The Platoon, compromising of 40 soldiers, took part in the march out at Singleton Infantry Centre marking the end of 26-weeks of training at Kapooka and Singleton.

The march out signifies a pivotal moment for the soldiers who now begin their careers with battalions of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps.

Proud family members and friends watched as the soldiers were presented with their Skippy badge before catching up with their proud soldiers who they haven’t seen for three months.

The emotional reunion was brief. The soldiers will spend a couple of days with their loved ones before taking their posts with battalions across Australia.

The soldiers can expect to be deployed overseas in the next six to 12-months

Seventeen-year-old Private Michael Paulger was among the soldiers to take part in Wednesday’s march out.

One of the platoon’s youngest soldiers Pte Paulger shared the special occasion with his family including mum Wendy, dad Robert and older sister Kaylea who travelled from the Sunshine Coast for the march out.

For those families and friends present the march out brought upon a mix of emotions.

“We are very proud,” said Pte Paulger’s mother, Wendy.

“It took a bit getting straight in my head,” she said referring to her son’s decision to join the Army.

“But it is something he wants to do and something he has always wanted to do and that’s more important then what I think,” she said.

The camera was poised when Pte Paulger accepted the hotly contested skill at arms award, making the march out that extra bit special.

The skill at arms is an award made to the soldier who achieves the highest level with the assault rifle and the light support weapon.

“Marching out, I’m normally straight faced but I couldn’t stop smiling,” Pte Paulger said after receiving news he would be given the award.

Joining the Paulger family at the march out were the Pickford family from Ballarat who attended the march out to watch their son and brother, Pte Joshua Pickford, graduate.

“We are very proud,” said mum, Kelly speaking to The Singleton Argus.

“It’s wonderful to see them again but it’s also very sad because we won’t see him (Joshua) for another six months,” she said.

Families spent the day at the Singleton School of Infantry watching demonstrations in urban operations and military self defence, activities their loved ones completed while in training. They also visited the Singleton Infantry Museum.