THE army is coming to town. So are the navy and the air force. And they are looking for women.

The ADF is coming to north Queensland on a recruiting drive for regional women. Army recruitment ambassador Captain Jessica Boyd explains why.

"Regional women make great army officers and soldiers," she said.

"They're not afraid of a hard day's work. They're robust. They look for a challenge, not just a physical challenge but a mental challenge. And they want to be the best at their role."

Captain Boyd was studying at James Cook University in Townsville nine years ago when she joined up.

"I was walking through the refectory on my way to class one day, the recruiting stand had set up there and I haven't looked back since."

She gave her top three reasons for women to join the services:

"First, the equality and choice. There's no pay gap for us and no career gap.

"Secondly, the benefits of service and the family you get. You get looked after better than most organisations whether it be your pay, free medical, it's second to none.

"The third one would be the mateship and experience. There's not a day that I regret being in service and I look forward to many more years in service."

Captain Boyd shared her most embarrassing moment. "I was in a section attack and we had holed up, planning how we were going to conduct this attack. We were ready to go, started the attack, we were on our guts and all of a sudden my legs felt like they were on fire.

"Turns out I had ants in my pants and I tried to pat my legs down to get these ants out and nothing was happening and it was burning to the point where I just tried to take my pants off in the middle of this section attack.

"And when you've got boots on of course you can't take your pants off, so my pants were stuck around my ankles while everyone was firing their weapons and moving and everything came to a head. Me standing there with my white legs, covered in ants - it was glorious." The ADF recruitment team will visit Proserpine State High School and Whitsudnay Christian College next Wednesday, July 30. More information available on http://www.defencejobs.gov.au