Hey mate, I'm thinking of joining the reserves too! Gotta YOU session thingo in sydney on june 11. Anyways I'm thinkin of being a rifleman too. I heard it is pretty tiring tho. Pay is almost $1500 a fortnight if you go fulltime so there is some truth to that but you'll never make that much in reserves. You need to work at least 20 days per year and maximum is 150 days.

Pay info is here for Rifleman for Reserves: Salary while undertaking Military (Recruit) Training: $70.72 per day tax free. Salary while undertaking or waiting to complete Employment Training: $83.61 per day tax free. Each General Entry job in the Australian Defence Force is classified into a pay group. This particular job is classified as a Pay Group 2 occupation. Members of the Reserve on part-time service are paid at a daily rate of pay and this occupation attracts a starting rate of $92.56 per day.

Once fully trained you will receive $108.89 per day. In addition to your salary, a Service Allowance of $11.32 per day is payable to compensate for the unique demands of Reserve Service. Just go to hope i see you at Kapooka;-). There is also various classes of 'field allowance' that kick in depending on availability of beds, showers, mess prepared meals etc. AFAIK up to 'trade level' training is structured to make sure you don't quite rough it long enough to qualify for it though. But once you start doing two week stints the 'field allowance' (name may have changed!) can add up quick. If you are on youth allowance etc – it used to be that you still got it even when you were doing army reserves.

Australian Army Cadets - The Full Wiki. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. AUSTRALIAN ARMY CADETS MELBOURNE HIGH SCHOOL ARMY. Defence Safety Manual Vol 1 and 2 C. Steyr AUG - Wikipedia. The Steyr AUG is an Austrian bullpup. The AUG (Armee- Universal- Gewehr—. The Steyr AUG is an Austrian bullpup 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle.

The way recruitment is I doubt that has changed! There are cost of living differences between full time and part time service. Full time members are charged rent, reservists are not.

Full time members get a 'uniform allowance' and have to buy stuff out of it – reservists just get stuff issued. It is a bit of a disincentive to buying decent field gear but decent gear makes going bush a lot less uncomfortable. Do some research before you join a specific corps – some of them are a lot more comfortable than others. Some of them increase in pay a lot quicker than infantry. Having said that Infantry can provide some decent experiences pretty quick (combined arms training, parachute drops, opportunities for overseas postings). Reserve basic training was done in each capital city for 2 weeks. I have no idea why they ended that, as it was an excellent set up for reserves.

I went through 'Club Bardia' myself. But powers that be thought that it might be a good idea if everyone who was qualified to a certain level had all done the same training. I think it totally changed what type of person was available to be a reservist, a whole bunch of people left directly due to 'common induction training' and the move from 2-week training to 6-week training (not just recruit but also a lot of other promotion & IET level training). Even with 'top up pay' & supposed employment guarantees it is hard to keep a job if you keep asking for six weeks off for army reserves!

Total Validator Pro Serial. You get to SHOOT GUNS! LOL It's realllllly not as exciting as you might think. Rifle never more than 1m away from you when out field. I slept with my arm around mine!

You'll be cleaning twice a day or more due to the dust and dirt. After firing it, the bloody thing is full of carbon which needs scrubbing off with wire brushes, cloth and oiling it again. Tip for new players – don't forget your gas plug. Carbon turns blue in there after a while.very obvious to spot, and a boot up your butt if caught:P There's also hours and hours of weapon drills before you'll ever get near live ammunition. Oh, and the principles of marksmanship, which is not *swivel mouse, click* BOOM head shot LOL!!11! Think carefully about it if that's your main attraction. Looks like a Reserve recruit gets $70.72 dollars / day Tax Free.

There might be other allowances which take you up to the quoted figure – but best check with Defence recruiting to get the full story So training at Kapooka is 80 days right full time? So 80 days x 70 bucks = 5600 bucks in the 2 and a bit months of training if they pay you for week ends. Am i right or did i go wrong somewhere? Is training less than 80 days at Kapooka? Anyways i've decided to be a combat medic in the reserves instead of a rifleman. My dads a rifleman in the reserves and he told me to go as a medic instead cause being a rifleman can be too much work. I plan to go overseas in the reserves for 6 months like my dad did which he said he got paid 30 grand tax free.

Kinda hard to believe. If i get paid that much ill probably buy a house when i get back. So training at Kapooka is 80 days right full time? Thats the ARA version of Kapooka. As a Reservist you will do 30 days at Kapooka, which is about teaching you the soldiering skills you will need, and will take you from 'Recruit' to 'Private'. After that has occurred you will move off as a Private and do your IET, which is the specific training for the actual role you will be in. During the 30 days you wont get any days off.

At best you will get dropped in Wagga for a couple of hours to buy some supplies at about the mid point. All the days are very long (0555-2200), and every day is crammed full to the point you wont get to scratch your butt. You will need a fliptop head to get the meals down fast enough in the timings you get. I plan to go overseas in the reserves for 6 months like my dad did which he said he got paid 30 grand tax free. Kinda hard to believe.

If i get paid that much ill probably buy a house when i get back. Mate i hope you get there but i tell you this, you will have to work harder than anyone else to get overseas deployments as a reservist. And with the way they are currently operating training it will take you 2 years just to become AIRN compliant. Then you will have to do your cross rifles, do a couple of milskills competitions to gain some recognition, then you might be picked for rifle company butterworth (RCB) and thats only if your batallion is on the rotation list. Things like the timor bubble probably won't come around until another major conflict happens again, when i went on my first rotation, i made 46k off 6 months there, then the second rotation was a year after that and only made 24k. We will probably never see money like this ever again. If you join the reserves you definately aren't joining for the money.

No one joins for the money. Just because it is tax free doesn't mean your gonna make bundles of cash. The only way to make decent money is to get into an actual working unit and become a member of company staff.

You can do up to 150 days a year and then apply for extensions after that. If your in nsw then the 1st/19th is the only working unit that provides 12 month full time service stints (FTS-R) and thats western nsw and thats only because of the size of the unit. It covers an approximate 560km between 7 depots, one of them being larger than holsworthy. City units don't usually give out work to their diggers as they are penny pinchers and usually have ARA staff attached to them to run the joint. Pretty much you need to work your arse off to become something valuable. Then you can live the life of luxury. On the good side, you will have a vast amount of knowledge on quick witty one liners that make you look cool.

Louie L writes.I was firing live rounds from a Steyr on my first weekend camp, before I even went to training Yeah that's actually NOT supposed to happen. I wouldn't be spreading that warrie too far.

Honestly, I had shot SLR, Steyr (before they were in general use), M60, 66 and a couple of other things before my 2 weeks in Club Baridia. They tell me it's not on any more though.:( Next they will stop handing out your first 105 called in or pulled. 13 yrs GRES and I never chucked a granade though! So training at Kapooka is 80 days right full time?

All General Entry recruits into the Australian Army Reserve are required to complete the Recruit Course. Duration: 28 days continuous Location: Kapooka, Wagga Wagga, NSW if they pay you for week ends They pay Reservists for every day. Anyways i've decided to be a combat medic in the reserves Combat Medical Attendant (CMA) is a reserves only category, introduced mainly because it was difficult to train and retain reservist medics. This is because the Basic Medical Assistant Training Course is 33 weeks in Bandiana, and anyone that can make that commitment is usually in a position to join full time:P The reason I mention this is because opportunities for CMA's to do full time service or deploy overseas are rare, because they aren't considered to be fully trained by medic standards. I'm not saying it can't happen, but I've certainly never seen it happen.

I'm thinkin of being a rifleman too. I heard it is pretty tiring tho. Mate you don't know the half of it. I'll give you a suggestion: go camping. Make sure you either go in the middle of winter to somewhere where there's a chance of snow and its guaranteed to rain – Riverina of NSW, Blue Mountains, etc, or the hottest part of summer somewhere where it gets HOT, I'd say west of Dubbo.

Now, plan to be camping for a week. Pack about 15kg into your pack, including all your meals, but all your meals have to be the same tinned food; braised steak and veg for instance, for 3 meals a day for the week. Take 1 spare tshirt, 1 pr socks and jock, and a raincoat (a jumper or two if its winter).

No other spare clothes. Take a medium weight (not 4 season) sleeping bag, and a tarp (not a tent). Then Take a 4 kg cast iron pot and carry it for the week. Twice a day, clean it with steel wool. All day, you are to walk with your pot and your pack.

Take a 5 min break every hour, no more. Start walking as soon as the sun comes up and keep walking until it is dusk. Try not to speak. You are not to walk down trails – you need to bushbash through scrub/rainforest/etc.

Get used to leeches/ticks/etc. Every second night, walk through the night till midnight, then set your watch alarm to wake you up at 0200. Sit in the dark for 2 hrs looking into the darkness.

Go back to bed at 0400, but as soon as the sun comes up (0600) you are to be up and dressed, then start walking again. Repeat for the week. No showers, no change of clothes allowed.

Every other day, you have to sprint up a mountain and then crawl down the other side on your guts 12 times. If you get cold, wet, hot, whatever, there's not a lot you can do about it. For these 7 days, you will receive $490. THAT is army reserve infantry training for you. For more WP army experiences check. 13 yrs GRES and I never chucked a granade though!

14 yrs this June and I have. I'm a member of Club Bardia and Kinky Kapooka.

Started as Infantry quickly became an Artllery Orificer. I've done 105mm, Charley Guts Ache, 66, Wombat Gun, Steyr (der), M60, MAG58 (Kiwis have 'em as well as C9 (hollow stock Minimi from Canada)), F89 Minimi (ours), 9mm browning, various grenades, flown in Hueys, Blackhawks, Hercs, HS748, claymores. Go for it guys.

You may or may not go on deployment. I have had the pleasure. It depends on your job and training level. Be warned, 10 weeks of training ended up being 10 months for me (RAAF). Got off the bus 27 may 2008 – discharged in 4 march 2009. I got back coursed back (back squadded?) to week 1 for a for a failed exam in week 7, then back to week 1 for a rusty rifle (seriously flap these things) in week 9. Then I did the mistake asking for pain killers for my legs, discovered I got shin splints.

Then they sent me to Army equivalent of digger james for another 5 weeks. Went back on course, after the 6th week every mark time I did in the drill square feels like very painful stab in my back. Went back doctors, found stress fractures in my back, knees and hips, after 3 months no improvement.went to the RAAF equivalent of weary dunlop, stayed in isolated room for 2 weeks then got discharged. For me, I hate every aspect of the military now.

Not meaning to call you a liar mate, but I've got a few issues with some of the things you've said. - If you have a rusty rifle, you'll probably find yourself on the end of a charge for failing to maintain your kit. Can't imagine a scenario where you'd be sent back to week 1, unless you made a habit of being a spanner.

- Injuries only happened to those who turned up unfit from my experience. Carrying someone elses kit when out bush wasn't fun. Seemed pretty jack to turn up fat if you ask me. Not saying you necessarily are, just stating my own experience. If those things really happened, I'm sorry that your experience wasn't much fun. But for the benefit of others reading this thread who may potentially be put off from what you've said, it seems you had a bad run, or there might be more at play here.

Sizz just sounds like a pussy who whinges all the time to me. Julian, wait until you've at least done kapooka before calling others pussies for not getting through. It's very easy to read about it and think 'I could do that.' It's another thing to actually do it. For practice, for work/uni next week, force yourself to stay awake half the night every day, preferably sitting in the dark backyard in the cold, and only allow yourself 3-4 hrs sleep each night of a working week. Then see how well you're functioning. >- If you have a rusty rifle, you'll probably find yourself on the end of a charge for failing to maintain your kit.

Can't imagine a scenario where you'd be sent back to week 1, unless you made a habit of being a spanner. It's the RAAF, they are nitorous sending people 2 to 5 weeks for a failed exam. I know about all the shit about rusty rifles, I heard it from my adgies, seccos, flight adigents (sp?) to the WOD. So did the 3 other people. My styer rusted after the two weeks out bush. In bush phase I didn't have enough time to do a shit.

Seemed pretty jack to turn up fat if you ask me. They don't allow to continue on the recruit course (after day 2) if you went jack on your fitness. Unlike the Army. I'm sorry that your experience Nah, it's not anyone's fault, it did give good life experience and made alot good mates there, actaully alot of recruits are really easy to talk to. I just was incredibly unlucky, there are people who has been there longer than me (72 weeks, 60 weeks etc.) Hell, depending on there MSI (RI equivalent) a lot of people pass. I did have bit experience out side of recruits, (ie working as a general hand around the base) and that alone was flapping beautiful. I am just informing 'potential recruits' you could stay in recruits longer if your body is not up to it.

Really the 5 paragraphs on the 1RTB or 1RTU website doesn't do it justice (throw off potentail recruits). When I first join I was like 'Ha, that looks piss easy.'

Then my attitude quickly changed when I was actually a recruit. Tl;dr Recruits suck and the staff walk around as if they got a pacestick jammed up their arse.:D Funny that a soon to be choco recruit is calling me a whinger. LOL.your all soft cocks, join for real.

Doesnt stop me giving advice, its all roughly the same military. And for the record I havent actually gone through Kapooka.

Im a future poge. So its all been RMC training for me.

Chocos.lol I have plenty of mates who are chocos. Nothing wrong with them, and the bloke that got me interested in the army was a choco. If not for him I would be in the RAAF right now (and be finished my O's training and sitting in a chair with a latte. In bush phase I didn't have enough time to do a shit. 'Move with a sense of urgency'. I'm sure you heard that lots:P My experience is RAAF too, but officer training, which is obviously a bit different to rookies. An MSI I spoke to thought it was a bit harsh to send you back to week 1 for a rusty rifle.

Out of curiosity, when did you join? Not trying to track you down, just wondering if this was a long time ago or recent. The old days sound a lot less forgiving:) Agreed on the soon-to-be recruit giving you a bit of stick. You really have no idea until you go through it how you will find it.

Some blokes love it, some absolutely despise it. If he's as gobby in real life as he is on here, I'm sure he'll hate it or learn to shut up pretty quick:) I was somewhere in the middle. Found some of it a lot of fun – going out field, the shoots, leadership etc.but really hated the strict nature of the place, which is very unlike the 'real' military is. Your entire day is programmed. I remember the first weeks being 0600 to 2130 their time, 2130 to 2200 is your own time.

To wash, iron, clean your room, call home, clean the communal areas and so on. Add to that the heat (started in JAN), communal living where you are guaranteed to not like everyone, having your balls busted all day for the most insignificant things and it starts to wear on you. At the end of the day though, the way recruits/rookies/IOTs etc run are done for a reason. Just have to keep the eyes on the prize and know you'll be out of that training environment soon enough:). Sizz just sounds like a pussy who whinges all the time to me. GEEZ i HATE whingers! Pretty sure wheres a thread created by YOU whinging you have a great hubris – i suggest you deflate it before starting military training or you wont survive.

I did take that into consideration BUT i figured that Sizz can't be the latter bcuz if he was he wouldn't advertise his 'world of suffering' =) i dont think he actually wanted to be hospitalized that long – probably the antithesis. If you actually had knowledge of the medical conditions that he discovered (shin splints – very very slow to heal – can lead to loss of functioning to lower leg) – you'd comprehend that they're very serious – especially since he'd only been on base for a couple of weeks and these conditions have already appeared. If he had planned to stay longer – blatantly they will worsen dramatically. So its kind of a good thing that they were discovered sooner than later.

I'm amazed that DFR did not pick any of this up when you were had your YOU session/Job Assessment medical examination. Ve done the GRES 28 day course at Kapooka (14pl B Coy) honestly it's pretty easy It's a real shame that Recruit training has been reduced placing the burden of training back onto the Battalions, perhaps you would have had a tougher time had you of done one of the 'older' courses. I guess the new training model does improve the chances of someone getting the time off work to attend the course but in the end I feel its not helping the soldier either. I'm not a fan of the 'one' army concept, Reserves are Reserves and Regular is Regular and due to time limitations placed on Reserves the training standards cannot effectively be the same. I'm only joining cuz i've been playing too many FPS and I wanna shoot guns LOL lol thats the same reason i wanna join lol. And i think the training would be good for me.

Except i have been looking into full time service instead of reserve. There is one thing I cant work out. It says for each job it has a minimum period of service.

Does that mean that your stuck with the defence force for at least that long? Or is it how long they will have a guaranteed job for you? I also noticed that they also have a return of service obligation for some things. Im pretty sure you have to do that because they give you a lot of training for those jobs (eg.

Jet fighter pilot). Thinking about signing up to the reserves, separate showers or sausage fest wash? If that's the difference between joining and not – don't. Out bush, unless you find the rare Shower Tree, there aren't any showers. If you're in barracks, it depends.

Kapooka has individual showers (no curtain). Other barracks may or may not. Some have dunny cubicles with doors (Kapooka), some have cubicles without doors, and some (esp USA) just have rows of dunnies with no partitions. You will be good mates by the time you've finished training. Lol thats the same reason i wanna join lol.

*shakes head in despair* Go to your local rifle range if you've never fired a weapon before, eg in Sydney, Hornsby rifle range has beginner shoots with.22s for first timers. Joining the army is a big step, and if you're some nerdy gamer who 'likes computer guns lol' you'll probably be chewed up and spat out by about week 3. Just remember, are you prepared to walk 25km through the bush each day in winter in the rain sopping wet carrying 18kg pack for a week? If not then don't bother 'lol.' It says for each job it has a minimum period of service. Does that mean that your stuck with the defence force for at least that long?

Well my dad was in the army but that was a long time ago now. Go to your local rifle range and well i cant go and get a gun yet and go shooting im only 16 nearly 17.

Are you prepared to walk 25km through the bush each day yea if thats what it takes. I no training will be the hardest thing ever but thats what im expecting. They are training us to fight for our country so I wouldn't expect anything less. And damn that sucks about the min period of service.

Its not that im gonna get in there and 6 months after training i bugger off. Its just I would like to have the option incase getting shot at gets to much for me. Also are you allowed music in yr room at the barracks because i like my music. Even if its only sometimes.

Also are you allowed music in yr room at the barracks because i like my music. Even if its only sometimes. In training you wont be allowed even your phone (never stops me though:P) But im living in at barracks atm and my room is full of s***. Got the TV, stereo, PC, lappy etc You can pretty much do whatever the bloke in the room next to yours will tolerate. Which in my case is quite a bit, as he isnt ever there. Edit: and just to clarify this is my normal room after training.

Usually the only music I have out field is whatever song got stuck in my head just before going. And well i cant go and get a gun yet and go shooting im only 16 nearly 17.

You need to learn how to do some investigating, then. If you're over 12, you can shoot at this Sydney range, with their instructors and weapons, when accompanied by an adult. Also are you allowed music in yr room at the barracks because i like my music. Even if its only sometimes. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Oh god.

You need to investigate this a little more, mate! It's the army not a holiday camp.

If you go regular, once you're at your posted unit after finishing training, sure, its just like your room in a share house. IF you have ANY free time for your first 6 weeks, and that's a big IF, you will be flat out with tasks. Kapooka works by applying time pressure.

You will be given 2 mins to complete a 10 min task, and if you don't get it done, you will be given extra punishment tasks. For instance, you will be given 15 minutes for breakfast. In this 15 minutes you have to form up and march in quick time to the mess (3 minutes), queue for food (4 minutes), find a seat (1 minute), eat (3 minutes), return your dishes and form up (1 minute), and march back to lines (3 mins). Take 1 minute longer and you're all in the sh!t.

At Kapooka I managed to wolf down a bowl of cereal for brekky, never more. I don't know what it's like this year but we didn't see our civilian clothes and personal effects for the first 4 weeks at all. Not that we had time to notice. You will be woken at 0600 and lights are out at 2200 and you will be asleep quickly through tiredness. In that time you will have roughly 5 minutes to yourself for the occasional visit to the SALs (to have a p!ss).

Listen to music? Sing in your head when bush bashing. However, a good answer when applying to be a gun bunny is that you like to blow shit up. Reminds me of when I went to the footy on ANZAC day once, there were a bunch of army guys recruiting outside the oval. Went past one guy that shouted 'Join the army, get paid tax-free!'

And another shouting 'Join the army, see the world!' Eventually got close to the gate, and one guy had obviously become sick of the line he was given, and instead was shouting 'Join the army, get paid to blow shit up!' If any of the lines were going to work on me, that would have been the one;). I'll have some hard times too but you make it sound like it's the hardest thing in the world. Which i'm sure it's not. Your right in a way. With any training you have to remember that a lot have people have succeded before you, and it isnt impossible.

The timings given a few posts up are pretty much what to expect at any training institution, and other anecdotes as well are pretty darn accurate. They sound hard reading them, they may sound like 'hell' but it is achievable. I know there have been many times I have been dreading some form of training or assesment, thinking I wont hack it, then before I know it its over.

It went by so fast that I didnt even realise I had achieved the one thing I had been dreading. Its because I was prepared for it sufficiently by the training, often without realising I had been. You just need to be switched on, keep your mouth shut and do what your told when your told. It aint rocket science. I'm sure it's very hard and it will be very physically challenging but I think your all just exaggerating.

Especially that sheikh guy. What would we gain from exaggerating? What YOU can gain is a sense of perspective. You might think we're all talk, but it'll be you, not me, who gets the shock.

The first day you get access to a phone (I think it's day 15?) there are plenty of big blokes crying down the phone to their families about how they can't hack the pressure. They get over it but the point is it is a BIG shock to most people (it is designed to be). I had seen all the movies. I'd done cadets for 4 years where every camp was with our local army reserve unit (so we weren't soft, eg we carried SLRs in the field). My dad was army and told me what to expect. I was an experienced camper/hiker.

I'd travelled solo and been away from home. Kapooka STILL knocked me for 6 and I was 20. I've mentioned the physical challenges.

I've only hinted at the mental challenges. We were so tensely wound up (4Pl A Coy). Here's an example. At 0600 you're in bed, the secco screams 'HALLWAY FOUR' and you have 10 sec to be up, out of bed, bottom bed sheet over right shoulder, at attention outside your room in hallway. We were so tense, lying there coiled up waiting for the call (scared) at 0550 that if the secco donstairs yelled 'HALLWAY FIVE' at 0559 we'd automatically all scream it out and bolt out of bed. Of course it wasn't OUR platoon who got called so we'd have to remake our beds and get back in until OUR secco called it.

By the time this was done it was 0605 and we were already 5 mins behind in the day's schedule, then we all had to get bawled out for 10 mins so immediately you're 15 mins behind, and what gets cut out as a result? Yep, your 15 mins breakfast, imagine doing 4 hours' PT in shorts and tshirt in 2 degrees on frosty grass with an empty stomach. 0550 that if the secco donstairs yelled 'HALLWAY FIVE' at 0559 we'd automatically all scream it out and bolt out of bed.

Of course it wasn't OUR platoon who got called so we'd have to remake our beds and get back in until OUR secco called it..BRASS STRIPS! /BRASS STRIPS!! Spot on about being awake at 0550 though, coiled and waiting to pounce on the lights going on and 'HALLWAY XX!!'

Being shouted. All pile into the hall, bedsheet over shoulder in your PJ's and thongs standing at attention and trying not to sway as you wake up. How come the majority of people in this thread are making Kapooka and recruit training sound like HELL? Mainly so you don't get a false sense of what you may be in for. Most people find recruit training mentally and physically challenging. You may be one of the people that thrive in that environment, and find it fairly straight forward.

But better to be prepared for the worst:) Having said that, I have experienced Kapooka from both sides, first (obviously) as a recruit and later as an instructor. The best advice I can give anyone joining is to remember the old saying, 'This too shall pass'. Maintain perspective and a sense of humour. Help your mates, and in turn you will receive assistance when you need it. And don't gob off:). .BRASS STRIPS!

What architect puts a brass strip down the wall?! An evil one that's what! Damn we spent hours polishing those just for evil seccos to put fingerprints on them then make us all do pushups in the rain for not having polished the strips.

And our Secco was named Cheer, what oxymoronic nominative determinism. You can get used to anything, that doesn't make it fun. But I have never felt prouder than marching out of Kapooka, everything else is easy afterwards as its the first culture shock that hurts most. The first day you get access to a phone (I think it's day 15?) Who cares.? I don't expect to talk to my family at all during the 28 days.

There are plenty of big blokes crying down the phone to their families about how they can't hack the pressure. They get over it but the point is it is a BIG shock to most people (it is designed to be). I'm more worried about the physical aspect rather than the mental. I've actually talked to a few mates who are in the army both full time and reserves and they didn't find it as difficult as you obviously did. Altho some have sed that it is quite challenging both mentally and physically, at the end of the day, it's still achievable so it CAN'T be as bad as your portraying it to be. How come the majority of people in this thread are making Kapooka and recruit training sound like HELL?

I'm sure it's very hard and it will be very physically challenging but I think your all just exaggerating. Especially that sheikh guy. I'm not saying i'll breeze through it, i'm sure i'll have some hard times too but you make it sound like it's the hardest thing in the world. Which i'm sure it's not. Didnt you say. 'so Kapooka shud be a piece of cake plus i can quite easily do the fitness test which only requires 40 push ups 70 situps and a run of 2.4kms in under 10 mins.' I've actually talked to a few mates who are in the army both full time and reserves and they didn't find it as difficult as you obviously did.

I didn't say that I found it difficult. I found it a shock.

There's a difference. I had no problem with it and I went on through RMC afterwards. When I tell you about the time pressure and the physical demands of infantry, that was to illustrate to noobs like you some of the things they don't tell you in the recruiting brochures. You might be very surprised at just how much you come to value the ability to speak when YOU choose to. I don't know if this is news to you, but we haven't exactly had a history of women in Infantry roles.

Lets think about it. Wash your mouth out one the most decorated Aussies during WW2 was a woman (yes she was born in NZ but spent most of her life in Australia) named Nancy Wake, the white mouse. No she wasn't in Australian army but was trained by the British SOE as an agent in France. She probably killed more Germans than most Aussies soliders in WW2 and in fact killed one German with her bare hands. Her picture is shown in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Wash your mouth out I think Attalas's statement stands.

Nancy Wake was not infantry, she was special operations. We have not had a history of women in frontline roles, We have however had women in other positions, such as nurses (maybe most remembered for the japanese atrocities against them), more specialised positions (such as your example), and in modern times women occupy nearly every role except for those which involve direct frontline service. So there is no history (or present day example) of women in direct frontline conflict. Lines have blurred in recent times, as in places such as afghanistan there is no designated frontline, and every one, including women in combat support roles who are deployed can be considered as combatants. Im going to point out something to you all who are signing up to join wether it be ARA or GRES.

Say goodbye to civvy life. Once you get in, your life will change, for the better most likely. There are certain qualities soldiers obtain in their careers in the army and it will most likely be seen when you come back into civillian life. You will be taught how to think, how to get a sense of urgency, how to handle situations the right way.

Pretty much you will become uber persons. You will be taught to strive for success and conquer everything. There is no such thing as race/religion, everyone is your mate. And the sad fact of all of this is, when you leave the army. Civvy street is full of fat lazy assholes who don't do shit and expect everything for nothing.

The drive and determination that you obtain from your career will blast you into things that normal people will never have. Its not arrogance, its just the way you will become. I myself run a business with 15 employees, 13 of them are former diggers, they out-compete normal civilians when it comes to work, they arent jack, they pay extreme attention to detail. You will become one of these people in civvy street, you will most likely out-compete other people in jobs. You will always be the most dependable person around, this is not your choice, this is how you will be made.

Pretty much i should say congratulations. Oh and by the way, if your a civvy copper, don't mention it. If you were in army cadets, Don't mention it.

In fact if you were from any civillian service, Don't mention it. Otherwise you will know what hard work is real fast. And one more thing. You can leave anytime you like. You must spend 7 days in the outgoing platoon before leaving (it used to be 21 days) i do believe its either weary dunlop or digger james platoons, not sure its been 6 years since i instructed there. So there is no immediate way out.

Oh and if you think of running away. It carries a 21 day confinement and a charge of awol and immediate discharge from the defence force. I must point out – Don't ever do this – you will never get a government job ever if you do this!

Fitness Assesment (15pushups, 45situps and 7.5 on the beep test) yea I did it for my self last night just to see if I could. Make sure you are doing the pushups/situps the 'army way' otherwise you might be in for a rude shock. CADENCE gets a lot of people off kilter.

You might be able to pump out 20 pushups, but can you take 1 minute to do 15 (1 per 4 seconds)? It is a different test of fitness to 'blasting them out'. 4 seconds can be a long time to do a pushup in! If someone can hold your feet still – army situps hit the upper thigh more than the abs! Bring back the old bfa any day.

Fireman's carry, chinups. Sorry what's the CFA? Combat fitness assessment. It is a final test of your skills learned throughout your time at kapooka. It is a pack march of 13.5km which from what i hear is now only 7km. Along the march is a series of stands and ranges where you will be tested on things like marksmanship, orienteering, first aid, ammo box carrying, etc stuff like that. And was finished off with a RDJ course (run,dodge,jump) & the obstacle course.

Last i heard they dumbed it down to 7km now, hope not. It would be a shame if they completely diminished the education of a soldier by downsizing. When i used to instruct it was a 45 day stint for the recruits, there were 3 marches throughout the course, a 5km, 7km and 13.5km march. It would be interesting to see what it is now. Also the BFA (basic fitness assessment) and the CFA are regular assessments when you get to your unit, you need to pass these in order to be AIRN compliant. AIRN stands for Army Individual Readiness Notice – Meaning a set standard for you to be qualified to be deployed overseas & also a requirement to be able to operate and stay functional in your unit. It does not matter whether your a cook, a sig, a craftsmen or a trooper.

You are a rifleman first before everything else, and all must pass these tests regularly. I should have joined earlier! Well it is very dissappointing the way it is going now. The army reserve is where the ARA gets most of its diggers from. And now that they are sending people in with substandard training makes me wonder what the hell is going on.

I was reviewing some of the training programs the other day with some old mates and the way i figure it, it will take 2 years to become a fully qualified private – ECN 343 rifleman. Now, if you wanted to do something like become a specialist like an assault pioneer or in a DFSW (direct fire support weapons) squad, it would take you 3-4 years from enlistment to get these qualifications due to the way they process the training.

And you can only go on a specialist training course if you are deemed appropriate by a panel of your peers. So you are limited in the way of career progression. Christ when i walked out after 6 years i had 9 ECN's and at the rank of corporal, it would take 10-15 years in todays army to do that! I think it's time for women to be allowed into the infantry if they choose to. Whoever disagrees with it obviously do not respect women enough to make a decision for themselves. Sometimes it may be about being macho and all that crap, but most of the time there is a legitimate reason for women not to take combat roles. For example, How many women can carry a minimum 40kg on top of their body?

Then theres the issue of carrying large packs with their hip structure. Then theres also the psychological factor of warfare and how it affects the female mind. I very rarely think that a female would be able to continue fighting after seeing their mates head explode in the pit right next to them. Then there's the hygiene factor, women are required to shower every 3 days. Men are required to shower every 7. The biggest problem with female equality is that its all bullshit.

Women want the right to do things men do. Fair enough.BUT they want it done their way or they want concessions put in place which lessens their ability to operate and lessens responsibilty. Therefore not making it equal at all.

Now i might get flamed for these comments, but you gotta face reality. Men and women are different and its a fact of life. Theres plenty of stuff women do that men can't and you don't hear us complaining about it. We just accept life for what it is. I think it's time for women to be allowed into the infantry if they choose to. For example, How many women can carry a minimum 40kg on top of their body? Not all men are cut out to be infantry.

That doens't mean none of them are. There are some women around the place who could pick me, my pack and gun up and hardly slow down. I'm a lightweight (60kg), give me 3 days worth of food, ammo, water, kevlar jacket and I don't think I'd be walking 6km/hr. Unless you started shooting! Kiwi's did away with male-only corps some time ago, Isreal Defence Force allows women in all roles.

Yes it would be a big change, but eventually I reckon it will happen. Men and women are different and its a fact of life. I agree very much with that statement, but hey, even men are all different to each other. Let me play devils advocate for a moment.. What happens when you're the online Battalion and members of your section are pregnant and can't deploy?:-) You're in the sand and it's that time of the month, Mmm, now where did I see that shop selling sanitary products? (damn, the instructions are all in arabic – lol) The poor old CQ has his hands full getting you bullets and beans, he'll completely freak when he gets an Opdem for sanitary products and the bath platoon.

Well, that was fun. Seriously though, I'm keen to hear ideas how these problems and others can be realistically gotten around. War-fighting – aint it a bitch – ha ha ha. What happens when you're the online Battalion and members of your section are pregnant and can't deploy?:-) Same as when a pogue unit gets called up and a female is preggers she misses out and a reo goes in her place. Days of ODF Battalions are over, if someone isn't ready they just go to the next unit and fill in holes You're in the sand and it's that time of the month, Mmm, now where did I see that shop selling sanitary products I seem to remember getting these packs every few weeks with fresh jocks, socks and t-shirts. Having to provide female stuff wont be hard, considering that we have massive spt and most patrols that are outside are only for a period at a time then back in the esh I am pretty sure they can find their pers products. Same as when a pogue unit gets called up and a female is preggers she misses out and a reo goes in her place.

That's obviously not a good thing for section cohesion. Having to provide female stuff wont be hard, considering that we have massive spt and most patrols that are outside are only for a period at a time then back in the esh I am pretty sure they can find their pers products. Maybe from a males perspective getting your period isn't much of hassle, I wonder what it would be like for a woman getting your period whilst out on patrol in an unsecured hostile environment, probably wouldn't be a good situation to be in I'm betting. My bet is it will eventually happen but I'll be too long in the tooth to worry about it:-) edit: spelling.

Maybe from a males perspective getting your period isn't much of hassle, I wonder what it would be like for a woman getting your period whilst out on patrol in an unsecured hostile environment, probably wouldn't be a good situation to be in I'm betting. Men don't get periods, women do. And if all women are Nancy Wakes, obviously they'll kick ass whether or not one is having a period. Perhaps the hormonal imbalance can be an advantage:) Now, is there a list of exclusions list for people who can't get into Reserves? I think it's time for women to be allowed into the infantry if they choose to.

NZ are already letting them in, as are other armies in the world. Just a matter of time really.

Whoever disagrees with it obviously do not respect women enough to make a decision for themselves. I appreciate your sentiment, but judgmental statements like that are unhelpful and only help undermine the whole debate. History is not a guide, it's a male-dominated society that is about to change, and change we can.ok. Back when I joined the reserves in '92. The days when recruit course was 2 weeks and IET was another 2 weeks. I did the medical, and they queried the fact that I was colour blind. Yes I told them on the forms that I was.

The Medic (back in those day's they werent civilian recruiters, but Defence Recruiters), made the statement.' Your only going into a reserve infantry battalion so colour wont be an issue'. I always found that an odd statement, even today. I think they should bring back the 2 week recruit and IET course, as it allows for those in full time civvy work, who want to do something different.or something for their country.

Back when I joined, our platoon, part of 'C' Coy 10/27RSAR, was full strength, and this was in a country town, infact all platoons of 'C' Company were full strength in 3 Major towns. Then the training changed, people moved on in disgust. At one stage we almagamated with 'A' Company, and more members left. New members who were working full time civvy jobs enquired about joining.

When told they would need to spend 6 weeks away from their jobs, you would never see them again. Now I believe that the Company is not doing so well At the time we would get unemployed people come through the door, do the 6 weeks course, and then we wouldnt see them again as they would either decide that 1. The lifestyle wasnt for them, or 2.

They liked the lifestyle so much that they would simply transfer to the regs and you would never see them again. Bring back the 2 week courses I say. Hampstead Barracks wasnt too bad. And neither was Murray Fridge or Alemain Army Camp (If you had a hip flask of port to keep you warm that is.) Just my 2 cents worth. When I completed recruit training all the females on my course could not even pass a simple fitness test, but when it was just one on one with the training instructor they magically passed.

Perhaps the fitness instructor requires a feminine touch and so failing every female in order to do a one on one session seems to be the recipe for it.:) Obviously I am ineligible in many paths including jury duty and joining the Reserve because I'm deaf, but no doubt I'd easily pass the fitness test in the Reserve. The army doesn't know what they are missing out on not that I need to join it!

(I rather not, coz I'm peace loving anti-war anyway:). Kiwi's did away with male-only corps some time ago Kiwi's never have to actually worry about actually defending anything, which is why they sold off their Air Force.bar a few helicopters and a VIP aircraft. The Israeli's have no choice, they have millions of heavily armed hostile Arabs with a pathological hatred of each and every one of them held back by a thinly held border.

A few years ago when I completed recruit training all the females on my course could not even pass a simple fitness test, but when it was just one on one with the training instructor they magically passed. Funnily enough, a bloke I've gotten to know pretty well was a PTI at Enoggera back in the mid 90's. He said near 75% of females at Enogerra at the time could not meet basic fitness standards but they were instructed to pass them.

Any female Aussie Shiela Grunts would need to be exceptionally strong.having to carry all that kit AND their 40 kilo arses through the bush;) But seriously, I used to be dead against it but I would be all for it if they pass exactly the same tests as the males. None of this easier PT work and lower standards for females. The enemy aren't going to take it easy on some bird who is trying to drag your arse out of the firing line. As for Julian, let me know when your going to Club Pooky, I'll get my little brother to give you a personal tour when you arrive, he'll be overjoyed to make your stay a pleasant one:). Army Reserve's main role is to provide suitable candidates for the Regular Army – IE its a recruiting tool, gap year for non school leavers, try before you buy, ect. Those members that do end up deploying as reservists are not off the shelf soldiers and in most cases require a lot of lead up training to reach the same standards as regular soldiers.

The only difficult thing about recruit training is the shock of recruit training, going from civilian to soldier. I'm sure most serving and ex members on this forum would agree that Kapooka was the easiest training they did in their career. What you learn is very basic – drill, weapons handling, nav, ratel and first aid. What you achieve is the ability to cope with situations that are outside your comfort zone. If at the end of it you don't like it sign your D, hand in your kit and have a beer with us. If you decide to make piss poor excuses and become non-effective then I will administratively discharge you so harshly you will not get past your JOES day in the future. For anyone thinking about having a crack, you are wasting your time thinking.start the ball rolling today.

For the record I didn't do Kapooka. None of this easier PT work and lower standards for females. The enemy aren't going to take it easy on some bird who is trying to drag your arse out of the firing line. We had the same issue in the RAAF fire service when they decided to let females in, I dont have anything against women as long as they can do the job, they lowered the fitness levels for women so they only had to carry a 25kg dummy, men had to carry a 70kg dummy, not too many raaf pilots weigh only 25kg though! The nswfb though on the other hand made their fitness test non-gender so everyone had to pass at the same standard, nothing wrong with that at all!

But would you normally be out in the field overnight? For days on end. At Kapooka you will do a stint of around 4 days where you will be out in the dirt, and the only nod to hygiene is a blue Portaloo (after 80 blokes have hit it, you'll prefer a tree) Post Kapooka you will spend more and more time in field. You wont pull a face if you go a week wearing the same clothes and without bathing – it will be routine. We just did 11 days with 1 shower and change on day 6. The only roof you have above your head is your hootchie, and these days I hardly bother with it.

Bivi bags ftw. Of course after Kapooka you may find life significantly easier if you don't go to Inf; not sure what Pay Corp does:p.

Military = Great money. Spent two years full time before I couldn't stand the lifestyle anymore however (Generic womanising and alcoholism).

If you're the typical geek/nerd, don't join a combat corps, you just won't fit in – join sigs or int (RAA for me, great experience, great money, bad company). Actually, in all honesty, go complete Officer training. Don't look at the Defence recruitment adds and think wondrous things, a lot of the time you're sitting on your ass doing absolutely nothing while attempting to look like you're doing something so you don't get jacked with some BS task. And one more thing.

You can leave anytime you like. You must spend 7 days in the outgoing platoon before leaving (it used to be 21 days) i do believe its either weary dunlop or digger james platoons, not sure its been 6 years since i instructed there. So there is no immediate way out. Even if you have completed the min period of service? (employed full time) I wouldnt just ditch em.

And if its only 7 days before you leave its better then 21 days confinement. Also as much as i would like to join i feel like i will be throwing my youth away (only 16 and 9 months so im just old enough to make it in) because apparently you spend alot of time with the army? (obviously because yr employed with them) but ive had a long hard think about joining and i really don't no. Even if you have completed the min period of service?

(employed full time) octdiamond was talking about Basic at ARTC, Kapooka – those platoons serve as a transition back from Military to Civilian life (Or rehab so you can continue training). They're there for injured recruits (whose conditions aren't severe enough for convalescence leave), administration discharges, etc etc. That's a brief overview of them. They do not exist in real world units. Because apparently you spend alot of time with the army?

(obviously because yr employed with them) The army is not a regular 9-4 job, it IS a lifestlye, if you live on barracks you are fully absorbed in the culture, club events, drinking, going out (tough pre 18:P, I know). As I said, the army is not a regular job, you are on call 24-7 – you can be called in at any time for anything, from drug testing to kit inspections to preparations for war. You are paid 24/7. But ive had a long hard think about joining and i really don't no.

If you don't know, don't enlist. I would definitely recommend against enlisting pre 18. I would advise you to complete HSC/VCE or whatnot and then decide, I personally enlisted at 17 – worst mistake ever, it's taken forever to academically catch up to my class mates from school post discharge. I would think about it and research it 'ALOT', find people who have enlisted – don't go into a recruiting centre to talk about it, they are not the Army (They're a recruiting agency who gets paid for getting people to enlist, yes they have military staff but they are a civilian organisation). So my advice, HSC/Equiv. Then look into it around 18-20. Feel free to hit me up with any more questions, I'll check in on this post or you can Whim me if you want, I'll answer them to be the best of my knowledge (not much has changed since I discharged 3 years ago).

Hey i just turned 18, and have started uni this year, but want to join the reserves Got my YOU session on the 22 of this month Im aiming to make it into the infantr officers, and i was wondering what are my chances? I did pretty well at hsc and im pretty keen any expirence in reserve officers?

Also wondering how the pay works, just checking its per day that you actually go in, ie after training an such. Does that mean that if youve completed training an go in for 40 days of the year (as an example) itd be like 40 times the perday wage? Im aiming to make it into the infantr officers, and i was wondering what are my chances?

I did pretty well at hsc and im pretty keen If you want infantry, go for it. The army struggles with retention and accepts pretty much everyone and anyone – the highs and lows of society. If you're the highly motivated sport/physical orientated person, then you'll be head over heels in infantry (my brother is infantry). I have no experience of reserves as I was in the regular army, but if I recall; 40 days of the year (as an example) itd be like 40 times the perday wage?

That's correct – it looks high but don't forget tax etc etc. If you have your heart set on Infantry, never let the recruitment agency tell you that 'oh we're not taking any of that but here's something similar', don't listen to them (AT ALL – I tried to go into sigs then got signed up for artillery and when I joined my recruitment course had 3 people that were signed up for sigs). It may take you longer to get into a recruitment course, but don't let them twist your arm into something that you're not sure about.

What if your not so sport orientated. Lilke im not unfit but im not the sporty type either? Im more problem solving orientated, and really interested in military tactics and strategy. Id prob go for intelligence officer but thats only fulltime. I guess my question is, is the whole sport side a big determinat in what goes on? Also, how long are the days?

I live in the east of sydney, and the majority of bases ive seen for reserves are out west so id prob be like a few hours trip each day. Actually i lie right down the road from the randwick barracks, are they used for any reserve activity? Also as much as i would like to join i feel like i will be throwing my youth away (only 16 and 9 months so im just old enough to make it in) because apparently you spend alot of time with the army? (obviously because yr employed with them) My advice to anyone about the army is, enrol in the reserves.

Do your recruit training. They will be 'encouraging you' to 'go full time' (aka 'poaching you to the dark side':) ). Don't jump straight away. You can do recruit training while you are doing your HSC. Better paying, more fun than working at maccas, no worries about tax, getting to/from shifts, etc. By the time you finish HSC you can be fully trade qualified in (depending on your unit) infantry, transport (?), pay, artillery, q stores, some streams of engineers.

You will have avoided the 'hurry up and wait' part of the army where full time recruits go from Kapooka, go home for 2-3 weeks, then go to their corps training school and. Wait until there are enough people for an intake for their corps training. I know that at Pucka there is f* all to do and a lot of people got minor police records just waiting for their course to start. Ie for the first time in their life they are away from home they are being paid they have nothing to do but get their name marked off at 0600. So they drink, fight, crash their car.

Don't do it that way, join as a reservist, when the army wants you for a course you will be booked in and you will get paid a little bit better than a full time member (after you take out their rent, food, tax etc that they are charged for and reservists aren't). Edit: At the end of your IET course (the one that qualifies you in your 'trade') you sign the papers to go full time. Either at your existing reserves unit or at a full time unit depending on corps and what's going on. I heard somewhere i think was here that you can leave the reserves anytime you want unlike full time? Also what is the theory work like during training and militry life. Because im not a very theory person im more hands on and practicle. Also i have found from school i dont learn as good through theory i need to do hands on stuff to really pick things up.

Do you have to do much theory? Like is their written tests/exams during training? And whats the paper work like after? More fun than working at maccas LOL i work at maccas.

How did you no? U stalkin me? In those days, you're off in your civvie job earning 4 times a grunt's wage. And you still get the fun stuff. Or in some cases, finish high school. You can join reserves at 16yrs 9mths. Two options: 1.

Do recruit course as a chocko while still at high school. Finish high school and enlist as a regular forces member on trade-qualified money from day 1. Leave school. Wait until a recruit course starts. Spend a heap of your first year 'waiting' for the next course. Which one is a better option to say become Corporal in the shortest time after completing your HSC?

Like I said, if you want to be a soldier, be a soldier. No point joining at 16 and a bit, spending time on courses etc and getting poor grades at school.

Better off playing sport, getting superfit, doing some volunteer work, doing some leadership course, getting your bronze medallion, getting your Senior First Aid Certificate, researching where you want to be in the Army, and getting good grades. That'll get you past the enlistment assessment and a place in front of the Board if you want to be an Officer. If you want to be a soldier, be a soldier. No point joining at 16 and a bit, spending time on courses etc and getting poor grades at school. How many civies really know enough to make that decision (excluding 'army brats' (sorry for the phrase don't have one better))? If you go to 'the right school' ie have 'the right' parents your suggestions sound great. If you live where I do your opportunities to do what you suggest are extremely limited.

While I don't think there is active discrimination going on – in fact I know they have affirmative action programs – I reckon you would find a large proportion of officers come from a small number of postcodes. Or at least, a small number of postcodes are remarkably over-represented in the officer ranks. (I'm no statistician). How many civies really know enough to make that decision (excluding 'army brats' (sorry for the phrase don't have one better))?

Most of us make ill informed decisions about our careers, which potentially have long term repurcussions. At least with the defence force you can dip your toe in by progressing thru cadets >reserves >regs. Get a taste for it b4 you commit yourself to 4 or whatever years. If your heart aint in, youre useless to the ADF, you probably learn skills that are useless on civie street & 4 yrs down the drain. I've decided to get in the Army full time as a medic. I will stay in the Army for at least 6 years then maybe get into nursing or stay with the Army the rest of my working career.

I have just done my 4 years and at the moment I am looking at staying in for the rest of my career. My interview with the Army officer and the psychiatrist is on Saturday the 25th of July. Anyone have any tips for me? Good luck with it, Be honest make sure you researched your job and know what it is like, Also if I'm lucky and the interview is a success for me how long until i get sent out to Kapooka? No Idea to this one, it depends on how many other people from your state applied for your job, there are many things that can influence your start date, not only positions available but also when is the IET course conducted etc Thank you. Sorry the info is late I have been away on EX for 6 weeks, get used to being away from home, I think on average I spend 5 months away from home either on courses or out field on exercises. And that does not count the 8 months away on deployment.

I know that every recruit gets issued with a kit at recruit training. Is this yours to keep? And what is in the kit? When I went through reserves and fulltimers were issued the same kit, however the reserves had to hand some items back on marchout, I do not know if that is the case still.

-clothes You get issued the uniform that you need to wear. -boots You also get issued your footwear. However I would recommend getting your own fitness shoes. -sleeping equipment Yes you get a sleeping bag. It is called a hootchie in the army, like this one -knife/bayonet? You would get issued a knife of some sort and also a bayonet, however the bayonet has to be returned. Thanks r1man.

So it would have been like christmas:D when you got issued with your kit! I would not say xmas, as these toys you have to clean and keep in a particular way. From what ive reasearched you get trained to use the Austeyr rifle, but no one ever talks about a pistol. Do you get trained in the use of a pistol? Yes you will know how to clean it, to such a degree it would be like an extension of your arm. Sounds like you are going there sometime soon, what job are you looking?

After reading some other posts I feel I must reply, being a soldier and all.. SheikYerbouti – there are many differences to being a reg and a reserve. A reserve may think he can actually do the same job, however a regular soldier is fair better trained than a reserve is. A reserve does no where near the amout of work a fulltime soldier does.

PooshWaltzer – I do not know what back burner you are talking about, I have deployed to the middle east and actually done the job I have been trained for. There was no sitting around waiting for a war. Sydney Garrie – If you do the chocko course as you said and then transfer to the fulltime army, you will have to do parts of kapooka again. The reserve course is not the same as the fulltime course, parts are left out so the chocko's can go back to the family. It take a good amount of time to become a Cpl, there are other courses to do, you have to be proficient in your job. Not just do time in it.

Therealskull – +1 someone who knows what does go on. TheDave – +1, banana0692 – there is theory, the army is a maze of paper work, but there are always people around to help. In the army it is a networked workplace, The easiest way to get rank in the army is to be a SSO, however you would not really command troops on the ground. However you need something to have something the army wants, like being a surgeon. Ive just dislocated my knee on the weekend.

Will this effect me on wheter or not i will be able to join the army? I'd be inclined to say it would be luck as to who oversees your medical details upon application. I began the application process in December. I'd dislocated my shoulder at the beginning of last year. I was told to see a specialist and supply them with more information. I had an MRI and the specialist gave me the all clear. Recruiting rejected me because they read that I had a 'lateral tear'.

Upon asking them why I was rejected when I was said to be fine, I was told that they would not have read past those words. As soon as they read that they rejected me, despite the specialist and my GP explaining that I am well and truly fit for service. As of now I'm still appealing the decision, but I am comfortable I have finally collected all the proof I need to say that I am fit.

My advice which I've given in another thread (and that was given to me by a RAAF officer of over 20 years, unofficially) is that if its not going to be an issue in your future, then don't even mention it. The medical team will make the application hell over the smallest things. If something does happen in the future, then you will be looked after; that is unless you have a severe medical issue, in which case you could be in trouble if it is discovered you were aware of it.

Go and discuss it with your GP, and any potential complications that may result in the future. My advice which I've given in another thread (and that was given to me by a RAAF officer of over 20 years, unofficially) is that if its not going to be an issue in your future, then don't even mention it.

The medical team will make the application hell over the smallest things. If something does happen in the future, then you will be looked after; that is unless you have a severe medical issue, in which case you could be in trouble if it is discovered you were aware of it.

+1 5.5 weeks before I joined the RAAF quite a few moons ago, I fractured the radius head in my right arm (near elbow). No way was I going to tell recruiting (back when it was still ADF run). Fair enough it was a bit uncomfortable doing push ups or chin ups during recruits, but hey shite happens. If I had told them, no doubt, the 14 months that it had taken so far would have stretched into at least 20 months. Unless you have a severe illness, visible scars, require constant medication or if they can find out, I wouldn't be telling them, my opinion only. (They made me see an orthopaedic specialist for my shoulder, not for the fact that it was ok, but to clarify that the 10cm nail/pin that was inserted and then removed 6 weeks later (some 8 years before), was actually not in there!!!!

The DR didn't believe me even after I did push ups and flapped my arms like a bird!):):). I want to join the ADF when I finish school. I am not sure exactly what part yet.

But I want to do something like being a rifleman or something not something gay like logistics or a photographer or something. I guess I would just feel like i'm not really helping my country.

The biggest deterent for me though is the danger of it. Is the danger in the adf like death overated like you have more chance dieing in a car then in the military or is it actualy as dangerous as it looks/sounds. Is it like not so dangerous because of all the training and gear you get or is there like still a very high risk of being blown up or shot or something? As I said before i'm not like really sure what I want to do in the adf yet but i wanna do something where i get to stop bad guys from being bad.

Lol I know it sounds like i just want to play with guns but I understand what goes behind it but I just feel like i wouldnt be doing my part otherwise and if im not doing that i might as well just go get a normal job somewhere else. And to the guy who said there is a maze of paper work is that just in training during service as well? Is it hard paperwork? Edit: also I read that there are certain things that would seem normal medical conditions in everyday life that can affect you getting in. And 1 of them was asthma. I have asthma.

I can see how it would affect someone like if your in the middle of the bush through a long treck or being shot at you cant have someone having an asthma attack. My asthma isn't that bad though.

I'm almost grown out of it now. Physical activity doesn't affect me anymore the only real trigger I have is cigarette smokenot even normal smoke and when I get sick I get it also.

But as long as i stay healthy and im pretty sure they try and make sure of that with everyone and I stay away from people smoking I should be fine. Do you think that would still affect me getting in? But i could have it all very wrong. But thats how i think atm No biggie. The army functions as an entire organism, every role is important. It's probably best you made that mistake on the internet, opposed to real-life.

Just be careful what you say in regards to other peoples professions. In regards to risk/safety in the army.

It's a difficult assessment. Statistically speaking, the risk of death/injury is pretty low, however, it exists. Just last week 3 diggers were injured in Afghanistan. The media doesn't play much heed to injuries, but some can be very debilitating. Imagine burns to 90% of your body, no legs, no arms, blind etc. That can happen when you get caught up in an IED attack. The taliban have no shortage of old-bombs to use.

If you go to Afghanistan, expect to see flapped up stuff. There are things soldiers don't like to speak about, but they can never forget about. PTSD and depression are linked to war experiences. If you really wanted a realistic, uncensored view of what to expect, sites like liveleak.com are very good in telling the story from a soldiers point of view. I went to a YOU session last week and pass the dreadful aptitude test. Anyhow I was excited about joining the reserve but it will be so difficult to justify 28 days off work for the general enlistment training. I don’t want to lose my job in this fragile economy.

Allot of people don't realise how much committeemen you really need to put in for the reserves – it's allot more than advertised. Once you do the 28 days you then need to do your IET's – which are two separate 2 week courses. Your NCO's will push for you to get these done as soon as possible. Every 12 months you also need to do a 2 week course. If you don't they will threaten you with a discharge as it's a basic requirement for the reserves. Once a month you will attend a training weekend. Starts Friday afternoon & sometimes you may not be dismissed till late on the Sunday night.

It all depends if everyone gets stuck in to return all the controlled stores, non-teching weapons & cleaning. Also you can't forget the parade nights. I don't get home till 23:30 on Tuesday's & it always mucks about with my sleeping pattern as I have to get up early for work the following morning. With the reserves you could arguably be on courses constantly. It all depends on how much effect you really want to put in. For me personally I don't have any time really for hobbies.

As it's a constant juggle between for work / family life & the Army. The Reserves isn't a hobby, it's a job & should be treated as such. He biggest deterent for me though is the danger of it. Is the danger in the adf like death overated like you have more chance dieing in a car then in the military or is it actualy as dangerous as it looks/sounds.

It's an inherently dangerous activity, in training and deployments. If you aren't prepared to accept this risk, strongly rethink your desire to join. And 1 of them was asthma. I have asthma. Physical activity doesn't affect me anymore the only real trigger I have is cigarette smokenot even normal smoke and when I get sick I get it also. What about smoke from flares?

Explosive discharge? Fine particulate matter in air? Capsicum spray? Besides, you can't choose to extinguish every source of tobacco smoke in the area, be it from other soldiers in confined space, civilians you are protecting or any other arbitrary source. Do you think that would still affect me getting in? I would guess yes.

Especially if you have used any medication for it in the last 10 years. But that is, as stated, a guess, and the only way to know for certain is to do a YOU day and get a DFR medical evaulation. Just don't get your hopes up. I would guess yes. Especially if you have used any medication for it in the last 10 years.

But that is, as stated, a guess, and the only way to know for certain is to do a YOU day and get a DFR medical evaulation. Just don't get your hopes up. They do take people with asthma now, but as you alluded to it needs to be either childhood asthma that has gone or a very mild case of it. I went through recruits with 2 people that has asthma and used medication to control it, obviously the fact they had it wasn't diclosed to DFRC:). They do take people with asthma now, but as you alluded to it needs to be either childhood asthma that has gone or a very mild case of it. Absolutely correct in my experience.

I went through recruits with 2 people that has asthma and used medication to control it, obviously the fact they had it wasn't diclosed to DFRC:) Depending on the severity, I would be most hesitant about working with these soldiers. Not because of a controllable illness, but because they knowingly placed themself in a situation were they could be a liability to their squad (taking the extreme pessimistic view), putting not just their own but the lives of others at risk. The medical questions aren't only to protect the applicant, but also those the applicants works with.:). What about smoke from flares? Explosive discharge? Fine particulate matter in air? Capsicum spray?

Well i cant say about capsicum spray as i have never come into contact with any or tear gas or explosive discharge. But used flares before if they are the same as normal flares and i was fine. Im normaly fine even with ciggy smoke if i have my inhaller. Besides, you can't choose to extinguish every source of tobacco smoke in the area, be it from other soldiers in confined space, civilians you are protecting or any other arbitrary source. James, might I suggest researching 'killology', and if particularly bored, try and get a hold of Lt Col Dave Grossman's book 'On Killing' and/or 'On Combat, and look up the work of S.L.A. It's a fascinating subject, and the New Scientist article is correct. Did you know that during WWI, it was estimated that only about 2/100 soldiers actually fired their weapons to kill someone?

The remainder either never fired, or fired in a manner that would purposely miss their target. In WWII, it was about 25/100. The whole psychological concept of killing someone is something that we have a very hard time doing.

You'll find that it's based off all that work, that now in training for law enforcement and military you fire at human outlines, images of people and run 'real time' scenarios with human targets (though obviously not live ammunition). It's all part of conditioning the mind so when faced with an enemy combatant, you WILL pull that trigger. Anyhow this is a little offtopic, but ties in with the mental challenges. It's all well and good to think you can happily shoot someone with your mouse, but not quite so easy in real life. Did my YOU day yesterday (Ares), but I'm a bit confused because the letter said it would last for 4 hours minimum and I was expecting around 7 hrs. I finished the aptitude test – ran out of time and didn't even get a chance to guess the last column. Quick maths test.

Filled out a medical question sheet. Then had an interview with a lady from the RAAF about my job preferences. I am leaning towards rifleman atm (officer entry was also an option) because there is a unit right near my house that only has riflemen and q store positions. Once the interview was done, she said the medical forms would be faxed to Sydney and that I'd be able to go now. Total time: ~2 hours. Hopefully I didn't miss anything.? I've always wanted military training but I don't want to commit my life, or a few years of it to the army full time at this point.

Is the army reserves really that flexible? Are you locked in? What happens if you carry out the training but then decide that it's not for you? Can you leave any time? Or do you have to keep going back throughout the year?

How in depth is the training? After completing basic training can you go onto more specialized training? Or is that about it at reservist level?

Like for example can you do parachute training? More in depth weapons training? Ah so many questions! How often are elements of 6 getting a guernsey over there, & in what capacity? I assume some of engineers from Enoggera barracks are part of the reconstruction thingo.

My neighbour had no clue about going. Well the reason it is kept quiet on who goes where and when is mostly due to security. We all know the Army go overseas so there is no secret there.

And if you look up 6 RARs history here you can see where they have been But if I was to say I am off to wherever tmw in whatever unit and I get found out then I would be sacrificing my spot due to opsec. No, actually that Officer is spot on. No it hasn't I am in a reserve unit and have a large involvement in recruitment and retention, the only thing we have lost is 2 tuesdays a month. Unit training days come from a different bucket of money to Corps training courses so all IET mod courses should be non affected. The only loss here will be if Unit Cadre staff do not effectively manage their unit training plans, all required competency training has no restrictions on it and the only course that have been canceled are due to being under subscribed not from funds.

Role of the reserve has changed Not at all the role of the reserve has been RFF and HRR oriented for quite a while now and continues to be so I am making an assumption here but the officer who had a cry to the paper is possibly a person who was a regular parader outside of scheduled training days (we call them super chocs) and now that the cut back has been implemented he has to justify why they should pay extra ARTS for him to sit in an office and drink brews out side of group training periods. There is also ample opportunities for OS trips and CFTS for Reservists as well. Assessment day in 2 weeks! A bit nervous.

Update: Finished my assessment day today! You'll be right plat. Psych test was pretty full on, she really hammered me with questions and tried to make me give up. I just kept answering questions for what seemed like hours and finally she said I was free to go. Did half of the medical test Then the Defence Interviewer called me in and talked to me for a bit. He was very friendly and down to earth and said he had no problems recommending me. He said I was class 1 on the medical and shook my hand.

I was pretty happy but then found out that I actually hadn't finished all of the medical test.and could still fail:( So in to the doctor and she had me strip down and do some pushups/situps and a bunch of other things. After all this she gave me class 3r!!!:( for a mole on my back that needs checking by a doctor. Ah well.hopefully it should be fine and it just means I'll have to wait a couple more weeks to get my enlistment date. Oh, I also got my hat:).

If you want to be deployed to somewhere like ghan then your going to want to be full time. I'm not fussed, one of the blokes in reserves that I'm good mates with now wants to go to the Solomons so if I get to do a tour with him I'd be stoked. But either way, I've heard of choccos being deployed to Ghan, I'd probably have a better chance after I get all my driver quals (light cav). I've got my YOU session in 5 days.

Even the assessment day is piss, the YOU session I could have done passed out. Psych test was pretty full on Mine was hilarious.

Her: 'So tell me about the bad experiences you had growing up' Her: 'Oh gee your parents sound shit' Me: /facepalm. I've heard of choccos being deployed to Ghan, I'd probably have a better chance after I get all my driver quals (light cav). Not light Cav, Light Cav do a job in unarmoured rovers, Cav get deployed in Armoured Vehicles, different role doing a different job, I would have a guess that I would have some idea about Cav as I am in one of the Cav units in the reg forces, Mate if you are wanting to deploy in Cav you need to offer them something that others do not, and I can tell you if a chock in my unit, yes we have some, wanted to deploy he would have a hard time as there are many fulltime soldiers who could and would get deployed before and part time soldier would. DavidRocket writes. The last place on the planet you want to try to get fit at is Kapooka by all acounts.

Make sure you put the effort in before hand. Since I don't have to go until April 13th I have been a bit lazier then I should. Kapooka does not have the time to make you fit, you need to have some standard of fitness before coming, after you arrive at Kapooka there is a fitness test, fail this and straight away you will be removed from a platoon, and in turn this could stuff up your IET training. As for being Fit and going to the gym 5 days a week, great on you, means nothing to the instructors, I know of recruits who boasted like you have done and then broke down in a hall way as he could not iron properly, lace his boots up etc, Kapooka is designed to change the way you think and live to that of the army, basically you are going from a life where you can decide things, to an organization that has a method for doing everything, and a timing that this needs to be done.

I did kapooka back in Feb 2003. Joined up for infantry – rifleman reserves I wasn't really fit, but was just fit enough to pass the fitness, then I didn't keep up my fitness for the 1mth before going. Got there and had the fitness test again.

And I failed it. I HATE running.

Got put into a remedial fitness group. I'm still in my platoon, but had to do extra fitness classes during dinner time. It sucked, but I wasn't the only one, but u had to do it until they test you again and pass it. I wanted to leave after week. But heard it would take 3 weeks to process and get out. So pretty much had to stick it out for the 6.5weeks.

Stinking hot in Feb, but I lost weight while I was there, became more fit. Won the Skill at Arms award, Best Shooter of my platoon. What can I say.

All those arcade games prepare you to shoot.:P Graduating out of Kapooka felt really good. Great accomplishment for me. I'm no longer in the reserves, as I was trying to transfer to Signals and was being told the position I wanted wasn't available, and I left the army. But found out later the job was there, and I knew it was, but it was too late.

And I had to reapply which I did after 1 year, but the running 2.4km was always my downfall. I can't run for long, but I can shoot. It was still a great experience. Actually there is one light cav unit in NSW that has bushmasters. Bushmaster Licence is a ticket to the Ghan Yes you did correct me, but you are right Bushmaster is a license, B Sqn ¾ is also a Cav unit that operates a Bushmaster, refered to as a Bus in armoured units, these guys also hold an ECN that is for another vehicle as the Bushmaster is a vehicle ANY one in the ADF can drive. Go ahead and get a License for a Bushmaster, you can also be a cook at the same time and also have a Bushmaster ticket, if you read the description of your job it does not mention deployments 'A Light Cavalry unit’s manning and equipment enable it to conduct a variety of tasks including reconnaissance, surveillance, offensive, defensive, security, peace keeping and support operations.'

I bet some money on it that even with a Bushmaster license, you would not get a seat on a deployment to Afghanistan, also as a reserve when you do Kapooka there are many things that you are not trained on that you would need to deploy, even the fulltime soldiers who complete Kapooka can not get deployed for some time, There are things like mannings, rotations, units online, units offline, units on stand down, etc, it is not as simple as I have a license for a vehicle can I deploy. When I you doing Kapooka? You would have more chance deploying as an ADF gap year soldier than a reserve, at least he has completed the full 80 days.

Mechanised infantry mech!= bushmaster Bushmaster == motorised 6RAR Buckets (M113) == Mech 5 & 7 RAR rifle companies need cav support to be mechanised. Ummm you are talking to someone that has over 12 years in the ARA and 2 years in a Reserve unit, so I know what I know and have seen it and done it Awesome, great spent 12 years, and 2 years as a reserve. I have also spent time as in instructor at ARTC as well as ARes IET courses. And let me tell you I have seen quite few ppl get trips with specialist units because they needed bushie drivers Maybe in the past, but as I mentioned there is a unit now that is for Bushmaster vehicles, any fulltime soldier can be deployed as a Bushmaster driver, so why would the army send a reserve, the bushmaster is not a specialist vehicle now. I could imagine the news, Reserve Bushmaster driver dies in Afghanistan, Army manning at an all time low. Now sending reserves to fight on the front line. The specialist units are now taking armoured crews to crew the Bushmasters for them.

Nice of you to spend 12 years in the army, congrats at that, but if you want to deploy come back and serve again. Because regs keep breaking the vehicles. A few guys from XLH are getting deployed to the Solomons for Operation Anode because the regs are flapping up the Rovers and they're sick of it. Word around XLH is that if you push hard enough for deployment (anywhere) you'll get it, XLH CO and 13 brigades CO is keen to see their soldiers deployed so they're happy to push it. Solomons and Malaysia have been a reserve trip for a while. Word in the regs ( my unit ) was coz so we could go to Timor, Iraq and Afghan, and not need to do a rotation to the sollies.

Solomons and Malaysia have been a reserve trip for a while. Word in the regs ( my unit ) was coz so we could go to Timor, Iraq and Afghan, and not need to do a rotation to the sollies And that has been great for both the ARes and ARA. But trust me don't be surprised if they start getting a more active involvement in ARA activities. As the Chief and CA have both stated and it was presented in the Defence white paper that they are trying to utilise the chocs more.

But your point before where you told me if I wanted to deploy rejoin the ARA I totally agree, if you want to join the Army to go on a deployment then sign up to the ARA but there are more and more places opening up now for chocs too. Ut your point before where you told me if I wanted to deploy rejoin the ARA I totally agree, if you want to join the Army to go on a deployment then sign up to the ARA but there are more and more places opening up now for chocs too. I do not doubt that you CO would encourage an active deployment to the MEAO, I just do not think I will ever see a reserve line trooper being deployed at the current rate with my unit or any other cav unit, I would rather have a reo driver than a reserve driver of my armoured vehicle. I know of a unit that was reserves and a mix of fulltime ARA, 2/14, and still I do not know of a choc deploying as a choc, some had the option of going CFTS to deploy, that was back when the trips were 6 months, so in essence this person had time to get the skill set up. I personally think, anyone who joins up to deploy, really has to think of the reasons for joining the defence force, a deployment is a lot more than cash, I had that thought when I was deployed, until it all changed in a second, When I receieve new troopers in my troop, I always ask them who is here to deploy, most would say yes, my reply to them is quite simply, you are not here to deploy, you are here to train, for a war, and if you think you are good enough to deploy, then prove it, there are over 500 soldiers in my regiment, who are also good enough to deploy have done the training. The attitude of the people coming through the system has changed, yes I know that society has changed and the army needs to change, however if a soldier is told to jump, it should be an instant reaction, not a question about how high to jump. I am not in recruiting or training command, to influence these recruits or IET's however I have also done courses at these places and as time goes on, it is obvious that the standard of recruit is dropping.

I know of a unit that was reserves and a mix of fulltime ARA, 2/14, and still I do not know of a choc deploying as a choc, some had the option of going CFTS to deploy, that was back when the trips were 6 months, so in essence this person had time to get the skill set up. I was a choc for 10 yrs & knew my limitations compared to the regs. I'd want some serious training time before being deployed o/s. I cant see the need to send reserves over unless, like you say, they transfer over to a reg unit. I do not know of a choc deploying as a choc, some had the option of going CFTS to deploy, No choc deploys as choc, even RCB. They all have to go on a CFTS contract. I think this may be where we are getting confused, when I was talking about chocs deploying I still meant in regard to them originating from choc units but they go onto CFTS have to do any courses required get attached to whatever unit and do MRE then deploy.

I would rather have a reo driver than a reserve driver of my armoured vehicle. A reo driver or a Reservist who is fully qualled with 4+ years and ARA equivalent training? The reason competency based training was brought in so that there was indicators of where a choc was in retrospect to his ARA level and what they need to become the same level. Mind you as a choc they can get the same breadth of knowledge as an ARA but they will never get the same Depth. Do you know that chocs can get the option to complete ARA IETS for Inf if they want and have the time? Anyone still checking this??

I am also thinking of joining the Reserves (and have been for a while). I've read this whole thing but there are only bits of useful info for me here as I want to join as a SSO (civil engineering). Does anyone have any idea what that training is like? I'm guessing a lot less strenuous than regular recruits?

I can easily pass the basic fitness test but, honestly, I'm not willing to put up with being ordered around for a couple of weeks. I know it's only a short time, but I know I would do something stupid like yell at the commanding officer 'Sir, does doing this make you feel better about yourself, Sir?' It's just not my style! Happy to help and I'm a hard worker but I will not scrub brass strips on walls for no reason! Also, any one with experience in the 21st regiment at Holsworthy? I'm interested to know what I would be doing on Tuesday nights and the one weekend a month.

I make good money where I am so I only want to do it if I am doing something worthwhile (honestly, as long as it's worthwhile for me I don't care if it is for them!). I expect that if anyone on this forum has experienced it, I will get a lot more truth from you than from a recruitment officer.

This question might seem to contradict what I said about not being interested in the $ but, out of interest, the service allowance – is that paid per day of actual service, pro rata? For example, if I go for Tuesday night do I get half of that or all of it? I know $11 isn't the lottery but, like I said, I'm mostly just interested as the Army website is vague on so many things like this! I want to join as a SSO (civil engineering). As an SSO, you don't go thru the same training as a soldier or GSO's.

You do what is referred to as 'the knife, fork, spoon course' by personnel all ready in the Army. You will still need to do and pass the fitness requirements thou. Info can be found here I'm not willing to put up with being ordered around for a couple of weeks SSO's are treated like adults I will not scrub brass strips on walls for no reason! As an officer you wont do this type of work. I'm interested to know what I would be doing on Tuesday nights and the one weekend a month.

I will get a lot more truth from you than from a recruitment officer. I was a recruiting liasion in my unit and have also been posted to DFR. But I'll try not to lie to much;) I can't speak for your unit directly but in our unit the Pl Comd tends to spend tue doing admin and on the weekends if we are doing Pl work he will be with us otherwise off planning stuff for us to do.

(This is for Infantry) if I go for Tuesday night do I get half of that or all of it? Service allowance for reserves is a per day allowance, so if you go in for 3 hrs or 6 hrs it is $11. You get this everytime you parade.

Also you get what is called a travel allowance which is about $5 for. Puckman59 your attitude sucks, firstly it sounds like you have an issue with authority – if you don't want to be ordered around then consider another activity for your free time. Secondly, SSO's get the bare minimal training which is not designed to test you as an officer, you only need to attend to pass (you can even fail your rifle qualification and still be posted). Fortunately you wear the same rank as GSO's so most diggers will give you the same respect. I'm not an Army engineer but I dare say you may be a technical adviser to the CO/Brigade commander.

But hey this is the internet and its very difficult to gauge tone, I'm confident you will enjoy reserve service. Can anyone confirm if an SSO goes to RMC with rank or is promoted on completion? Vics, DavidRocket, TheCapn. How disappointing all your responses are.

Can you please describe to me what my 'attitude' is? I don't have a problem with authority. If my boss at work tells me to do something I'll do it, but if I think there may be a better way, or if I think there is something more important to do, I will discuss it with him.

I don't think it would take too much reading between the lines to see that I was saying I have a problem with poorly wielded authority, hence: 'Happy to help and I'm a hard worker but I will not scrub brass strips on walls for no reason!' I'm sure for the 'grunts' (not my word) there is a very important reason why you need to be able to follow an order without thinking about it – in a battle, thinking gets a soldier killed. However, I know that this is not the way I work. I don't think knowing yourself and being honest about it is a flaw. On the other hand, I think criticising someone for that introspection is. If you were to tell me that, an an officer, I will still be expected to blindly follow orders and not exercise any judgement, then I would have appreciated your advice and probably reconsidered joining. I was hoping that I would get responses here saying an officer is encouraged to use their judgement as I believe that, contrary to your frontline soldier, an officer needs to be able think clearly and quickly under pressure.

Scrubbing brass strips does not require thinking! I have a 1st class honours degree in structural/civil engineering and a few years of experience at a leading consultant designing structures of all different types. I see the potential for a mutually agreeable relationship between myself and the Reserves – they get an experienced engineer with leadership abilities, and I get training to improve myself. I'm just not interested in doing things that aren't productive for either party. Is that really such a horrible thing to say that I deserved these responses?

Your general view seems to be that if I don't conform to your ideas of what is 'normal', then I have the wrong 'attitude'. If that's an idea that is perpetuated through the armed services then I will definitely have to re-think this. Fever 1793 Pdf Download Free. Therealskull, thanks very much for the response, it was very informative. For all the above reasons I liked the distinction you demonstrated by saying 'SSO's are treated like adults'. That is all I'm after.

I'm not an 18 year old kid looking for direction in life. Vics, I acknowledge your statement that tone is difficult to gauge on the internet and I hope that this has clarified my logic. If you have a problem with it still, I'd love to hear your reasoning. No showers, no change of clothes allowed. Every other day, you have to sprint up a mountain and then crawl down the other side on your guts 12 times. If you get cold, wet, hot, whatever, there's not a lot you can do about it. For these 7 days, you will receive $490.

You forgot about carrying a shovel & digging – Foxhole, latrine and other wastes. Oh and while your walking with your heavy ill fitting boots you'll be carrying a rifle, a water bottle and an equipment belt, at the same time to save space in your pack you may as well wear the 4kg cast iron pot on your head.

Other than that Classic Post.:-)). Yeah I don't think I was very clear in that respect. To me 'ordered around' and 'following orders' are two different things but I can see how to anyone else they probably mean the same thing! To me ordered around means people being total a-holes just for the sake of it, whereas I'm not an idiot – I know that there are ranks in the military and that you are expected to do what your superior orders you to do. I have no problem with the training being difficult, in fact I would rather it be difficult or it's just wasting time.

That's why I'd rather there actually be a purpose behind it. The impression I get is that officers training for SSOs will be what I'm hoping for, though I'd actually prefer a bit more physical training.

In a battle, thinking gets a soldier killed. Your not even an officer yet, correction you haven't even joined yet. And yet you are telling people (some of whom are already in the defence force) what might kill them on the battlefield. If you were to tell me that, an an officer, I will still be expected to blindly follow orders and not exercise any judgement, then I would have appreciated your advice and probably reconsidered joining.

When you first become an officer you will still have to be a shit kicker to a certain extent. Being an officer isn't a free pass to do whatever you like! Your general view seems to be that if I don't conform to your ideas of what is 'normal', then I have the wrong 'attitude'. If that's an idea that is perpetuated through the armed services then I will definitely have to re-think this.

To quote the PTI from Kapooka 'You joined the Army, you came to us. You will Conform!' I really hope you don't join BTW. Guess what Max Rebo, I really don't care if you hope I won't join. If every person in the world quit what they wanted to do because some insensitive and thoughtless person they never met tried to scare them off, then the world would be a pretty terrible place. Can someone who is not an ***hole explain to me why I'm getting such negative responses here?

Do people in the armed forces really hate the idea of someone who wants the ability to think for themselves? I understand it's probably not the reality, but what's the harm in discussing it? I don't think I've said anything offensive, or at least I didn't mean to. I have not tried to demean infantry or make it sound like I think you're an idiot if you're not an officer. I wish some of the people responding would actually justify their responses rather than just being full of negativity. I came here genuinely seeking advice on something I was really interested in and all I get is, mostly, really negative responses.

I do hope you believe in karma and that people will be as rude to you without even the decency to properly explain why. I remember a time when this forum used to be really helpful and full of nice and helpful people. Oh, and in response to your statements: 1) no I'm not an officer but I understand the need for decisive action in battle. If people weren't trained to accept orders then, when ordered to do something really dangerous or really difficult, they would be more likely to think 'no thanks' and not do it, or not give it their all.

When that action was something really important and it doesn't get done, they may risk their own and other people's lives. And the line 'thinking gets a soldier killed' is an exact quote from my grandfather who fought in WWII. He was told that during his training. Oh and have you ever discussed something that you weren't involved in? Ever talked about what a sportsperson could have done better when you didn't even play that sport?

Do you honestly think you are only allowed to talk about something once you have first hand experience? I might be completely wrong with my view but you don't have to be a d**k about it, you could have just said something like 'actually some people might be offended by that statement' and explained your view to me. Ever heard of a discussion? 2) Did I ever say being an officer was a free pass for anything?

Did I not say that I want it to be hard work, just not mindless hardwork? Can you explain to me why that's so horrible? I'd love to hear why. How disappointing all your responses are. While perhaps those people didn't exactly go about telling you in a politically correct way, the army is not for you if you're not prepared to conform and be moulded into what they make of you. Nothing is 'wrong' with your attitude, but you're not the sort of person the army would be looking for. I'd suggest the RAAF instead.

An experienced ADF member once told me something (albeit a big generalisation) along the lines of this: The army take a person and mould them into what ever they want. The RAAF look for people already with the qualities they want. Thanks Tromac – I appreciate the honest advice (please others, note the difference between honest and rude). I'm not too surprised that people think my attitude does not suit the army (though I'm so glad you reminded me there is nothing 'wrong' with me!), it was wishful thinking for sure. I thought that the reserves, being made up of people who spend more time in civillian life than military life, might be the place I hoped it would be – i.e.

A slightly more relaxed version of the army. I was told by someone that the engineer's regiment at Holsworthy was really relaxed but, if the general attitude of the army is what is reflected here I guess it really is not for me. Your advice sounds great though, I'll try and track down someone from the RAAF and talk about what opportunities they might have in Sydney. Thanks again. I was hoping that I would get responses here saying an officer is encouraged to use their judgement as I believe that, contrary to your frontline soldier, an officer needs to be able think clearly and quickly under pressure.

Scrubbing brass strips does not require thinking! One of the responsibilities and key characteristics of an officer is judgment, an officer is expected to have the judgment and courage to 'question' a superiors orders and provide a better or more efficient plan. HOWEVER when you have provided a better plan and your superior still goes on with their own plan, that is final. As an officer you won't be scrubbing brass strips but you must be prepared and willing to do it, your soldiers will be doing it and you will lose them if they believe your just there for cucumber sandwiches at the O's mess.

Also you will be ordered around like all other soldiers particularly while learning the rifle, the package they teach is identical and regardless of rank, same with drill, first aid, navigation and radio. I have a 1st class honours degree in structural/civil engineering and a few years of experience at a leading consultant designing structures of all different types. Generally, your civilian qualifications will not make you a capable officer, I accept you may have effective management and leadership skills, and that command can be developed in you. Civilian and Military are very different, although you can apply alot of your military skills to civilian life you can't do as much of the reverse. I can go on and on about what why your attitude sucks and what the expectations of being an officer are however it won't apply to you, as an SSO your only responsibility will be your professional trade and perhaps a few regimental duties/corporate governance.

I don't expect you to have the same military knowledge or skill as a GSO but I do expect you to have a go and demonstrate to your peers and your soldiers that you are ready to lead if required, after all you wear the same rank as me.there is no difference between GSO & SSO in terms of uniform/rank. I leave you with a quite to consider form Colonel Mansfield: 'The oath to serve your country as a soldier did not include a contract for the 'normal luxuries and comforts' enjoyed within our society.

On the contrary, it implied hardship, loyalty and devotion to duty regardless of rank. Thanks Doggy. I was really disheartened by the replies I got but two in a row with constructive criticism makes me feel a lot better. I do totally understand what you're saying and can definitely see your point that my posts may have seemed conceited – I probably sound like I think I know more than anyone else. Honestly though I was just trying to get an idea of what life in the reserve might be like and I thought the best way to get answers that informed me was to be really honest about what I'm after. Your answer is a good example because it gives me all the information I need!

It's not what I was hoping for, but it answers all my questions. I don't mind being told what to do as much as what might come across. If the CO thinks the hole needs to be deeper, whatever I'll dig it. I'm very much of the mindset that if someone is paying me to do a job, just do it. And I was really concerned by people's descriptions of the training at Kapooka. I'm not a wimp but I can totally see myself being one of the guys crying down the phone on day 15. I just wanted to see if there was a way I could do this without having to experience that because, honestly, why would I want to if I know I would hate it?

I was also thinking about this a lot from an engineering point of view. As a structural engineer I want the freedom to say 'Sir this structure we're designing, we've also done it such and such a way at work and we've found that to be more economical and easier to build' and then I'm happy for the CO to decide how to proceed. Basically I just want to be able to use my experience. If that kind of thing is going to put your career on the line then the army is really not for me. I hope that people don't necessarily think the 'I won't do this' part was in any way related to the 'I bring this part'.

The 'I won't do this' is because I know my personality, and I know I would hate some of the things people describe, and I don't necessarily think there's something wrong with that. I work hard, just in different ways. I definitely wasn't trying to say that because I have an engineering degree I am better than others and shouldn't have to do those things.

More that I don't want to do those things, but I have a degree so does the army still want me. I don't know quite how to phrase that but I hope it makes sense. I'm not an elitist! I come from a working class family with a single Mum and I don't think I'm 'better' than people without degrees, it's just a different path. Oh and I hope I didn't imply that every single soldier in the forces can't think for themselves (though I laughed at your guess at 80%) I was just under the impression that privates in the infantry definitely were not paid to think, that they're paid to do. I could be wrong, it's an impression that's based almost completely on Hollywood. Thanks Doggy.

Though I laughed at your guess at 80% 'Twas a WAG, wild assed guess. I was just under the impression that privates in the infantry definitely were not paid to think, that they're paid to do They are paid to do, but what if the snake, CPL and lance jack take a bullet, mortar or rocket?

Does poor old PTE Plod sit in his foxhole lamenting his fate? Maybe if he was in the French army, but I'd say the majority of Aussie lads would be taking the fight to enemy and giving fire and movement orders, etc.

Anyhoo 0430 start for me tomorrow, off to bed. So if i applied would i be waiting a year to actually do training etc There are a lot of variables. You could potentially go from picking up the phone to on the bus in a few months.

For most people it tends to be a bit longer, a lot of people will be somewhere between six months to a year. Dates for the YOU day, then the assessment day may take a while to organise. Further medical testing is quite common- not a lot of people escape a visit to someone. Opthamologist is quite popular. Once enlistment is possible, then particularly for reserves your desired date will be taken into account. There may not be vacancies for months, then you may have something on at the first vacancy, pushing you back further. In short, you will not know dates until you are far into the application process, but they are flexible.

If you got colour blindness i doubt they would take you in. Incorrect, if you have Colour Blindness you can still apply, however the range of jobs available are restricted. If you're looking for SASR deployment a min of 5-10 years in the regular army before they even take you in. Incorrect again, to apply for the SASR/CDO all you need to be is PTE-P (qualified rank and trade) which takes roughly 18months in the ARA.

Then apply for selection, if you pass selection then you continued onto further training. Or alternatively to get into CDO you can try and get in via the Special Forces Direct Recruitment Scheme SFDRS. However SASR/CDO are Infantry corps, you cannot get into Infantry if you are colour blind. Just wondering if anyone knows whether red/green colour blindness would affect my chances?

Depends if you get graded CP2 or CP3. CP2 is fail the plates but pass the lantern test. I may have accidentally learnt some of the plates but it is harder to bluff through the lantern test.

CP2 keeps a lot of things open to you, unsure about commando specifically without the tables, someone already said they would check for you so will leave it to then. CP3 though and yeah. Options are limited. I think it would effect your chances of promotion, when I was in the ARES we had someone red/green colour blind who could not make Corporal as that involved handling colour coded ammunition Off the top of my head I cannot think of a trade that has a higher CP requirement for a higher rank. Generally speaking PTE of a trade will have the mininum requirement for at least the main leg of the entire promotion flow chart.

I could see some specialties being limited, but there should always be a main stream promotion path with the same requirements as the lower rank. On the other hand I appreciate that there are reserves who have been in for upwards of 35 years and are still a private, there is a very good chance their trade has changed in that period. That is the exception rather then the rule though. There is some trickery involved in trades that may not require CP1 or 2- but do require military driving licenses which cannot be had at CP3 without a rather hard to get waiver. Intel for example is CP3 admissable. But rover license 'strongly preffered'.

Anyone have any experience with the Commando direct entry program? Nearly everything you need is here: If it is not then ask specific questions. As for reserve direct entry to commandos, I believe there is no such thing any longer. How long with it take? That will give you the absolute minimum time.

Will they sell you BS at the YOU day? Not impossible but unlikely. You are much more likely to be told they are not recruiting infantry at this point, would you like to try for something else. There are not many shortages in the personnel department at present.

Hi Vince, Thanks for the quick response. I have looked over the defence force jobs site in detail previously and have found no mention of 1 Cdo being a reserve unit anymore. However I have been told by people (non army personnel) that it is possible to become a Commando in a reserve capacity. Are you able to clarify on this point? Also, regarding my question of the 'how long does it realistically take?' , the site does give you the minimum time required to complete each stage, but obviously doesn't mention the time waiting in between each component.

Reading back through this thread and other related threads, it would seem that there can be substantial waiting time to progress from one training component to the next. The last thing I want to be doing is cooling my heels for 3 to 4 months after completing each training program. Any further insight would be appreciated.

Cheers Edit: I have also applied as a Infantry Officer in the reserves assuming that should I be successful in this capacity it would enhance my prospects of selection. Am I right in believing this? No mention of 1 Cdo being a reserve unit anymore.

However I have been told by people (non army personnel) that it is possible to become a Commando in a reserve capacity. I can clarify that 1 CDO is a reserve unit. However the commitment you will need to give while there makes it very time intensive. The Direct entry system is still advertised, but the unofficial word is direct entry cdo reserve is going away. Therefore the only way in after that is to join the Reserves or Regs do time then attempt SFET. Also the direct entry route you will be looking at a good 12-18 months of continous training before being a qualified cdo operator.

Also, regarding my question of the 'how long does it realistically take?' , the site does give you the minimum time required to complete each stage, but obviously doesn't mention the time waiting in between each component. That time in theory should be minimal, generally you may be looking at a couple of weeks between components assuming you pass everything at every stage.

In practise it really does not matter for direct entry commando, you are getting paid and will be somewhere doing something at all times. Edit: I have also applied as a Infantry Officer in the reserves assuming that should I be successful in this capacity it would enhance my prospects of selection. Am I right in believing this?

My understanding is someone who has ever held a commission can never enlist. There may be exceptions, but it is certainly not standard. If you plan on trying for any form of commando then gaining a commission will put a stop to that if that is what you mean. The last thing I want to be doing is cooling my heels for 3 to 4 months after completing each training program.

Reserves are going to suck for you then if you are keen on being a reservist. Ausgreentrading, I can only offer an insight from an Infantry point of view, right now 1 CDO is accepting applications from suitable candidates. And yes 1 CDO is still very much a reserve unit and the majority of its members are reservists. The process for general entry is as follows: Complete reserve recruit course – 4 weeks; Complete reserve RAINF IET Course – 4 weeks; At this point you are ECN 343-1 and eligible to apply for CDO selection. Undergo application process (medical, pysch and recommendations) & board selection process – 4-8 weeks (from experience); Complete SFET – ~3 days; Complete commando selection course – 5 weeks; Complete commando reinforcement training – approx 8 months full time.

The reo cycle can be done fulltime/back to back (recommended) via a CFTS contract or can be done by module which may extend over a number of years. At this point you are a beret qualified commando.

Process for Officer: Complete PT GSO FAC – min 14 months; Complete RAINF ROBC – 11 weeks; At this point you are a fully qualified infantry officer. Selection is the same as GE with the exception of an additional week of commando selection course. As a reserve officer it will be significantly more difficult than a reserve soldier, this is due to the expectation being greater than the experience and skill level you would have achieved up to this point and also that your competing against regular officers who have alot more experience. That being said it is very difficult to tell you who will make it and who won't make it, we are often surprised. Realistically, there will be waiting times between courses.

However once you have completed your commando selection and training course and start reo it will flow very quickly and you can expect to be hot on your heels. Just to further clarify on some points raised: Quote: therealskull 'I can clarify that 1 CDO is a reserve unit. However the commitment you will need to give while there makes it very time intensive. ' Are you able to quantify this?

When you say time intensive. Are you saying its full time (38+ hours a week) actual on base commitment? Or time intensive in that you have to spend most of your free hours maintaining a suitable level of fitness and condition? What I read is that reservists have a level of flexibility in their commitments, how does the 1Cdo commitment compare to standard infantry reservists? Also, in regard to length of service commitments, should I elect to go through with the 1 Cdo selection course, and be successful, I am ultimately still classified as a Reservist correct?

Or does it change my legal/contractual obligation to the Army? Thanks again for the helpful responses.

When you say time intensive. Vics did an awesome post on this. I mean as in th REO cycle will take a year of your life on an almost full time basis. So Uni, civi work, ect, will need to be affected. Also 1CDO have been doing rotations to the MEAO. Most of the guys in 1CDO come from police, emergency service, govt type jobs where they can get Defence leave quite easily, or are self/unemployed.

I am ultimately still classified as a Reservist correct? Yes, you are not considered reserve only when on CFTS or in the ARA. However most Reserve members and Reserve CDO especially are trained to the same level as the ARA. That is the reason REO takes a year as you do need the same competencies as the 2CDO fellas. I mean as in th REO cycle will take a year of your life on an almost full time basis.

So Uni, civi work, ect, will need to be affected. Also 1CDO have been doing rotations to the MEAO. Most of the guys in 1CDO come from police, emergency service, govt type jobs where they can get Defence leave quite easily, or are self/unemployed. Thanks again mate, really appreciating this. So, post-REO, after you are a qualified commando, excluding deployments, what is the standard expected weekly commitment likely to be for the 1Cdo?

I guess that's what I was trying to ask before, but was too illiterate to put the thought into text hah! Do definitely appreciate your clarification though.

In all of this i'm just trying to decide what my best course of action is, as in am I going to be able to hold down a job outside of my ongoing (post-training) 1Cdo commitments, should I get accepted? Or is the time commitment substantial to the point where I may as well be looking to join on a full time basis? Thanks again. Going to be applying for SFDRS (Special Forces Direct Recruitment Scheme). I have family in the military (cousins and uncle in navy) so I know a bit. I know that it will be harder than it looks, and I'm fine with being pushed to the limit.

Was wondering if anybody had tried out for SFDRS and was wondering how it went? Is Kapooka harder for SFDRS than for regular recruits? Also what was Kapooka like?

I've found out as much info as I can, but nothing beats first hand experience. Any tips to prepare for before going? I also have a small amount of experience with rifles (Rabbit hunting with a.22).

I assume mentioning it if they ask of any experience is fine, but not go on about it as though I could hit a target a KM away lol. Thanks for the info in advance, Nick. Is Kapooka harder for SFDRS than for regular recruits? According to google, no, it's exactly the same Also what was Kapooka like? It's not very fun when you first get there, huge culture shock and being busy from 6am to 10pm every day takes a bit of getting used to.

The course itself is not too difficult.(I did the choc course which is a lot shorter but also a lot faster paced) I also have a small amount of experience with rifles (Rabbit hunting with a.22). I assume mentioning it if they ask of any experience is fine, but not go on about it as though I could hit a target a KM away lol. They won't ask/care whether you have experience with rifles. So, post-REO, after you are a qualified commando, excluding deployments, what is the standard expected weekly commitment likely to be for the 1Cdo? In all of this i'm just trying to decide what my best course of action is, as in am I going to be able to hold down a job outside of my ongoing (post-training) 1Cdo commitments, should I get accepted? Or is the time commitment substantial to the point where I may as well be looking to join on a full time basis? Sorry to quote myself Just bumping this in case anyone wants to offer some more insight.

Have my YOU session coming up on Aug 12, want to be armed to the teeth with knowledge. Also, what happens if you fail a component of the training after Kapooka? Are you under any obligations to continue service? Thanks again guys. Ausgreentrading, The army will take every bit of time you offer it, your minimum service commitment as a reservist per year is 20 days. Many members average between 50-100 days per year, some less some more.

If you fail a component you will be retrained and given an opportunity to complete that training again, if you fail it on your second attempt a board of studies is usually convened and assess your suitability to successfully complete is in further attempts and then make recommendations to your CO/career manager agency who make a decision on your army future. In the reserve you are at no time under any obligation to continue service (unless under CFTS contract or if the Governor General calls out the reserve (and you are fully qualified)). In the regular service you are only under obligation once you successfully completed recruit training and initial employment training (officers and ADFA is different).

Make sure you get another explanation of this to make sure what I just said is still current policy – Army has a history of changing things and not telling its people.