Significantly, no one had died. This country has been blessed with a long period of peace, but ironically that has reduced opportunities for promotion based on vacancies caused by war. Australia has about 95 colonels and 33 brigadiers. Fifteen of the class of 1971 have made colonel, though several have left the army, and from this year three will have got to brigadier. All of the class served for at least a decade, but by the end of last year almost 80 per cent had left, often for senior positions with corporations, local or state governments, and the public service.
Industry values the skills a senior officer acquires.
Certainly the class has kept in touch, and it was obvious from the volume and tone of the conversation at the reunion dinner that many close friendships have continued. Coulthard-Clark noted that the opening of the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1986 meant an end to the Royal Military College as we cadets knew it. From 1986, navy, air force and army staff have obtained degrees at the ADFA before being posted to a single-service institution for military training. Army cadets go to Duntroon for 12 months. Serving soldiers chosen to become officers attend for 18 months.