at 1RTB.  If you can complete this run in about 10 minutes for males and 11 minutes for females you can then focus on building your upper body strength.  You are also required to complete an Army Swim Test at 1RTB.  This involves swimming 30m fully clothed and then treading water for 2 minutes fully clothed.  If you are a weak swimmer practice this test wearing heavy pants such as jeans to ensure you can pass it on arrival at 1RTB. It is important to remember that with some reasonable preparation, recruit training is quite achievable for you.

No.  If you decide that you really don’t think that the Army lifestyle is for you after enlisting you will be required to go through the discharge process. You must complete 21 days of training before you are eligible for discharge. This means that all potential recruits should be 100% sure of their decision before enlisting.

Yes, you can join up as a member of either the Defence Bank or the Australian Military Bank (formerly Australian Defence Credit Union). They can open an account for you and have your wage paid directly into this account.

Yes.  You can bring your mobile phone with you, but be aware that you will only be allowed to use the phone at certain times and cannot receive or make calls during training hours.

For recruits with glasses it is recommended that you don’t wear contact lenses, as much of the training is not suitable for them.  If you have an old pair of glasses bring those and a strap to hold them on your head for activities such as the obstacle course where you need to keep them on at all times.

You will have very little spare time, or time off during recruit training. Most evenings you may get about half an hour to do your own administration. You will work each weekend, though later in the course there are scheduled visits to the City of Wagga for shopping. The first opportunity is in the fourth week of training, where you will get three hours in Wagga. During later stages of training you will get some free time, during which some of the Kapooka facilities will be available to you.

You should keep in mind that the recruit training course is not very long, once  you complete this and move onto Initial Employment Training at your Corps school, you will have much more free time.

Boots are part of the standard uniform, and you will wear them for the majority of the training. The course is structured so that you won’t be wearing your boots all day for the first few days; however, for much of the training you can expect to wear your boots for up to fourteen hours a day. You may develop rubbing or blisters as you wear your boots in. If this does happen, you will be provided appropriate blister treatment.

No. Meal times are relatively short, and you will most likely be preparing to move onto further training during your lunch and dinner times. You will have about half an hour to eat your meal. The recruit mess often feeds up to 1000 recruits at any one time, there is little time or space to sit and relax during meal times.

The first step is to follow the four week training program that you will have been provided. You can expect to do pack marching, you will be required to climb ropes and complete the obstacle course.

To prepare for rope climbing, the obstacle course and other combat tests you should work on building your overall body strength with the aim of being able to lift and support your own weight, plus military webbing. A good activity to develop this fitness is to do chin-ups. Complete sets of 2-3 chin-ups, making sure you bring your chest all the way to the bar.

If you have never walked with a pack, you may wish to do some bushwalking with a pack. Start by walking for 10-20 minutes and gradually build up to one hour over a period of a number  of weeks. You should aim to maintain a pace of 11 minutes per kilometre – this is the rate you will be expected to maintain during training.