Mount Isa local, Leah Swain, has always been interested in how things work. As a hands-on person, the 26 year-old knew that she wanted a career in a technical trade after trying her hand at a host of other jobs. As a Telecommunications Technician in the Australian Army, Leah has pursued a fulfilling career that lets her pull things apart and put them back together.
“I looked into joining the Army long before I finished school, but I only got serious about it in year 12 and at that point I decided I wanted to be a Pilot. Unfortunately I’m too tall, so I went away and did some other things; went to college in America, played some basketball and worked in a bunch of civilian jobs that just weren’t for me.
“One day I saw an advertisement on TV for the Defence Force and I thought ‘why didn’t I do that?’ and six months later I enlisted,” Leah said
As a Telecommunications Technician, Leah works with high-tech military grade communication equipment providing communications, information systems, and electronic warfare support to the Army and the wider Australian Defence Force (ADF).
“I provide an interface so we can have phones and internet out in the field, which we give to the Commanders so they can call within each position and also call back to base if they need to,” Leah said.
“To anyone thinking of joining the Army, I would say ‘do it’. Pick the career for you and find something that you’re going to be really interested in. The career prospects once I leave the Army, should I choose to, are really good, especially in a technical trade.”
The Australian Army has a host of diverse roles available for women who are looking for a rewarding, flexible and challenging career. The Army has built a formidable reputation based on the core values of courage, initiative, respect and teamwork.
The Australian Defence Force is currently recruiting, if you would like more information please join us at 6:30pm on Tuesday 21st June 2016 for our Women in Defence Information Session. This is set to be held at the Perth Defence Force Recruiting Centre, 66 St George’s Terrace.
Alternatively, you can retrieve information on ADF careers from the below sources:
defencejobs.gov.au/army or call 13 19 01.
