The familiar scene of a red and white tracksuit-clad figure running the boots off a platoon of soldiers has changed forever with the roll-out of new physical training instructor uniforms.
Red and white uniforms that haunted the dreams of many recruits were replaced with updated athletic designs, marking the first refresh in more than 30 years.
The current outfit had been in service since 1994, when it replaced the sleeveless muscle-shirt, and was starting to show its age when compared to modern athletic clothing.
New garments include cold and wet weather clothing, lightweight long- and short-sleeve activity wear and polo shirts for the office.
According to Corporal Reanne Sloane, a physical training instructor (PTI) at the School of Armour in Puckapunyal, the step up in quality and range was a game changer.
"The new dress shirts are quite thick and feel like a nice material, and the activity shirts, which we wear for PT, are a dry-fit material, which fits the body a lot better than the current uniform," she said.
"It's also nice to have options on what you want to wear depending on the weather, especially here in Puckapunyal. It's freezing in winter, so having three different jackets is great."
'PTIs are known for the red and white, but times change and everything modernises.'
Previous uniforms were general purpose rather than sports specific, so the new garments use materials with better moisture wicking, increased range of movement and improved temperature control.
It will also have a broad-brim hat, baseball cap, lightweight running cap and compression garments.
For Corporal Sloane, one of the most anticipated changes is the inclusion of female-specific clothing cuts.
"With the current PTI uniform, a lot of it was male sizing and not shaped for our bodies, so you're often adjusting the uniform or having to go get it tailored out of your own pocket," she said.
"It's nice to be getting into female-specific clothing that actually fits everywhere nicely. It makes it more comfortable to wear."
The iconic Army red shorts have been replaced with more practical black shorts in common with the other services, but PTIs will still be identifiably Army by their new red shirts.
Corporal Sloane was among the last cohort to receive the current uniform, and said while there is excitement for the new gear, it was tinged with some sadness.
"PTIs are known for the red and white, but times change and everything modernises. It's a positive change for the uniform. They feel great and we'll get used to it," she said.
"Ninety-nine per cent of PTIs that are in these days have always had this uniform, so it's just saying goodbye to what they've always known and the history behind the uniform."
