THEIR friends might be heading off to the brave new world of university or travelling the world, but Kate Brown and Benjamin Hayers had a different idea for their first year out of school.
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The pair have spent the past 11 weeks learning the ropes of what it takes to be in the air force at RAAF Base Wagga, as part of the Australian Defence Force’s Gap Year program, along with 52 other recruits from around the country.
Aircraftswoman Brown, 18, from Wangaratta, said she wanted a taste of something different to her friends for her gap year.
“All my friends are going and getting jobs, but I wanted the experience and life skills of Defence,” she said.
This year marks the first year of the reintroduced Gap Year program, which was cut by the previous Labor federal government in 2012.
RAAF Base Wagga marked only the first step for participants, who will head to RAAF Base Amberley, south-west of Brisbane, for the remainder of the year.
Hobart-raised Aircraftsman Hayers, 19, admitted arriving at RAAF Base Wagga had been a shock to the system initially.
“The first few weeks were very tough and challenging because we were straight out of school,” he said.
The 54 gap year graduates from 1 Recruit Training Unit in Wagga had their march-out on Wednesday, watched on by friends and family who had flown across the country for the event.
Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert, who was at the RAAF Base for the graduation, said the Gap Year program provided young people a chance to give the Defence Force a go without the usually daunting four-year service commitment required.
“There are young people who don’t people they could sign on for four years – they’re nervous, they’re apprehensive and one year is a really good toe in the water for them,” Mr Robert said.
“Every single one of the 54 graduates you’ve seen today here at RAAF Wagga will be far better Australians because they did 12 months with the air force.”
Mr Robert said it had been a “travesty” the program had been cancelled three years ago, with it offering the opportunity for young people to develop “great life skills”.
“We recognise it’s one of the most powerful and effective recruitment tools for the Australian Defence Force that we have,” Mr Robert said.
“It’s about building great young Australians, giving them opportunities, giving them life skills.”
This year’s Gap Year program has 260 people enrolled, with 455 already signed up for 2016.
