Tucked in behind the Snakepit basketball stadium in Gwyneville is the Wollongong Depot, home to Bravo Company, Wollongong’s army reserve unit.

Private Chris Goldstein is one of the unit’s members, having joined the reserves in 2008 with his best mate.

“We thought it would be a better part-time job than working at Macca’s or KFC,” he said.

That judgment could not have been truer, for him at least. He found a job that he loves, and one that suits him down to the ground.

Pte Goldstein now couples his reservist activities with his studies towards a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Wollongong. And when he puts down the Steyr rifle and swaps the infantry for books, he studies nursing.

That combination of nurturing and caring might appear to clash with the hardness and violence of training as a soldier. But for Pte Goldstein the points of difference are exactly what he likes.

“I find for me, I like to separate the two because it gives me a break from the civilian world,” he said. “It really gives me a shakeup and keeps things interesting.”

Bravo Company is always looking for recruits, and Pte Goldstein said they should be “strong willed, willing to challenge themselves, and reasonably physically fit”.

“It takes a pretty motivated person, but someone who’s adventurous and is looking for a change from the daily grind of life,” he said.

Bravo Company’s Warrant Officer Mark Bransdon said the equipment and training for reservists was increasing their opportunities for interesting work.

“These days the big thing is capability,” he said. “The reserves, their level of training is now in line with the regular reg [regular] soldiers.

“It’s an interesting time for reservists. They’re getting a lot more equipment. 

“This enables them to go away on major exercises and they fit right in with the regular soldiers in these activities.”

Events will include infantry weapons demonstrations, chainsaw and rock breaking displays, a grenade demonstration, fitness displays and signals demonstrations. There will be face painting and a jumping castle for kids.

The open day is on Saturday from 10am-2pm at 91 Gipps St Gwynneville,