As the sun rose over a chilly Kapooka morning, Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell welcomed Army's newest soldiers to their careers as the sun set on his own.
Soldiers from 13 and 14 Platoon, Bravo Company, 1 Recruit Training Battalion, marched out from their course on May 24 with General Campbell as the reviewing officer.
In his address, General Campbell thanked families for supporting loved ones and congratulated the new soldiers for making the decision to serve in Army.
"Everything else isn't as hard as making that choice, because everything else is done with the team around you. In our Army you are never alone," he said.
Reflecting on his years of service, General Campbell encouraged soldiers to follow Army values to guide them through their careers and to take pride in the Rising Sun they now wore.
"It's a symbol we have worn since our formation many years ago; a symbol you can proudly point to and say 'I am an Australian soldier'," he said.
"I'm extremely proud of you, extraordinarily thankful of your choice to serve and, also, in the latter days of my service, very envious of the opportunities, career and experiences that lie ahead."
It was the last Army recruit march-out parade General Campbell will attend as Chief of the Defence Force, after six years in command of the ADF.
