I joined the Army in 1990 – I was a little bit lost and didn’t have a purpose in life. I was given some options and thought I needed some direction so I signed up not taking it all that seriously.
However, I got the call-up once I completed the medical and all the assessments … and off I went October 1990. I served for 11 years.
After I completed my initial basic training, I then went on to Puckapunyal where I completed driver training with the Royal Australian Corps of Transport. On completion of this I became the Catering Corps Commanding Officer’s driver.
After several postings to other locations, I still had a desire to return to Wagga Wagga to be a Recruit Instructor. I successfully completed my RISC – recruit instructor training and was offered a posting to Kapooka in 1995. It was amazing and I absolutely LOVED that posting. I believe because I chose the instructor’s role, and there weren’t enough female instructors, I didn’t get any overseas postings. That was disappointing.
Bastardisation was at its peak, if you compare it to today’s day and age. Was it tough? I actually loved it. I LOVED the structure, the discipline. It suited my personality.
After Recruit School I was posted to Holsworthy and Randwick and then I went onto field training wing at Duntroon in Canberra.
My highlight of my Army career was playing sport - softball. So, despite not being posted overseas I travelled the countryside playing softball for the Australian Defence Force. Made life-long mates with other serving members from both the Navy and Air Force.
Despite my 11 years of service, after the birth of my two children and being on long service leave, I couldn’t see myself going back to it with the political environment, so I was discharged in 2001.
I miss the camaraderie. 100 percent. It’s a different lingo. When together [service and ex-service personnel] we hold a completely different conversation to other friends. But it’s not only the lingo, it’s the mannerisms too.
I didn’t find the transition difficult from Army life to civilian life. I went from the Army to working with women and children escaping domestic violence. I started as a maintenance worker in a women’s refuge. I did gardening work initially. I then got qualified and case worked and then managed a refuge. I’m now working with youth homelessness – helping those in need.
I believe for all those kids who are lost, active service would be a great way forward for them. I believe the kids in ‘juvie’ [juvenile detention] now – if they can stick out the basic training – they are the ones who can be the leaders going forward because they’ve already got life skills.
This is the story of Elissa Clyne as told to Carla Edwards.
