Major Peter Thomas, formerly Operations Officer at 1 RTB and Officer Commanding/Music Director of the Australian Army Band Kapooka was recently farewelled from the Army after a career spanning 36 years. Peter remembers vividly his first visit to Kapooka as a recruit in 1982, especially jumping through a layer of ice into the dam as part of The Challenge in June 1982, and believes that it helped set him up for a long and rewarding career. Although he can list many specific career highlights including performing for, and meeting many heads of state, and leading the musical contribution to the Lone Pine (Gallipoli) commemorations in 2015, Peter is particularly proud of his contribution to recruit training, calculating that he has performed at over 450 march out parades spanning the 16 years in total he has been posted here. Peter and his wife Lisa are remaining in Wagga.