Army Recruit Training Centre entrance sign

Army Recruit Training Centre is the official name denoted by the Australian Army Department of Defence since December 1, 1998 ^[1] for its Recruit Training Centre situated at Kapooka, an outer suburb of Wagga Wagga, in the Riverina region of New South Wales. The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... Wagga Wagga (pronounced wogga wogga, informally called Wagga) is a city in New South Wales, Australia. ... The Riverina is a prosperous agricultural region of south-western New South Wales (NSW), Australia. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ...

The Army Recruit Training Centre (ARTC) is located within Blamey Barracks, about 9.5 km south-west of Wagga Wagga.

During World War II

The site that was to become ARTC was established on a property on the southern slopes of the Pomingalarna Reserve in 1942 as a direct result of defence needs during World War II. As a part of the Royal Engineers Centre thousands of engineers were trained in basic soldiering skills as well as engineering duties. In addition 47,000 regular soldiers also trained at the barracks from 1942 to 1945. The location was also the camp for members of the Australian Women’s Army Service who acted as orderlies, drivers and hospital staff during that period of time.^[2] Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

After World War II

Following the Second World War the barracks became the 1st Recruit Training Battalion (1RTB) which from November 1951, with Lieutenant Colonel V.E. Dowdy appointed as the first Commanding Officer. During 1952 and 1953, 1RTB was joined by 2nd Recruit Training Battalion in temporary buildings on the ridge south of the main camp. 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Most of the current facilities were constructed during 1965 and 1966 and officially opened on 6 December 1966 by the then Governor of New South Wales, Sir Roden Cutler, VC, KCMG, CBE. 1RTB conducted training for both national service and regular Army recruits, and during the Vietnam conflict between 1965 and 1972, in excess of 10,000 National Service men trained at Kapooka. 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... List of Governors of New South Wales See Governors of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Governor. ... Arthur Roden Cutler Sir (Arthur) Roden Cutler (VC, AK, KCMG, KCVO, CBE) (May 24, 1916 - February 22, 2002) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

Recent history

In 1985 the ARTC (then called 1RTB) became responsible for the training of female recruits, who were previously trained at Georges Heights in Sydney. 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The centre took on the additional responsibility of training some reserve recruits from 1993. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ...

Reserve recruits undertake a 28 day program whilst the recruits that are to form part of the Australian Regular Army undertake an 80 day program.^[3]

The Army Adventurous Training Wing moved from Bonegilla to the Blamey Barracks in 1998. ARTC has two training wings, Recruit Training Wing (RTW) that trains all the regular and reserve recruits for the Army, and the Army Adventurous Training Wing that trains unit adventurous training leaders. The signage leading into the ARTC indicates that the centre is also referred to as the "Home of the Soldier". 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ...

ARTC is also home to the Australian Army Band Kapooka. It provides music for military ceremonies.

In October 2006, Recruit Training Wing formally changed its name back to the 1st Recruit Training Battalion (1RTB)

References

1. ^ Department of Defence - Australian Army
2. ^ Tourism Wagga Wagga
3. ^ Australian Regular Army training