Getting to Kapooka

The Army Recruit Training Centre is located at Blamey Barracks, Kapooka, approximately 10 km from the main street of Wagga Wagga, off the Olympic Highway, heading towards the New South Wales – Victorian border. Once you have turned onto the Olympic Highway, there are signposts directing you to the front gate. From Wagga Wagga Airport to the front gate it is approximately 20 km.

There is no bus service available from Wagga Wagga to Kapooka however taxi services are available. From the heart of Wagga Wagga, it will cost between $25 and $35 for a taxi and should take no longer than 15 minutes.  From Wagga Wagga Airport, it will cost between $45 and $60 for a taxi and should take around 25 minutes, depending on traffic.

If you intend to travel by taxi from Wagga Wagga Airport directly to Kapooka, we do not have a luggage minding service due to security requirements. It is recommended that if you choose this option you travel light with back packs, or make arrangements to drop off your luggage at your accommodation prior to arriving at the front gate. If you are travelling by private vehicle, it is acceptable to leave your luggage in the vehicle in the designated car park for the March Out Parade.

Parking

Sign posts directing visitors to the designated car park are located before the front gate. The visitors parking area is located adjacent to the Kapooka Picnic Area. All visitors are advised to arrive at Blamey Barracks, Kapooka at least one hour prior to the start of the parade.

Movement to the Parade Ground

Civilian vehicles are not permitted to enter Blamey Barracks; all movement within the barracks, including to the parade ground, is by bus. The designated pick up and drop off area is located adjacent to the visitor’s car park and is clearly sign posted. It is requested that visitors who are currently serving in the ADF also park in the designated car park and utilise the buses provided. Buses begin transporting visitors from the car park one hour prior to the start of the parade. For the ARC March Out Parade visitors are given a tour of the barracks prior to arriving at the parade ground. Due to time constraints there are no tours prior to the RRTC March Out Parade. Prams and wheelchairs can be taken on the buses to the parade ground. During the tour photos are permitted; however for safety and security reasons, visitors are not to exit the bus unless directed to do so by the tour guide or bus driver. Visitors who arrive later than the designated departure time will not be given the full tour of the barracks.

March Out Parade

The ARC March Out Parade commences at 10:00 am and the RRTC March Out Parade commences at 3:30 pm. Visitors will be dropped off at the parade ground and should be seated in the two large sheltered seating areas no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of the parade. Escorts and guides will be located around the parade ground to assist visitors. Seating is generally not reserved; however it is preferred that members avoid sitting in the centre seating areas as this area is set aside for staff and official guests. The parade will generally take 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the number of platoons marching out. 

March Out Parade Function

After the parade, a buffet meal is held in the Edmondson VC Club, on Blamey Barracks, approximately 1 km from the parade ground. All staff, soldiers and their visitors are invited to the function, which includes speeches, the cutting of the March Out cake and a buffet meal. Visitors are picked up from the parade ground and transported to the Edmondson VC Club by the buses where they will be reunited with the soldiers. Generally, buses will arrive within ten minutes of the end of the parade to begin transporting visitors to the Edmondson VC Club. The buffet meal will commence approximately one hour after the parade, after the formalities have concluded. Details regarding these timings will be confirmed at the end of the parade.

After the RRTC March Out Function

Reserve soldiers are not permitted to go on local leave at the conclusion of the March Out Function. Instead, soldiers are able to spend time with their families at the Edmondson VC Club until 8 pm. This is to enable the soldiers’ time to prepare for their departure the following morning. All visitors will be transported from the Edmondson VC Club to the visitor’s car park at 8 pm. Due to security requirements the visitors car park gates will be locked at 8:30 pm. All visitors must ensure they have vacated the car park by this time.

After the ARC March Out Function

All Regular Army soldiers will return to their lines to change into neat civilian attire prior to going on local leave with their families. All visitors will be transported from the Edmondson VC Club to the visitor’s car park between 1:00 and 1:30 pm. Soldiers will be transported from their lines to the visitor’s car park between 2:00 and 2:15 pm to commence local leave. There is also the possibility for soldiers to be transported from Kapooka to the Wagga Wagga Train Station to meet their family; however the platoon staff must be notified of this requirement before the day. All soldiers are to be at the Wagga Wagga Train Station at 9:00 pm to be transported back to Kapooka. Lateness will not be tolerated and administrative or disciplinary action may be taken against the soldier. Soldiers will have the opportunity to apply for extended leave, until 6:00 am the following morning, in order to spend the evening with their family. However, this is generally only intended for married soldiers and approval will be given on a case by case basis. Soldiers must apply for extended leave prior to their March Out day as requests on the day will not be considered.

All soldiers will have the opportunity to apply for leave on the Saturday, the day after the March Out Parade, which will present a further opportunity for families to spend quality time together prior to the soldier’s return to Blamey Barracks, Kapooka. Soldiers are required to return to Kapooka after local leave in order to complete preparations for travel to their respective Corps training schools. Soldiers will not be permitted to take leave on the Sunday after the March Out Parade as this time is needed to prepare for departing Kapooka on the Monday.

Army Reserve Movements

Reserve recruits will not be permitted to amend their pre-arranged movement details once at the 1st Recruit Training Battalion.  Recruits wishing to travel to their home locations with their family, on the day after the March Out parade, are required to coordinate and seek approval from their parent unit prior to arrival at Kapooka. Reserve members will not be permitted to depart Kapooka to return home before 8:30 am on the morning after the parade. Changes to pre-arranged movements will only occur for unforeseen compassionate and/or operational requirements.

Soldiers’ Chapel

On the Sunday after the March Out, family and friends are invited to attend church services which are held at the Soldiers’ Chapel. Depending on pastoral staff availability various denominations are catered for. Church services begin at 9:00 am and all visitors wishing to attend are required to arrive at the Kapooka front gate by 8:30 am to be transported to the Soldiers’ Chapel. Visitors wishing to attend will need to make their recruit aware prior to the day so that sufficient transport can be arranged. On arrival at the front gate, visitors will be provided with a security brief by duty staff prior to being transported to the Soldiers’ Chapel.

Kapooka Historical Collection

The Kapooka Historical Collection is situated opposite the Edmondson VC Club. Visitors are welcome to take the opportunity to visit the museum and discover Kapooka’s rich military history.

Special needs

Visitors intending to come to the March Out Parade with special needs are requested to detail their specific requirements to the 1st Recruit Training Battalion in a reply to your formal invitation; refer to invitation for contact details.

March Out Parade Cancellations/Postponement

For a number of reasons, such as sustaining an injury, recruits may be delayed or may not complete recruit training. In these circumstances, they will be unable to March Out with their original Platoon. These eventualities can not be prevented and may occur at short notice.

Visitors are strongly encouraged to purchase deferrable and/or refundable travel tickets and accommodation bookings; to take out travel insurance; or to make other suitable arrangements to protect against loss or expense arising from such eventualities.

Whilst every effort is made to notify visitors as soon as possible, the Commonwealth is not responsible and accepts no liability for any loss suffered or expense incurred arising from such eventualities.

Contact information for all March Out enquiries can be made by telephoning (02) 6933 8200 or online at www.army.gov.au/artc/contacts_recruit.cfm