Carl Murkun

I enlisted in 2020 when I was 30 years old. At 16, when I was at school I was really eager to join, but they told me I had to wait until I was 18. Two years seems such a long time at that age, so at 17, I thought maybe I should join the Police Force. They gave me an application form, but they told me I had to be 18 too. I wasn’t going to be 18 for another nine months and that also seemed a long time to wait. I was impatient and didn’t finish school. I ended up on drugs and drinking alcohol. I am happy to talk about this because now my life has changed and I want to show others, especially those using drugs or alcohol, that even after 10 years, things can change for the better. I knew this was not my path. I could see my path, it was washed away a bit from the wind and water, but I still stayed on it. I realised drugs and alcohol were not good for me, I felt I was wasting my life. The Army washed all that away – but it’s funny that I still can’t stop smoking cigarettes!

When I saw myself in uniform, I changed as a person. I was happier and my family were proud to see me wearing my uniform. I started as a private and worked my way through the ranks. I remember my Sergeant, (now Warrant Officer) Riyakurray Munyarryun OAM, saying to me, “Stay on this path, I’ve been on this path for 35 years.” Along with Private James Gengi, they both put me back on my path and gave me a better future. I am always looking forward. I don’t move backwards or even look back. I am always learning and I wish to follow in their footsteps and continue up the ranks.