Our People in QLD
Josh Hickling - Missing Aussie tucker
Cairns soldier Josh Hickling says he made the right choice when he changed his mind about his career.
Josh, now 19, is currently serving as an infantry rifleman with the International Stabilisation Force in East Timor, which is assisting the East Timorese and UN maintain stability and security in the country.
He a gunner in his section of eight men and patrolling the streets and jungles is a far cry from his life as a chef.
“I was an apprentice chef for a short while after school, but realised it wasn’t for me,”” Josh said. “After a lot of thinking, I decided who I wanted to be, where I wanted to go, and what I wanted to do, and the Army felt like the right choice.”
He has found his responsibility has increased since his deployment to East Timor.
“I have a lot more responsibility, not only to myself, but to my section and platoon. Each man is a link in a chain. If something happens to one link, the whole chain falls apart,” he said.
Just being in the Army is a highlight for Josh, who is excited that he’s getting a chance to live life to the fullest.
“It is great being in a different country and seeing and experiencing a whole new lifestyle as it is,” he said.
“East Timor is even hotter than Cairns, and the culture is totally different, and it has been interesting to watch everything that goes on here.”
Josh says he’s missing his mum, his cat and dog, and his car.
“I also miss being able to eat all my favourite foods, so I’m planning on doing a lot of eating and relaxing when I get home,” he said.
Josh is one 650 Australian Defence Force personnel now serving in East Timor with Operation Astute.
The operation is part of the Australian Government's response to a request from the Government of East Timor to assist in bringing stability, security and confidence to the Timorese.