12:00a.m. 31st August 2008

Narangba’s Joel Brennan, 17, is one of 600 young Australians giving the military life a test-drive during their Gap Year.

A few weeks ago Narangba’s Joel Brennan, 17, waved his Mum, Sandy, goodbye and now he’s doing the hard yards at the Army’s Recruit Training Centre at Kapooka, New South Wales.

He’s one of 600 young Australians giving the military life a test-drive during their Gap Year.

“I’d always been interested in the Army," he said.

"When I finished Year 12 at Narangba State High last year I thought I’d give the Gap Year scheme a try so I would get to choose my Corps — for me, I’d always been interested in the Artillery.

"I like the maths and I really like pulling the lanyard and getting that big bang!"

But before any recruit goes to their Corps — whether it’s Artillery, Infantry, Transport or whatever — every soldier has to get through basic training at Kapooka.

It means that, whatever their final specialisation, all soldiers will have the basic fighting skills to protect themselves and their mates.

“I always knew Kapooka would be hard — and the first week was hell! It was definitely a ‘what am I doing here?’ kind of moment," Joel said.

"The first week concentrated on how to make your bed and that sort of stuff, with a lot of yelling — and I mean a LOT of yelling.

“Then you start to get things right and get on to the fun stuff. And the Corporals stop yelling and start telling you their yarns about their own experiences.

“It’s the best fun I’ve ever had.

"I’m meeting people from everywhere. I’m learning a lot of interesting things, and with people from all sorts of social backgrounds.

"Between us, we are having some pretty in-depth discussions with all our different views. There’s definitely no way that I’d leave now.”