Adventure and new opportunities

Adventure training and good mates are highlights of a 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment clerk’s three-year Army career.

CAPTION: Lance Corporal Chloe-Meg Cooper, of 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville. Photo by Corporal Brodie Cross.

No. 16 Squadron clerk Lance Corporal Chloe-Meg Cooper joined the Army because it was something she always wanted to do.

“I really enjoy being in the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment and the mates I’ve made throughout the Army,” Lance Corporal Cooper said.

“Coming to work doesn’t really feel like a job, it just feels like you’re doing what you love.”

This included adventure training such as white-water kayaking, rock climbing and abseiling.

“These are things I wouldn’t have done outside the Army and I really enjoyed it,” she said.

“I’ve also done sailing adventure training where a group of us sailed from Mackay to Bundaberg, which is something I’ve never done before.”

Lance Corporal Cooper was awarded an Australia Day medallion in January for previous work as a clerk in the Army Personnel Support Unit transitions cell.

“Townsville is one of the busier transitions offices, with a large number of people transitioning out of Army,” she said.

“I guess I was doing my job well, helping members and staff there.”

Lance Corporal Cooper encourages young females finishing school to consider a career in Army.

“I joined straight out of school and it has really set me up for my whole life,” she said.

“It’s such a good job with lots of opportunities and it doesn’t feel like you’re working nine to five.

“You get chances for a change of pace and get to do fun things and sports you wouldn’t necessarily get to do in the outside world.”

Lance Corporal Cooper said her mates in the Army were unlike any others.

“You can be out of contact with them for years and when you meet them again it’s just like you were with them yesterday,” she said.

“You have a better understanding of what mateship is in the Army.”

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