Soldiers back in civvy street during holiday season
PLAYING soldiers in the backyard was where it all began for returned soldier Lance Corporal Mortarman Adrian Spry.
Before long, this fifth-generation soldier was wearing the helmet and camouflage for real, as he served in the Solomon Islands in 2008 and the first six months of this year in Afghanistan.
LCPL Spry's main role while abroad was mentoring Afghan army soldiers, and he said the skills learnt along the way were ones he would retain for life.
"You learn good life skills and problem-solving skills and it's good being with the boys; we're like family," he said.
Now home, LCPL Spry intends to join the police force.
He and a bunch of returned Australian Defence Force personnel caught up at the Warwick RSL before hitting the Hope's Body Repairs Boxing Day Races at Allman Park yesterday.
Also getting in on the action for the day out was Corporal Steve Domjahn, who did a stint in East Timor in 2000.
On a 24-hour patrol, he would carry 12L of water in his backpack and his ammunition, as they trawled through villages and bushland.
"The locals were great and the villages would help us," CPL Domjahn said.
CPL Domjahn grew up in Warwick before joining the army.
He is still in the reserves, and says while he wouldn't go back now, he does regret not going back earlier.
Both soldiers recommended anyone thinking of joining the Defence Force to give it a shot, especially school leavers who were unsure on which career path to take just yet.
