MEET THE TEAM

At The Barracks Gym, we focus on offering our clients the very best pre-military, police and fire fighter coaching and mentoring. We understand the pressures that come with the enlistment process and the fitness assessment, which is why we are so well equipped to help guide you through it. We know what it takes to build the fitness level and strength required to pass each and every test thrown at you.

Michael cross

​FOUNDING DIRECTOR & HEAD COACH

Michael Cross founded The Barracks Gym in 2016. Michael joined the Australian Army in 2002 at the age of 18. His first role was Ground Based Air Defence in the Royal Australian Artillery Corp. He also served as a Rifleman and then finished his Army career flying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s/Drones).

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Michael served on two operational deployments during his time in the Army. The first was to East Timor, as a Section Commander  in an Infantry Platoon, where he was in charge of 8 soldiers as part of a multi national force conducting peace-keeping operations. His second tour was to Afghanistan where he was a UAV Mission Commander in charge of a detachment of troops flying UAV’s supporting combat operations against the Taliban insurgency. Michael was promoted to the rank of Bombardier and later decided to discharge in 2015 to go travelling. It was during his travels that he created the idea for The Barracks Gym and bought it to life upon returning to Australia.

As the Head Coach of The Barracks Gym, it is through his extremely relevant training methods and direct approach that Michael has seen success in over 1000 ADF & Police applicants. Michael will not cuddle you through your enlistment process and he will only give you a compliment on your efforts if it’s well deserved. Do the work and earn your place!

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carly box

DIRECTOR - LEAD MENTOR & HEAD OF MARKETING
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Carly joined the Australian Army in 2006 as an Army Reservist. She later transferred to Full Time Army where she became an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator (UAV’s/Drones) in the Royal Australian Artillery Corp.

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Carly was the first female to enlist into a Combat Corp in the Australian Military and saw out the remainder of her career working in this male dominated environment.

Carly served on two operational deployments during her time in the Army. The first tour was to Afghanistan where she was a Scan Eagle UAV Operator supporting combat operations against the Taliban insurgency. Her second tour was also to Afghanistan where she was a Shadow 200 UAV Mission Commander in charge of airspace management, crew management, mission success and delivery of required Intel products. Carly was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and discharged in 2015 to travel with Michael. 

Carly is passionate about ensuring females are physically and mentally well prepared to succeed in the Military. She won’t hesitate to give you a reality check if you’re giving a half assed effort in training. Carly is committed to developing a strong Military mindset in all female applicants to ensure they have fulfilling and long lasting careers. Respect isn’t handed to you, you have to earn it.

robbie weir

LEAD COACH & SPORTS NUTRITIONIST

Robbie served in the Australian Army as an Artillery observer for 4 years. Unfortunately Robbie was discharged on medical grounds after experiencing Bilateral compartment syndrome and a broken wrist that after giving him long term trouble was deemed irreparable. ​

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Having always been passionate about health and fitness, Robbie  decided to launch a new career in the fitness industry. He went on to complete his Certificate III & IV in Fitness, Masters in Personal Training and after 6 months working in his role as a PT, extended his passion for Nutrition into a Certificate in Applied Sports Nutrition. 

3 years after being discharged from the Army, Robbie is now working for The Barracks Gym and couldn't be happier. He combines his extensive coaching knowledge and Military experience with his passion for nutrition in his role at The Barracks Gym. He works with ADF & Police applicants who require help obtaining the required BMI through his Nutrition Consulting service.

Robbie believes that The Barracks Gym will mentally and physically prepare you to handle any obstacles that you will encounter during your application and after enlistment. He is honoured to pass on his skills, knowledge and experience to applicants in the hope to provide a high level of guidance, inspiration and support as you work towards serving in the ADF or Police.

josh heinrich

​COACH & SWIMMING SPECIALIST

Josh was in the Royal Australian Navy for 2 and half years as a Direct Entry Clearance Diver. Josh completed Basic Recruit Training at Cerberus and Basic Seamanship Training before completing Clearance Diver Acceptance Test (CDAT). After successful completion of this course he started the Clearance Diver Course. ​

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It was during this course that Josh was unfortunately involved in a diving accident that resulted in him being medically discharged from the Navy. 

Josh knows first hand that the Military isn't your average work environment and that everyone who embarks on this journey should be prepared for anything at any time. Being adaptable is crucial in a Military and Policing environment. Josh knows first hand that having a good understanding of the training you're going to encounter after enlistment will put your mind and body one step ahead of everyone else. 

Josh is passionate about instilling a positive mindset in all applicants at The Barracks Gym. He believes that by removing a negative mindset where you convince yourself that you can't do something, that you can't lift a few extra kilos or run that little bit faster, you will be capable of so much more than you ever realised. Having a positive mindset allows you to give so much more to your training, despite any adversities, and ensures you never give up.

Josh believes that the Military is so different from any other work place and that it brings such a unique opportunity to every ADF & Police applicant. The Military will give you as much or as little as you want from it. Go into it with an open mind. He wants you all to take it with both hands and enjoy every opportunity that is offered to you and more. 

chrystal nesbitt

COACH & YOGA INSTRUCTOR

Chrystal was in the British Army for 7.5 years, initially joining as a Combat Human Resource Specialist (CHRS) in the AGC (Staff & Personnel Support) and later specialising as a Physical Training Instructor (PTI).

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She served for numerous international exercises and deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 where she was attached to a Field Hospital Unit. Upon return home and subsequent promotion she served with the Queens Household Cavalry Regiment gaining further promotion before voluntarily discharging in 2018. 

Chrystal has a firm belief that the training provided within the Military can often be to an adequate fitness standard. She is committed to ensuring that serving members continuously strive to reach well above the bare minimum standard in order to be an effective asset in the Military.  To succeed in your career and to be noticed for the right reasons, nothing is more fundamental than physical robustness. You NEVER want to hear: ‘I wouldn’t want to be in a fire fight with…..’

She believes that you should add value to a team instead of being a liability. As a female in the Military, Chrystal often found herself subject to a higher level of scrutiny of her fitness backed by a prejudice that ‘Girls aren’t as fit/fast/strong’, this is ultimately what pushed her to exceed expectations and undergo PTI training, where she was 1 of 2 females. 

Chrystal’s instructional speciality is running, interval training, high intensity training and generally high energy high movement classes. On the flip side to this, she is also a qualified advance Yoga instructor (RYT500) and believes that people should practice listening to their bodies as prehab instead of injuring themselves and panic rehabbing. Chrystal uses both the yin and yang of her coaching and instructional abilities at The Barracks Gym where she works as a strength & running coach as well as our resident Yoga instructor. 
 
Her message to the next generation of applicants is this:
Don’t let your mind get in the way of what your body is capable of doing. Push yourself that extra 10% always and know that you can be happy with your own performance, because one day someone might be depending on you.  If your mind can believe it, reality can conceive it!  

HOW CAN THE BARRACKS GYM HELP YOU? 

The Directors and Coaches at The Barracks Gym have a solid understanding of the application process, having gone through the same process themselves at various points over the last 2 decades. As well as the Military application process, the entire coaching team is familiar with the specifics of all Policing and Fire Fighter application requirements. As a team, we have an appreciation for the difficulties faced by all applicants across the various physical fitness tests and how you can overcome these in order to obtain your dream job. 

If you're in need of some help improve your push-ups and your beep test... our team is here to help you out! Click here to see our training.

The Barracks Gym team have experienced first hand what you're going through and they firmly believe they have found the solution.

We are dedicated to help you to achieve your dreams.

Seeing clients reach their full potential and go down a career path that they are passionate about fills the team with pride. See just a handful of our successful applicants here

CHECK OUT OUR GYM IN BRISBANE.

Every one of our coaches is ex or current serving military and are also fully qualified in sports performance coaching, which allows us to offer some of the most relevant and most effective training methods in the world for building fitness and stamina that will carry you through your preliminary military, police or fire fighter fitness tests. We also have qualified Sports Nutritionists for those who need help with their BMI.

We are the only facility in Australia that offers the experience, knowledge and training programs that we offer. We have members travelling from all over Australia to experience our training methods. Your dream job is within your grasp.​

TRAIN WITH US

WE WANT TO HELP YOU GET INTO THE ADF OR POLICE!

Have you always wanted to be part of the Australia Defence Force, Police or Fire and Emergency Service but you feel you are not physically prepared enough yet? If you need expert help to face the pre-entry fitness assessment with confidence in your abilities, don't hesitate to get in touch today and find out how our team can help you.

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