National Service second intake DPR/TV/291

This was typical of scenes throughout Australia last Wednesday when two thousand 20 year olds reported to Army depots to commence their National Service training. It was the start of the second intake of National Servicemen and personnel from the Department of Labour and National Service were there to supervise their changeover to the Army. The airport at Wagga Wagga had one of the busiest hours when five commercial aircraft arrived from Brisbane with 330 trainees from Queensland. On Thursday morning 400 National Servicemen the majority from NSW, travelled from Sydney to Wagga Wagga on a special train. Their quiet arrival contrasted with their departure from Sydney which was marked by demonstrations. At the 1st Recruit Training Battalion at Kapooka, three miles from Wagga Wagga, the National Servicemen were introduced to documentation. After giving a few personal details, they received their pay books and under went a series of needles, including those for tetanus and typhoid fever. Then a meeting with the padre, who, during the next ten weeks of basic training will assist with any personal problems of the trainees. The clothing issue is from foot to head. Each man is carefully measured to ensure the proper fitting of his uniform. Then a photo for his Service Record book and a quick trip to the quartermaster's store. A signature, and the National Serviceman is the owner of all the equipment needed to help him become a well turned out soldier.