A day in the life of an Australian Defence recruit

The Australia Defence Force is on a mission to recruit more troops. Hear from a handful of Aussies who stepped up to the task.

Chantal Conduit had travelled the country firstly as a hotel manager working in cities like Adelaide and Melbourne, then as a mess manager at BHP iron ore mines in Western Australia.

Not for the first time, the 40 year old thought there had to be more in life, and in the back of her mind she had always admiration for the army’s courageous and apparent mateship bond.

“I had been successful in my previous career so I guess I just kept on putting it off … then I had my daughter five years ago and I had been a stay-at-home mum for that time, then she started school and it was time for me to go back to my old job and I just thought ‘no’,” 16 Aviation Brigade Private Conduit said yesterday.

Army Private Chantal Conduit (16 Aviation Brigade) and Air Force Leading Aircraftswoman Bernadette Crompton (27 Squadron). Picture: Shae Beplate

Private Conduit was formerly from Adelaide but when she approached Defence recruiting and was told she could be based in Townsville, she signed up immediately.

“My family are proud of me; my dad particularly got in an aeroplane for the first time in 25 years to fly to Wagga Wagga to watch me march out of Kapooka (Army recruit training base),” she said.

“I have had more job satisfaction in the last six months than I have had in the previous 20 years of working, some of the best days of my life even in Kapooka … I just remind myself ‘This is my job, it is just so cool, so cool, it’s truly amazing. I’ve been on posting for just two weeks and yesterday I was out flying in a helicopter; where else do you get to do that?”

Army Private Chantal Conduit. Picture: Shae Beplate

Bernadette Crompton was studying a business degree in Brisbane and doing casual admin jobs to pay her way when Covid-19 derailed her flight pattern.

“It’s always been on my radar watching people around me doing really amazing stuff. I was an air force cadet so got to see what defence did and that fostered my passion for aviation so I eventually enlisted,” 27 Squadron Air Force Leading Aircraftswoman Bernadette Crompton said.

The 22 year old is looking now to complete her degree while working full time with the RAAF, so as to become a commissioned Personnel Capability Officer.

“I had family history, my grandfather served in World War Two in the navy and dad was in the army so I rounded out and joined the air force … my dad was beyond happy when I joined, he was ecstatic and my mum and brother are also very supportive. It’s been awesome opportunities, great mates and you get to travel the world.”

Australian Defence Force Pilots Course No. 269 graduate Pilot Officer Andrew Cary. Picture: ADF

Pilot Officer Andrew Cary, from Victoria, has just graduated head of class as one of the ADF’s newest pilots to receive his wings.

“I have always wanted to fly and my family have always been passionate about aviation but I never thought I would be able to become a pilot in the ADF,” he said.

“I enlisted in defence in 2016 as a gap year and only intended to stay for 12 months but as soon as I was in I knew that defence is where I wanted to be. Becoming a pilot is a dream come true. There is no better feeling than being in the air where I get to watch the world fly by beneath me.”

Able Seaman Maritime Logistics Elly-May Mitchell. Picture: Supplied

Speaking from HMAS Waterhen on Sydney Harbour, Royal Australian Navy Able Seaman Maritime Logistics Elly-May Mitchell, from Mareeba near Cairns, also said it was a dream come true to enlist.

She said her interest began after a school visit by navy officers.

Originally published as A day in the life of an Australian Defence recruit