The School of Military Engineering at Holsworthy Barracks is home to the Plant Operators facility, providing specialised training in civil construction skills for sappers to become construction engineers, alongside future RAAF plant operators and tradespeople.
The Civil Construction Plant Course covers a wide range of practical and theoretical aspects, including general and high-risk safety and environmental considerations, and practical plant training.
These construction skills enable the civil applications of the trade where plant equipment is used in constructing roads, housing pads, tank ditches, machine slots and trenches.
Corporal Justin McKenzie, a plant instructor at the School of Military Engineering, is passionate about his role in training the next generation of plant operators.
"We train on a variety of equipment such as graders, front-end loaders, skid steer loaders, rollers, excavators and bulldozers," Corporal McKenzie said.
'The plant course has been fantastic for someone like me, who came in completely inexperienced, to be developed into a competent and safe plant operator.'
Corporal McKenzie values the mentoring aspect of his role, enjoying the opportunity to impart his knowledge and experience to trainees.
"You've got people who haven't even jumped into a machine before, having gone from driving a small vehicle to now jumping into a 20-tonne piece of kit," he said.
"It's a vast change from where they start on the course. It is a rewarding experience.
"I would definitely recommend an instructor role at the School of Military Engineering. It's instilled a bit of confidence in myself to present lesson or instructions.
"Public speaking is something I didn't think I could do in the past, but since being here I was able to do that, quite confidently now."
'In a lot of ways, you're out there living a childhood dream.'
Combat engineer with 5th Engineer Regiment, Private Jordan Cox, has spent four-and-a-half months at the School of Military Engineering, honing his skills in plant operation.
Upon completing the course, Private Cox will return to the regiment, transitioning from combat engineer to construction engineer and qualified with more than a dozen codes in plant machinery.
"In a lot of ways, you're out there living a childhood dream," Private Cox said.
"Being able to enjoy training on some pretty large earthmoving equipment really is a good opportunity."
He emphasised the importance of developing plant operation to provide effective construction capability.
"The plant course has been fantastic for someone like me, who came in completely inexperienced, to be developed into a competent and safe plant operator," Private Cox said.
"I've particularly enjoyed operating the excavators.
"To have no experience going into the course, to be operating a machine of 25 tonnes, it's very capable, able to do trenching and soil work. It's been a really good experience."
