144 Gunnery is a testing and challenging job and to ex Gun Number Isabelle Close she looks fondly at the times she’d spent in the 103rd, notably when you were so exhausted that you and the detachment would laugh at just about anything. She became inspired to join after a life event had broken a lot of her own self confidence and sought the military experience to re-establish her foundations again. She wasn’t one to shy away from the physical element of gunnery despite her small frame and her famously positive attitude sustained the people around her. In pursuit of her lifelong dream of being a Paramedic she was able to use her experience in the battery as a spring board to propel herself in the right direction. Artillery is heavily regimented and at times is resistant to change, which made Gunner Close’s experience joining all the more intimidating and the prospect of stepping into a male dominated field made her hesitant. After doing some research and seeing a fire mission online with all the energy, drive and motivation of the gunners she became inspired. At first glance Gunner Close is small and wiry and so it was important to her on her posting to Darwin that she proved she was just as capable as everyone else and shared the same reasons for showing up to work every day. The RAA has an old fashioned way of doing things and the relevance of its methods in today’s army is questionable. Its culture is not without flaws and unfortunately for members like GNR Close it is at times hostile and unwelcoming. GNR Close urges women interested in Defence to make sure the role they’re researching is a good fit, because she feels if she had joined another role she very well could still be serving. Gunners don’t always leave because of the physical nature.
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