What happens when elite netballers step off the court and into the hands of the Air Force's toughest trainers? At RAAF Base Amberley, the answer was a compelling lesson in resilience, teamwork and leadership under pressure.
In the lead-up to the 2026 season, the Queensland Firebirds took part in a training experience hosted by Royal Australian Air Force physical training instructors (PTIs).
Held at the RAAF Base Amberley physical training facility, the program pushed athletes physically and psychologically, highlighting the common ground between high‑performance sport and military training.
Firebirds sports psychologist Rachel Jones said the crossover was immediately evident.
"Ultimately, we're dealing with high-performing humans who want to push their comfort zones and are doing extraordinary things," she said.
"While the outcomes look really different, the similarities are resilience and the ability to sustainably push through physical, mental and emotional stress."
PTI Corporal Timothy Christian designed the program to test the Firebirds' core values - connection, grit, relentlessness and professionalism - under pressure.
"The water obstacle course is a demanding environment designed to simulate obstacles encountered in operational settings," he said.
"By confronting heights and uncertainty, the athletes were forced to drown out self-doubt and rely on the voices of their teammates."
Before the players took on the elevated structures, PTI Flight Sergeant Zachary Studders posed a direct challenge to the group: "What is the minimum standard you are willing to accept as a team?"
For Firebirds player Macy Gardner, the message landed.
'Teams that choose to do hard things together become teams that are hard to beat.'
"What stood out to me was that striving for excellence requires raising the bar on our own standards," she said.
"The team standards are there to push you and challenge you to be better."
Ms Gardner said the training highlighted the importance of communication and leadership, recalling a moment when two teammates progressed further and higher along the obstacle course than they had on their first attempt.
Flight Sergeant Studders would not allow the team to settle for less than the standard they had set. Challenging them to turn words into action, he set one final task.
Working together, the Firebirds rallied to help their teammates conquer their fears.
The group erupted with excitement as their teammates took their final steps, reaching the target row of the cargo net and crossing the plank.
"Even under pressure and time constraints, they achieved the objective through the support and actions of those who went before them," Ms Gardner said.
"The edge these activities gave us was seeing real examples of behaviours that lead to success, rather than just hearing words of encouragement.
"It reinforced the importance of giving direct, constructive feedback, supporting one another and stepping forward into challenges more effectively."
With the Suncorp Super Netball season only weeks away, Firebirds head coach Kiri Wills said the opportunity for reflection was invaluable.
"The PTIs' feedback was like having a mirror held up to ourselves," she said.
"It showed us exactly where we are as a group and what we need to do to become a force in the competition."
The experience reinforced that whether on the netball court or on base, success is built on shared values and a unified identity.
As the Firebirds return to the court, the lesson remains clear - elite performance is forged under pressure. It echoes Flight Sergeant Studders' insight: "Teams that choose to do hard things together become teams that are hard to beat."
