The march out yesterday marked the official opening of the RAAF’s $61 million 1 Recruit Training Unit facilities at Forest Hill.Forty airmen and women graduated at a ceremony witnessed by Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd AO, preceding the official opening of the facilities.The RTU houses about 100 staff, many who moved from other parts of Australia, and up to 360 recruits at any one time.The squadron will now go its separate ways, with graduates to move to other bases to undertake specialist training.Air Marshal Shepherd AO said the 1 Recruit Training Unit, established in 1954 and originally based at Wagga, has now returned to Forest Hill from RAAF Edinburgh, decades after its removal. “Importantly, the base and the local community continue to contribute to air force capability today,” Air Marshal Shepherd said. “As an active training base, Wagga offers number 1 RTU students a clear transition from one training phase to another.”He said about 1000 recruits were expected to pass through the new facilities during the next 12 months. “These training facilities will enable the recruit training unit to make a tangible contribution to air force capability, by ensuring our future air force airmen are well prepared for their roles in the 21st century Australian defence organisation,” he said.Air Marshal Shepherd said he was impressed with the recruits’ commitment and presentation since entering training on January 29.“The air force is a highly technical service, and the process of training and learning never stops,” he told the recruits at march out. “You will spend the rest of your career developing your skills, because first and foremost we are a learning organisation. “We learn from everything we do. Not just in formal training, but also from our own experiences and the experiences of others as we go through our service in the air force.” The Australian Defence Force also has navy and army recruit training at Wagga.