Adam Ruth will begin his apprenticeship on Monday but has already completed the hard yards to get into his course graduating from initial training held at the Kapooka Army Recruit Training Centre in Wagga Wagga. He is presently in a Holding Platoon at the Army Logistic Training Centre located at Bandiana near Albury/Wodonga.

The opportunity to work in the army competed with taking on an apprenticeship with Tenterfield Shire Council, but Adam decided on doing something adventurous.

“An apprenticeship was offered in Tenterfield by the council at the same time as I got this one, but I’d rather take the adventure with the army,” he said.

“I’m in holding training at the moment and it’s pretty good. We’re doing navigation, reading maps and compasses and coordinating between checkpoints.

“I’m on top of the world. I made it through Kapooka and now I’m getting ready for my initial employment training.”

Adam joined the army earlier this year and started basic training at Kapooka in April. He spent 11.5 weeks there and did not find it easy.

“It was not very fun at all,” Adam said.

“You learnt the basics of soldiery. It was a tough environment and mentally strenuous.”

Adam was in 24th Platoon, Charlie Company, and received the Skill at Arms Award for being the best marksman within his platoon. Adam received a score of 215 out of a possible 225. After graduating Adam was sent to Albury/Wodonga where he will remain for 18 months.

“There’s a lot more variety here,” Adam said.

“The general lifestyle is very good. I knew it would be tough when I came in.

“I just keep remembering to keep my mind focused all the time, thinking what could happen next.”

Adam will now focus on completing his apprenticeship with the hope of eventually working on the big Army Bushmasters.

“My goal is getting into my employment training. I’ll be hitting that pretty hard and it’s self-paced training,” Adam said.

“People say they’ll be overworked on V8’s. I’ll say I’m overworked on tanks.”

Adam wanted everybody back in Tenterfield to know that he is having a great time and the army is one of the best places he has been career-wise.

“The army is the place to be,” Adam said.