[Julian Knight continues…]
‘Leaps & Jumps’
“On one evening shortly after the Lanyard Parade the 3rd Class cadets in Kokoda Company were ordered to report to the hall in the middle of the second storey of barracks. When they arrived they found all the senior cadets assembled and dressed in various costumes and comical dress. One 2nd Class cadet, Staff Cadet Brett FITZPATRICK (CSC No 5170), was wearing shorts with a Luftwaffe jacket and peaked cap.
[It was observed that Duntroon senior cadets displayed an overt interest in NAZI memorabilia, authoritarianism and mannerisms. The Duntroon officer cadet peaked cap was moulded by a number of senior cadets to emulate the Nazi peaked cap – to be used a tool of authority and intimidation. Duntroon Command turned a blind eye.]
Another senior cadet was dressed in a complete Ninja outfit. Major VERCOE and Sergeant JORGENSON were present as was Kokoda Company’s Staff Cadet Under Officer (CSM) Philip ‘Mongo’ REED (CSC No 4592), who informed the junior cadets that they were going to play ‘Leaps and Jumps’ and that it was all (supposedly) in fun.
[Kokoda 1st Class Cadet Philip Reed preferred to go by the nickname ‘Mongo’ after the horse-punching hoon character in the Hollywood Comedy Western Movie ‘Blazing Saddles’ of 1974. But in his Duntroon role as Kokoda Company Sergeant Major, he insisted that junior 3rd Class cadets had to instead address him as ‘Sir’ and to immediately stand to attention when confronting him. He was a narcissistic bully of the first order].
‘Jumps and Leaps’ [Duntroon slang] referred to an (enforced) exercise where those participating were required to change into a specific form of military dress and return to the assembly area within a specified time (typically two minutes). The person directing the exercise nominated the form of dress and the time required in which to change.
For example:
“Go back to your room, change into Battledress and be back here in 2 minutes… Go!”
The Kokoda Company cadets performed the ‘Jumps and Leaps’ exercise for around 40 minutes.
While the 3rd Class cadets ran to and from their rooms the senior cadets delayed and obstructed them using such tactics as using water pistols, blocking the hallways or stopping cadets to ask them ridiculous questions. Although the exercise was taken in fun by all involved there were a few senior cadets who used “Leaps” as an opportunity to “rough-up the Fourthies” (‘Fourthies’ is a term for junior cadets carried over from when Duntroon was a 4-year course – fourth year cadets were the freshmen and so the most junior of the four year course).
Selected junior cadets were pushed into walls, tripped, and pushed or thrown heavily to the floor. During one “Leap” Staff Cadet Corporal William YATES (CSC No 5148), a tall 20-year-old 1st Class cadet, grabbed me as I ran past and punched me hard twice in the stomach. I have boxed in prison and sparred with heavyweight boxers. I know the difference between a playful tap and a serious punch. YATES’ punches were delivered with full force.
[Knight maintaining his fighting discipline in more recent years]
Major VERCOE and Sergeant JORGENSON remained in the hall during the “Leaps”, so they were unable to observe or control these hallway incidents.
[It was part of the official Duntroon trivial emphasis on uniform and kit presentation instead of field soldiering].
[SOURCE: The above is an extract in a series of Julian KNIGHT’s records as part of his 97-page ‘Personal Account’ of his 6-month relentless persecution at RMC Duntroon submitted to the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce dated 26 November 2013, pp. 8-14, pp. 14-15].