Queensland Stars Graduate, Ashanti, had a dream of joining the Australian Defence Force.
After successfully completing six months of training at the Army Indigenous Development Program, she has now realized that dream.
Last July Ashanti jetted off to Darwin, where she completed her training with other Indigenous candidates.
During the course she completed fitness testing, learnt how to fire weapons, navigate a map, and make a controlled descent down a steep slope using abseiling techniques!
She said one of the most difficult, but satisfying, parts of the course was when her group had to survive in the bush for three days with just water and small rations of food.
Ashanti’s favourite part was doing fitness training three times a week: “I really liked getting to move my body and feel my fitness improving. On my first day I only got one push up and by the end I was doing seventeen!”
At the end of her training Ashanti chose to continue in the Defence Force and work towards becoming a truck driver in the Army. She is very excited to begin the next part of her journey.
“I can’t wait to get to Kapooka, see everyone again, and start the rest of the training. I loved the experience in Darwin, and it has really helped me grow as a person,” she says.
“I hope I can inspire more Stars girls to give it a go because it really does change your life!”
Everyone at Stars is extremely proud of Ashanti and we can’t wait for her to return to Townsville and share her experiences with girls in our Queensland Stars programs.