Defence force choices

[jesse3.8]

Gday all

Am thinking about joining the defence force, what would be the way to go as in Army, Air force or Navy? Also what do you think the better options are? So far Ive looked at Driver transport, combat signaller and the plumber's apprenticeship - Is it better work wise to do plumbing in defense force? Please give your opinions on what type of jobs in the defense force you do/have done or what you would have done. It's a big decision to make, Cheers.

[Robbo_c]

Gday all

Am thinking about joining the defence force, what would be the way to go as in Army, Air force or Navy? Also what do you think the better options are? So far Ive looked at Driver transport, combat signaller and the plumber's apprenticeship - Is it better work wise to do plumbing in defense force? Please give your opinions on what type of jobs in the defense force you do/have done or what you would have done. It's a big decision to make, Cheers.

Hi, I'm not in the defence force but I have my asessment day on thursday, I've heard that the plumbing is hard to get into and they only take a few people every year.It really depends on what you want to get out of it and if you want qualifications after you leave.Btw Im applying for rifleman full time.

[jesse3.8]

yes i will be applying fulltime also, is there a reason why you went rifleman?

[Robbo_c]

yes i will be applying fulltime also, is there a reason why you went rifleman?

Well I really wanted a job that is different.Every one was asking me why i was not going to do a trade and it is because i can do a trade in the civilian world.I want a unique job and i think rifleman will challenge me physically and mentally.Also i have heard that infantry is the job to have.

[nemesis_adrasteia]

I made a similar thread not long ago might be worth a read, garth was very helpful in relation to most things navy there's quite a few adf members on here

[Kunu]

Well i went all out afew years ago and tried out for SF.Unfortunately age got the best of me at the time and i also took over full custody of my daughter so it wasn't an option anymore..so instead i went chocos and went in as a rifleman and LOVE it.This way i got the best of both worlds and didnt have to move my daughter around every xx amount of years.If ya looking at full-time i hear light cav is good, Depends at what you really want to get out of it all ( my seco at pooks will kill me for not saying tankie lol) He's still trying to convert me over hahaha.I know navy is looking for people as there numbers have been low of the past few years.Army is pretty full and has had abit of wait to get to pooks after all your initial testings, Air force has some good trades also...aircraft mechanic would be awesome.The options are endless ,just need to narrow down the field and choose from there.Mud crunchers are the way to go if you ask me!!!!!

[Kunu]

Hi, I'm not in the defence force but I have my asessment day on thursday, I've heard that the plumbing is hard to get into and they only take a few people every year.It really depends on what you want to get out of it and if you want qualifications after you leave.Btw Im applying for rifleman full time.

NICE work Robbo, don't let them coax you in another direction now hehehe.Good luck and god help ya when ya get to Club K

[Benjamin K]

Well from my initial testing I could apply for every single job in the army/airforce/navy....

Apparently I'm smart enough to fly there jets and helicopters

Was absolutely stoked, picked air craft mechanic as first choice and avionics technician as my secondary...

Then I got to my medical clearance... They wouldn't let me in because I'm allergic to shellfish.

So now I need to see an immunologist and go on a de-sensitisation course

So joining the defence force will be an expensive task, however I'm leaving it in the air for a few months and seeing how much I really want to do it before the immunologist starts poking and prodding me at my expense.

[Kunu]

Well from my initial testing I could apply for every single job in the army/airforce/navy....

Apparently I'm smart enough to fly there jets and helicopters

Was absolutely stoked, picked air craft mechanic as first choice and avionics technician as my secondary...

Then I got to my medical clearance... They wouldn't let me in because I'm allergic to shellfish.

So now I need to see an immunologist and go on a de-sensitisation course

So joining the defence force will be an expensive task, however I'm leaving it in the air for a few months and seeing how much I really want to do it before the immunologist starts poking and prodding me at my expense.

I was the same but was allergic to penicillan when younger.had to go through a scratch test and then a challenge test to see if still had allergies.But I guess i grew out of it over time, was so stoked lolol

[vlv8vic]

Well from my initial testing I could apply for every single job in the army/airforce/navy....

Apparently I'm smart enough to fly there jets and helicopters

It's their, not there - so i guess smart enough isn't so flash after all. I was the same though (apart from the not-so-smart-smart) i was right for anything when i looking to the air force years ago. Doubt i'd be any good now and almost glad i didn't tackle the jets like i wanted to, eyesight went bad over the last few years. I'd never be able to fly now.

[Garth]

Gday all

Am thinking about joining the defence force, what would be the way to go as in Army, Air force or Navy? Also what do you think the better options are? So far Ive looked at Driver transport, combat signaller and the plumber's apprenticeship - Is it better work wise to do plumbing in defense force? Please give your opinions on what type of jobs in the defense force you do/have done or what you would have done. It's a big decision to make, Cheers.

yes, it is a big decision to make.
once you pass your initial training, recruit school and category training. (category training being your chosen job path) you can expect to be in your chosen field for a minimum amount of time, some have a 6 yr time frame, some have a 4 yr time frame.

if you want a trade army or airforce is the way to go for a trade, navy has got trades, but the marine technician and electronic technician fields are only good if you wanna leave after 6 yrs and work with military engines and missile weapons systems. so you can pretty much scrap the navy.

when you do your interview with the defence recruiter, do some study on which service your going in. i.e. if your doing the airforce, study up on which base has the f1-11a, find out which has the operational fa/18, learn what a c130 is and atleast know what a pc3 orion is. all of these are on the net. find their bases, and learn their prefix. thats just for the airforce.

same goes with the army, learn where 3rar, 5 rar, is, learn what rar stands for, find out which corps is the armourd division, and atempt to learn the general entry ranks.

but before you go into the forces, you realy need to know what you want to be, because the defence recruiter will try his darndest to put you into a roll that has got a labour shortage. and once your in your role you cant change.

so to sum it up
trade wise, join the army or airforce.
travel part and seeing the world, join the navy.
that pretty much sums it up
if your a married man, family man or have a partner, you can kiss them good by if you join the navy, the navy isnt kind on partners, expect some long trips away, anywhere from 9 months of the year when on a fleet vessel

[minux]

Well i went all out afew years ago and tried out for SF.!

How exactly do you join SF straight off the streets? It took me 6 months of training to apply to go on the cadre, I was unaware people could join SASR without any military background? Perhaps you meant 4RAR who are commandos and hardly what any real person would call an SF unit.

Well from my initial testing I could apply for every single job in the army/airforce/navy....

Apparently I'm smart enough to fly there jets and helicopters

Was absolutely stoked, picked air craft mechanic as first choice and avionics technician as my secondary...

Then I got to my medical clearance... They wouldn't let me in because I'm allergic to shellfish.

So now I need to see an immunologist and go on a de-sensitisation course

So joining the defence force will be an expensive task, however I'm leaving it in the air for a few months and seeing how much I really want to do it before the immunologist starts poking and prodding me at my expense.

lol, we used to always laugh at people who claimed they could do anything in the defence force yet chose to do something much less. Fact is, if you could be a fast jet pilot, you would do it.

[minux]

yes, it is a big decision to make.
once you pass your initial training, recruit school and category training. (category training being your chosen job path) you can expect to be in your chosen field for a minimum amount of time, some have a 6 yr time frame, some have a 4 yr time frame.

if you want a trade army or airforce is the way to go for a trade, navy has got trades, but the marine technician and electronic technician fields are only good if you wanna leave after 6 yrs and work with military engines and missile weapons systems. so you can pretty much scrap the navy.

when you do your interview with the defence recruiter, do some study on which service your going in. i.e. if your doing the airforce, study up on which base has the f1-11a, find out which has the operational fa/18, learn what a c130 is and atleast know what a pc3 orion is. all of these are on the net. find their bases, and learn their prefix. thats just for the airforce.

same goes with the army, learn where 3rar, 5 rar, is, learn what rar stands for, find out which corps is the armourd division, and atempt to learn the general entry ranks.

but before you go into the forces, you realy need to know what you want to be, because the defence recruiter will try his darndest to put you into a roll that has got a labour shortage. and once your in your role you cant change.

so to sum it up
trade wise, join the army or airforce.
travel part and seeing the world, join the navy.
that pretty much sums it up
if your a married man, family man or have a partner, you can kiss them good by if you join the navy, the navy isnt kind on partners, expect some long trips away, anywhere from 9 months of the year when on a fleet vessel

Well said, I would also go in with a little bit of military history behind you also. If you want to go infantry(Im ex 3RAR) know which battles they have been involved in, what outcomes they were, what place in history they hold etc, it really helps you. Also, KNOW YOUR RANKS, i laughed so hard at all the lids who would look at the lapels trying to work out if it was an officer or not, then wouldn't know what rank they were so would go straight past an officer without saluting.

For the best time though, infantry all the way, hard work, great lifestyle and best of all mates you can trust with your life. Just do not expect to come home and stay mates with a lot of the people you are now friends with. You grow up alot and quickly realise how immature some poeple are.

[vlv8vic]

lol, we used to always laugh at people who claimed they could do anything in the defence force yet chose to do something much less. Fact is, if you could be a fast jet pilot, you would do it.

Depends on what you consider much less, i was open for almost anything then decided it wasn't for me. I'm glad i went teaching - sure you might consider it a 'lesser' job but for me, i wasn't ready to fly jets and in hindsight it might not have been the best option due to my deteriorating eyes anyway.
I know you are probably talking forces only, but i can't see how you can label another job 'less' when really it's up to what each person wants within themselves. Then again i'm not much for bravado and cash flow, i just like to be happy and healthy - i guess that's weird!

[D-Man]

army.

it's better :P

[acex1138]

go and apply for army rifleman mate, or if you can an officer.

Just a heads up recruitment will either be REALLY easy or an absolute ****storm.

i've been tryna get active service since 06'

first time i went through because i came from a rough area they decided i wasnt 'emotionally ready' and got told to come back in 6 months, slipped a few duntroon booklets and strongly advised when i reapplied to have a highschool diploma and go for officer. Nice way of hinting.

Went back finished off year 12 in six months, didnt get a TER tho so didnt bother doing that, went back for rifleman flew through everything till the final medical, got denied service on the grounds of having acne on my shoulder. that was the begging, got forced to see a dermo got put on all sorts of drugs, but there was one drug i never wanted to touch called roaccutaine because of the side effects from it that went as far as depression and has been linked to suicide.

another 8 months of hell on the drugs, then defrec stood over and said i have to take the drug so i reluctantly did, 5 horrible months of feeling like crap everyday, stopped it for safety reasons 4 weeks after i started throwing up blood. defrec were furious and demanded i go back on it and prove why i stopped, told them why provided docs notes got called a liar.

Got fed up with them 6 months back when they asked me to go back onto it again, and then in a routine checkup test they decided my eyesight was a little off, demanded i go to an eyespecialist, went got told im all good cleared for service, got a call day after sent results in telling me i needed to see their specialist who was $790 to see, as they believed my retina's would detatch if i fired an assault rifle.

Complained to their superiors that i was not happy with how they had been handling stuff, and that i was really displeased with being called a liar before, instead of fixing stuff they decided i needed to resit psyche as i was not handling their news properly.

I come from a heavy military background i had to get a higher ranking service person to speak to defrec to make them pull their finger out, and now have a new assessment day coming up, so guess we'll see how that goes. Been attatched to a regiment here for 3 years.... just waiting to be sent to kapooka to start serving lol.

A lot of my mates have flown through it, several of them having past injuries your not allowed in with, one even with glasses, one with worse acne then me, even seen a guy with ADD make it in whos now serving in darwin, so i think its just luck of draw, so hopefully your all good with yours mate.

[Kunu]

How exactly do you join SF straight off the streets? It took me 6 months of training to apply to go on the cadre, I was unaware people could join SASR without any military background? Perhaps you meant 4RAR who are commandos and hardly what any real person would call an SF unit.

Sorry should of worded it better.I was set on trying out for full-time SF as i reckon i had the maturity,mental abilitiy and the fitness to do so, but unfortunity they got an age cut-off (30 I believe..i turned 31 during the initial process) and taking over custody of my daughter is what led me to join 4/3 as a reservist instead (thought about maybe trying for 1 Company but thought id settle for local instead...who knows i have till the age of 35 to have a crack which is coming up rather quickly but if not got some great m8's with 4/3 that will last into the future.As stated by afew the mateship you earn along the way is priceless.

[Kunu]

go and apply for army rifleman mate, or if you can an officer.

Just a heads up recruitment will either be REALLY easy or an absolute ****storm.

i've been tryna get active service since 06'

first time i went through because i came from a rough area they decided i wasnt 'emotionally ready' and got told to come back in 6 months, slipped a few duntroon booklets and strongly advised when i reapplied to have a highschool diploma and go for officer. Nice way of hinting.

Went back finished off year 12 in six months, didnt get a TER tho so didnt bother doing that, went back for rifleman flew through everything till the final medical, got denied service on the grounds of having acne on my shoulder. that was the begging, got forced to see a dermo got put on all sorts of drugs, but there was one drug i never wanted to touch called roaccutaine because of the side effects from it that went as far as depression and has been linked to suicide.

another 8 months of hell on the drugs, then defrec stood over and said i have to take the drug so i reluctantly did, 5 horrible months of feeling like crap everyday, stopped it for safety reasons 4 weeks after i started throwing up blood. defrec were furious and demanded i go back on it and prove why i stopped, told them why provided docs notes got called a liar.

Got fed up with them 6 months back when they asked me to go back onto it again, and then in a routine checkup test they decided my eyesight was a little off, demanded i go to an eyespecialist, went got told im all good cleared for service, got a call day after sent results in telling me i needed to see their specialist who was $790 to see, as they believed my retina's would detatch if i fired an assault rifle.

Complained to their superiors that i was not happy with how they had been handling stuff, and that i was really displeased with being called a liar before, instead of fixing stuff they decided i needed to resit psyche as i was not handling their news properly.

I come from a heavy military background i had to get a higher ranking service person to speak to defrec to make them pull their finger out, and now have a new assessment day coming up, so guess we'll see how that goes. Been attatched to a regiment here for 3 years.... just waiting to be sent to kapooka to start serving lol.

A lot of my mates have flown through it, several of them having past injuries your not allowed in with, one even with glasses, one with worse acne then me, even seen a guy with ADD make it in whos now serving in darwin, so i think its just luck of draw, so hopefully your all good with yours mate.

Holy begeezus m8, talk about the run around.If they want they can be really picky and other times they are soft.

[minux]

Sorry should of worded it better.I was set on trying out for full-time SF as i reckon i had the maturity,mental abilitiy and the fitness to do so, but unfortunity they got an age cut-off (30 I believe..i turned 31 during the initial process) and taking over custody of my daughter is what led me to join 4/3 as a reservist instead (thought about maybe trying for 1 Company but thought id settle for local instead...who knows i have till the age of 35 to have a crack which is coming up rather quickly but if not got some great m8's with 4/3 that will last into the future.As stated by afew the mateship you earn along the way is priceless.

Im confused, you were a member of the defence force wanting to do the cadre? Or you hadnt yet joined and wanted to do the cadre straight away? Either way, as I said, it took 6 months of training for me to be fit enough to go on the course. The sort of training needed is really only picked up through the army etc.

[Kunu]

Im confused, you were a member of the defence force wanting to do the cadre? Or you hadnt yet joined and wanted to do the cadre straight away? Either way, as I said, it took 6 months of training for me to be fit enough to go on the course. The sort of training needed is really only picked up through the army etc.

I hadnt joined as yet but was in the process, it was an option I wanted to go upon full-time entry as Rifleman( then as you stated do the cadre as soon as possible) I was doing alot of fitness training and regular gym work using a SF program I got from a friend before the lead up to joining which i must add was nuts lol.I have done construction work for 10 years prior to thinking about going in and had also alot of life experience as you may be aware is a bonus with this type of work (especially mental ) Ive always done physical work majority of my life and I also know you have to complete the IIET course then the SF Accelerated training course then the SF entry test to see of you have the goods.I agree,some things can't be picked up civi wise but helps if you have serving m8's that can LEND you items in the meantime to help with training.Are you still a serving member m8?
I settled for a reservist role as it was the better option for me in the end.I would of loved to had a go at the SF entry test but am doubtfull it will happen while I have my daughter with me.Have you undergone the traing course as yet.Wouldnt mind having a chat to see how ya went?

Well said, I would also go in with a little bit of military history behind you also. If you want to go infantry(Im ex 3RAR) know which battles they have been involved in, what outcomes they were, what place in history they hold etc, it really helps you. Also, KNOW YOUR RANKS, i laughed so hard at all the lids who would look at the lapels trying to work out if it was an officer or not, then wouldn't know what rank they were so would go straight past an officer without saluting.For the best time though, infantry all the way, hard work, great lifestyle and best of all mates you can trust with your life. Just do not expect to come home and stay mates with a lot of the people you are now friends with. You grow up alot and quickly realise how immature some poeple are.

Like Minux said, knowing your ranks is a biggie and also having abit of knowlege about unit history that your going into is a bonus and extra knowledge doesnt go astray and may put you a cut above the rest

[minux]

I hadnt joined as yet but was in the process, it was an option I wanted to go upon full-time entry( or as you stated do the cadre as soon as possible) I was doing alot of fitness training and regular gym work using a SF program I got from a friend before the lead up to joining which i must add was nuts lol.I have done construction work for 10 years prior to thinking about going in and had also alot of life experience as you may be aware is a bonus with this type of work (especially mental ) Ive always done physical work majority of my life and I also know you have to complete the IIET course then the SF Accelerated training course then the SF entry test to see of you have the goods.I agree,some things can't be picked up civi wise but helps if you have serving m8's that can LEND you items in the meantime to help with training.Are you still a serving member m8?
I settled for a reservist role as it was the better option for me in the end.I would of loved to had a go at the SF entry test but am doubtfull it will happen while I have my daughter with me.Have you undergone the traing course as yet.Wouldnt mind having a chat to see how ya went?

I am no longer a serving member, I did the cadre in 99. I was at my unit for a few years before I was allowed to take 3 months full time training to concentrate on entry. It isnt as simple as joining up and simply going along to the course. Although with how soft the forces are these days, it wouldn't surprise me now.

[Kunu]

I am no longer a serving member, I did the cadre in 99. I was at my unit for a few years before I was allowed to take 3 months full time training to concentrate on entry. It isnt as simple as joining up and simply going along to the course. Although with how soft the forces are these days, it wouldn't surprise me now.

I agree ,they have gone very soft nowadays. Ive only been in for afew years and when i went through ARTC it was so-so on hardness.There was hardly any physical training which was a big let down for me at the time but still enjoyed the challenge they put forth.We had a 59year old ex copper on our course and i tell ya what he wasnt the fastest of the bunch but he could still put some of the younger people to shame( take me hat of to him ) Wow i see your a fellow Geelong lad..I was born and grew up in Corio, where abouts you from m8?

EDIT: forgot to ask...how did you go on the entry test? I know its very demanding both physically and especially mentally?

[Benjamin K]

It's their, not there - so i guess smart enough isn't so flash after all. I was the same though (apart from the not-so-smart-smart) i was right for anything when i looking to the air force years ago. Doubt i'd be any good now and almost glad i didn't tackle the jets like i wanted to, eyesight went bad over the last few years. I'd never be able to fly now.

Good thing most of there tests are based around Maths and it's branch subjects

Never been good at english, quite simply never interested me. I can write better then most people and that's all that matters

[Benjamin K]

lol, we used to always laugh at people who claimed they could do anything in the defence force yet chose to do something much less. Fact is, if you could be a fast jet pilot, you would do it.

I could always scan the job suitability based from testing sheet if you want

Fact is, if you could be a fast jet pilot, you would do it - Not necessarily, perhaps sitting in a cramped cockpit for long flights doesn't exactly entice me into a job? What job you should pick is one you'll be happy with... No point picking a job you're not interested in just so you can tell people "Yeah I'm a jet pilot in the Air Force". Not in it for the macho points...

[Galixia]

I am no longer a serving member, I did the cadre in 99. I was at my unit for a few years before I was allowed to take 3 months full time training to concentrate on entry. It isnt as simple as joining up and simply going along to the course. Although with how soft the forces are these days, it wouldn't surprise me now.

they opened it up for a few years as a way of trying to get more people in to SF and allowed direct entry... i think they tested people for about a year and over that time thousands of poeple applied... SASR and 4RAR progress [Archive] - Military Photos i done a quick google search and found that it explains it a little...

sorry to get off topic