Two RPS project managers appointed to Australian Army

RPS is excited to announce its first two employees who will join the Army for 12 months of full-time service, as part of an agreement signed between RPS and the Australian Defence Force late last year.

The Memorandum of Understanding enables the Army to work with Australian industry partners to undertake priority projects and support Defence with specialist skills.

RPS project managers (and trained civil engineers) Eric Doekes and Ben Ellis-MacMahon will join the Army’s 12th and 19th Chief Engineer Works units in 2024 to boost civil engineering capabilities, while offering a career development opportunity.

Eric, who works in RPS’ Brisbane office, said he is honoured to have been given this opportunity. “I’ve always been interested in the Army. In fact, I applied for university Defence sponsorship more than a decade ago - so, in some ways, it has come full circle.

“I think this arrangement offers many advantages over and above simply being seconded to a role. Undergoing training and serving as part of a unit will be a great experience as well as broaden my skillset.”

Ben, a project manager in our Sydney office, says the appointment is a unique opportunity. “It will be a change of pace – a mix of training that will not necessarily be related to my current career but rather fundamental military training as well as the basics of combat engineering.

“There may be an opportunity to be deployed to either Fiji or Vanuatu during my 12-month service, and hopefully the chance work on projects in central Australia too.”

Eric and Ben will begin their Specialist Service Officer First Appointment Course and Regimental Officers Basic Course training over the coming months and will start full-time service in January 2024.

RPS offers exciting career development opportunities for its employees across a range of sectors and services. If you're interested in joining RPS, please click here for current openings.