Soldiers on Exercise Overland Nautical Petros welcomed representatives from Defence Force Recruiting (DFR) and, for the first time, prospective candidates to observe the exercise.
The exercise trained petroleum operators to deploy bulk fuel from sea to shore.
The three prospective candidates, who had expressed an interest in the petroleum operator trade, were in the middle of their Defence Force application process.
The collaboration between 17th Sustainment Brigade and recruiting officers at DFR is the first time prospective candidates have been able to observe a military exercise.
Sergeant Brian Hudson, of DFR, said it helped them understand what the role involved.
“A lot of young people are interested in the job roles offered by Defence, but they often don’t have an understanding of what the job is like,” Sergeant Hudson said.
“Seeing what soldiers do on a daily basis and on exercise will help them determine for themselves whether this pathway is right for them.
“The hope is that these candidates, and hopefully more in the future, can make an informed decision about their own future.
“Most kids I’ve interacted with see the Australian Army as a combative role in infantry, so bringing them out here to see other trades, which offer transferable qualifications both in and outside Defence, is a bonus.”
Two platoons from 17th Sustainment Brigade combined their marine and land fuel transfer skills to deliver more than 90,000 litres of fuel from sea to shore during the two-week exercise in October.
