The decision was instrumental in determining his future .

As he will tell you, he was a little directionless when he was at school.

So, at age 16, he joined the navy as an apprentice aircraft electrician and 24 years on he’s seen the world - or parts of it - the Gulf and Hawaii - and was part of the rescue efforts during the ill-fated Sydney to Hobart race in 1998, plus he’s earned a degree.

Today - or Friday - the naval lieutenant will march alongside his colleagues from the Aviation Maintenance Standards division of the RAN's Fleet Air Arm in local Anzac Day services this Friday.

While Lieutentant Miles will travel from Canberra for the occasion, the remaining naval detachment is travelling from HMAS Albatross - home of the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Air Arm - in Nowra.

They will provide a platoon in support of the dawn service, Anzac Day march and commemorations in Young and also support the march and service in Murringo.

Officer in Charge of the Detachment Commander Cliff Kyle will deliver an address to the members of the Young RSL Sub Branch on completion of the Anzac Day luncheon and the platoon have a memento which they will present to the RSL.

Lieutentant Miles’s connection to Young didn’t stop with Young High School - he also married a local girl. Deb Arthur was also a member of the school’s cadet corps. Back then they were friends but eventually the two married.

Now based at Fairbairn in Canberra and working as a maintenance human factors specialist for the entire defence force Lieutenant Miles said he loves returning home for Anzac Day.

“The welcome we get from the community is fantastic and the hospitality shown - well let’s just say that the same unit returns to Young each year because they feel so welcome. It’s become sort of a tradition,” he said.