Aircraftman Chad Parker

What are you training to be?

I’m A.C. Chad Parker and I’m originally from Adelaide and I’ve been here in Wagga now for about 9 months training to be an avionics technician.

Why did you decide to join the RAAF?

Well, actually joining the Defence Force, not necessarily the RAAF, any defence force, was pretty much the only thing I wanted to do. During high school couldn’t really picture myself doing anything else. And, I, as the defence force opportunity came up, not going to back down from this, going to give it a go.

What specific training are you undertaking?

The specific course that I’m doing now is Atech which about 13 – 14 month course of just strenuous study, full on study, practical work, yea sometimes it gets a bit stressful now and then but you got work hard in life to get anywhere. Nothing comes free.

What do you hope for your future?

Well, I’ll stay in the Defence Force for as long as possible, that’s what I’m trying to aim for. In 10 years I probably would not see myself at Atech still. I’d want to expand on that a bit more. See what else there is. Hopefully be overseas a couple of times, that’d be fantastic, have my own house. I reckon that would be awesome.

Has the RAAF experience changed you?

I’ve recently just been in the RAAF for 12 months now and over that 12 months I really believe I’ve changed a lot, confidence wise, discipline wise, just a lot more better person I believe, and just the way I just reflect on and visualise the world is just much better.