Latchford Barracks hosted hundreds of students on Friday, with soldiers showing the range of trades available through the defence force.

Warrant officer Kevin Hopwood said the army had trades from ammunition technicians to chefs, petrol distributors, and people who packed parachutes for the SAS.

“The army is not just the warfare type soldier … there’s a lot more to it,” he said.

“This gives the students an idea of what to expect if they wish to enlist and the trades they can apply for.

“It gives them an idea that being in the army is not just a guy that lives in a trench, puts a bayonet on his weapon and charges up a hill.

“There are lots of other trades and skills in the military they can apply and train for.”

The students had a chance to handle fully-automatic weapons and aim down the sights, undertake basic fitness tests involving running with jerrycans, and view some of the kit used by military personnel.

Some of the army’s newest vehicles were also on display at the open day.

Warrant officer Hopwood said logistic officers played a vital role in any army.

“If you study military history, a lot of wars have been won because the logistics has broken down before the fighting soldiers,” he said.

“You will find there are more logistics soldiers than there are combat soldiers in any army.

“Without the logistics, the combat soldiers can’t function.

“As combat soldiers we always take the Mickey out of the logistics guys, but we know if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be able to do our job. 

“They are just as important, if not more important is some respects, than the combat soldiers.

“If they don’t bring the fuel we need for our tanks, the tanks don’t move. 

“If they don’t bring the ammunition up, the guns won’t shoot.” 

The careers day is held each year with more than 400 students from local and regional schools in attendance. 

Students were also shown some of the basic fitness tests that must be passed in order for people to join the defence force.