Army Life

Tekka · #1 26-02-2007, 12:44 PM

This is for you current or ex army guys with the experience. Well im a reservists as a Gunner and have been for the past 6 months , ive done my training etc, ive been thinking about going fulltime for awhile now. What im asking is, is it a good experience for some 1 young like me (20) and is it worth the 35k a year? Im not single so id be taking my partner with me which will probs complicate things.

maginoodle · #2 27-02-2007, 06:37 PM

i enjoyed my 7 years of service. I didnt have a partner so i cant help you with that.
She will have to put up with you being away for long periods of time. Longest i was away was 3 months but with the current world situation you could be gone longer. Most of the training cources i did were 6 weekers and i dont think that would have changed.
I would do it again if i was 20 and looking for work. You could get in then apply for an apprenticeship or just do what i did kick back relax and enjoy your time.

Soybean · #3 27-02-2007, 06:45 PM

only 35k a year?! im assuming that would change with different positions?
ive been thinkin about the army for a while, im considering going infantry or engineers.
whats the lifestyle like?

Marco-EFIVL · #4 27-02-2007, 07:43 PM

45k for officers I think, in reserves if you do the full compliment of training days...

minux · #5 27-02-2007, 09:05 PM

i would give back anything to be back in, unfortunately i was med classed 4 after a serious accident while on exercise.

I spent 5 years as a soldier with 3RAR, spent time on operation and loved it, however, if i weren't single it would be a different story.

Julie · #6 27-02-2007, 09:20 PM

I have no experience in the army but I live in an area where probably 80% the residents are in the defence force, we live close to the Richmond raaf base so this place is full of raafies.

From talking to a lot of friends/neighbours who are in the defence force or partners of those who are I think that this would be a decision that you shouldn't take lightly, and you should really discuss this with your partner. Theres a lot of things to consider, I've had so many different neighbours the past couple of years because these guys get moved around and have to go where they are told. I think its really a bit sad for the kids, they just start to make good friends then they have to move or their daddy isn't home for their birthday/christmas. But hey if kids aren't planned in the near future it may be the thing for you.

You'd also have to think about how it may affect your relationship, some people I know are fine with their partner being away and remain loyal and loving towards each other. But from what I know of a lot of people around here when the partner is away the other one (sometimes both) go to play. I know quite a few people in this situation have open marriages.

But don't let anything I have said sway you in one direction or the other, just a couple of topics for concern I thought I would mention.

I'll just add that I know a lot of people who served when they were younger, were deployed, got rather large payments for being deployed and come home and put large deposits on houses and set them self up financially

Garth · #7 27-02-2007, 09:26 PM

i was in the defence force

the defence force lifestyle isnt for someone who wants to get married, or have kiddies. i can tell ya this much, the navy cost me a relationship. but i moved onto bigger and better things.

it's not all it's hyped up to be.i would do your homework good and proper to make sure it's what you want.
i left in nov 2000 was medcat 6 when i left, still medcat 6 to this day

went away, did a deployment, had heaps of cash, came home, payed deposit for house, adn lost the lot. it's only good if you wanna stay in there for a long time

p.s. i didnt meet my daughter till she was 8 months old. thats the defence force life

Sashyre · #8 27-02-2007, 09:27 PM

Join the Army, travel to far off exotic places, meet new and interesting people... and kill them.

C.

Bravotwozero · #9 27-02-2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minux

i would give back anything to be back in, unfortunately i was med classed 4 after a serious accident while on exercise.

I spent 5 years as a soldier with 3RAR, spent time on operation and loved it, however, if i weren't single it would be a different story.

Is that special forces? Guy I work with is ex SAS and so is his brother. His brother was killed in Iraq about 6 months ago.

Tekka, what are the reserves like? Been thinking about joining as a driver or gunner!

ProphetVX · #10 28-02-2007, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soybean

only 35k a year?! im assuming that would change with different positions?
ive been thinkin about the army for a while, im considering going infantry or engineers.
whats the lifestyle like?

That 35k is tax-free isn't it?

So its really closer to an income of around 45k I would think.

Tekka · #11 28-02-2007, 10:40 AM

No as a Fulltime Gunner id be in pay group 2 which is 35k to start with, rougly 1400 a fortnight, but it would definatly rise as you go up the ranks. Im not planing on kids till im 30 lol, and marriage well no rush for that ****. My rough plan was to join for 4-5 yrs then leave and join the police force.

And to Bravotowzero the reserves are good if u want a taste of army style, id suggest go as a driver, as a gunner its heavy work and greasy at sometimes. The pay is 60 bucks a day, 30 bucks half day, full day is 6 hrs.

shumway · #12 28-02-2007, 11:05 AM

i can tell you dont have kids if your going to join i can talk from personal experience,20 years of being drag from one side of this great nation to the other.Just a small list of the postings we followed dad on was,Alburyto holsworthy to pucka to perth to canberra to queensland. I lost many freinds and basically got sick and tired of the oldman not being home.he would of at least been away for a total of 10 years out of that 20.

Jecs · #13 28-02-2007, 11:55 AM

but what happens if you get lagg? you might get fragged then what? you cant re-spawn... not until the game restarts

VRSS · #14 28-02-2007, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jecs

but what happens if you get lagg? you might get fragged then what? you cant re-spawn... not until the game restarts

hahahahah hillarious

my uncle joined the army when he was 16, met his now wife in the army and left when he was about 26-27. now has a big block of land and a real nice house in WA. im not sure i think hes still in the reserves