mmg.com.au

By Riahn Smith

The 18-year-old Wanganui Park Secondary College graduate Danielle Jorgensen entered the Australian Defence Force Academy in January as an officer cadet and has just finished six weeks of basic military training.

‘‘It’s like an introduction into joining the military side of things,’’ Ms Jorgensen said.

‘‘Throughout the six weeks we do weapon handling, first aid, drills . . . It was really good.

‘‘I’d never fired a weapon before. It was really challenging and forced me to branch out a bit. I didn’t realise what I was capable of.’’

Now that the familiarisation training is complete, Ms Jorgensen has started her academic training, undertaking a Bachelor of Business at the University of NSW.

These studies will help her follow in the footsteps of a family member and join the Royal Australian Air Force where Ms Jorgenson hopes to become a logistics officer.

‘‘I was encouraged by a relative who has been in the Air Force for more than 10 years. Once I started researching military careers, I knew it was something I wanted to do,’’ she said.

‘‘The logistics area is really broad and diverse. I’ll be able to have a lot of great opportunities and travel around Australia.’’

Ms Jorgenson said it was a ‘‘great accomplishment’’ to have been offered a place, let alone to have received early acceptance during Year 12.

‘‘It was just a huge shock, I was over the moon about it,’’ she said.

‘‘While my friends were still sorting things out, everything was all sorted out for me so it was a huge relief.’’

But that relief soon gave way to apprehension as her moving date crept closer.

‘‘I was a little apprehensive prior to coming to ADFA, I didn’t know what to expect,’’ Ms Jorgensen said.

‘‘Coming from Shepparton to Canberra is a huge step but . . . the big challenge for me was getting into the military life. I think the first initial stages of being here at ADFA, the first few days were a bit of a culture shock, but you get used to the environment and what the atmosphere’s like.

‘‘I just found I’ve grown so much over this six weeks, I’m really excited to see how I go over the next three years.’’