WO1 Stonebridge said helping to develop the next generation of soldiers and building the relationship between the barracks and the town was a rewarding occupation. 

This year 1080 soldiers are being put through their recruitment training, an increase of 300 from the previous enrollment and that doesn't include another 500 who are going for promotion courses. 

"Singleton is a great location and what's pleasing to see are soldiers bringing their families with them which doesn't always happen at other posts in Australia," he said. 

He has been the RSM at Hobart, Launceston and Townsville and said that the connection between the town and the camp here is the strongest he has seen. 

WO1 Stonebridge's spent the last week coordinating the dawn service and said it was great to meet everyone from the community involved. 

"It's good to have a yarn with the veterans, they see your uniform and start talking about stories from their time, nothing serious normally just the larrkin side of things, like when they got up to mischief," he said. 

Despite his father's short time in the navy WO1 Stonebridge doesn't have a major military background  but his school mates still tell him he showed a desire to serve from a young age. 

WO1 Stonebridge couldn't see himself anywhere else other than in thearmy and couldn't wait to sign up in 1981 as a 17-year-old and had to get his parents to sign off on the forms to start his 33 year career. 

His career in the military has seen him posted all over Australia and notably overseas in East Timor for peace keeping and latterly New Zealand. 

"When I entered the military the recruit training was done by ex-Vietnam and Korean War veterans and they demanded the highest levels," he said.

"If you didn't achieve those levels you were punished accordingly."

Over the years WO1 Stonebridge has seen the army advance technologically and professionally. 

"It's gone from the Dark Ages to the Computer Age, when I did my basic training we were still using equipment from the WWII era, everything is first class now and night vision means that training at night is a normal occurrence," he said. 

Safety has had big changes as well during his training he took part in the 3RAR paratrooper training that saw soldiers doing aeroplane jumps day and night on repeat.

"We were jumping more than three or four times a day with all our equipment on sometimes with 30 to 40 battalions (900 soldiers) alongside us," he said.  

"That kind of practice is gone now." 

WO1 Stonebridge said he has had a great career in the military and it’s a brilliant organisation. 

"A military career has its ups and downs, I met all my best mates in the army but it can be disruptive when it comes to family life," he said. 

"However with a small army you have to be posted elsewhere it helps you grow as a soldier. 

"Joining was the best decision I made and I plan to stay in the army till I retire."