The hills were alive with the sound of gunfire out Majura way yesterday as Duntroons latest intake of staff cadets were allowed to "live fire" their newly issued Austeyr assault rifles for the first time.
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It wasn't a novel experience for everyone, however.
Former Duntroon staff sergeant and instructor, Dan Lawrence, had done it all before.
So had former lieutenant Samantha Palmer, an army school teacher, who wants to play a more active role in the army.
Her former rank was the product of a five-week special service officer course that limited her career to the education branch.
Duntroon's mid-year intake, which began studies on July 12, traditionally has a much higher proportion of serving army members than the Australian Defence Force Academy-dominated group that comes in at the beginning of the year.
Past knowledge and experience, however, counts for little.
All cadets have to complete the same training regime; even ones such as staff cadet Lawrence, who until recently were themselves running courses.
The 104 members of the newest Royal Military College third class are spending 12 full-on days at the Majura Training Area north of the Canberra airport.
As well as learning how to shoot the Austeyr F88, the weapon all cadets are issued with for the duration of their 18-month course, they are being trained on the F89 Minimi machine gun and the Browning service pistol.
Cadets will also qualify on other deadly pieces of kit, including the F1 hand grenade, the 40mm grenade launcher that attaches to the Austeyr, and a light anti-tank weapon.
Training is done in full combat kit with the exception of body armour.
Major James Jones, the senior instructor for the third class, said it was the first time some members of the group had handled a loaded weapon.
Cadet Lawrence, the instructor turned student, said while much of the weapons training was familiar territory, he still enjoyed the experience.
"I am enjoying the range work," he said. "I'm doing more shooting this week than I have in the last 10 years. When I was an instructor, you didnt get the opportunity to shoot."
He was pleased with his shooting yesterday but, surprisingly, did not expect to emerge as the best shot in the class.
Range shooting, although fun, is not cheap when using automatic weapons.
While Duntroon's instructors couldn't disclose the cost paid for ammunition, the price of equivalent bullets on the civilian market comes to about 66c a round.
Costs are kept down by recycling cartridges at ranges such as Majura.