19 April 2022
Growing up in Moonta Bay, South Australia, Private Jaimi Tabb always dreamt of joining the Australian Army, but it wasn’t until she completed high school at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that she decided to take the first step in her Army career.
“I wanted to join the Army for a long time, but the isolation of COVID-19 really pushed me to pursue that career,” Private Tabb said.
“I thought to myself, I’m sitting at home, so why not?”
Private Tabb enlisted into the Australian Army in 2020 as a driver specialist, and after her initial training was posted to the 1st Combat Service Support Battalion (1 CSSB) in Adelaide.
“I love the day to day work of my job as a driver, you never know what will happen or where you go,” Private Tabb said.
Since posting to 1 CSSB, Private Tabb has also deployed on Operation COVID-19 Assist in Melbourne and Adelaide.
Private Tabb has been deployed on Operation Flood Assist 2022 for more than a month helping clean out schools and houses around Broadview, Woodvale and Lismore in northern NSW.
“Operation Flood Assist was an unreal experience,” Private Tabb said.
“It’s very heartbreaking considering we are cleaning out people’s lives.
“It makes you appreciate the little things in life, especially your family and friends.”
