Joining the army

primo · 04-06-2007, 07:04 PM

hello all

as ive had enough of my current job (automotive mechanic) im now looking at other careers, one that has spark some interest is joining the army. My question is if anyone on this forum has or is in the army and what they think of it as im getting mixed respones from people i no that haven't actually being in the army.

cheers
Primo

Psycho Chicken · 04-06-2007, 07:10 PM

What do you want to do in the army? Are you qualified?

I've been in twice (once choco, once ARA). Infantry both times. Was in your position about 18 months ago. Back as a mechanic now though.

EDXR65SPEED · 04-06-2007, 07:18 PM

I am in the same position as you are.
I am a qualified mechanic who has been through the process of enlistment and now all I have to do is wait for my entry date.
It is a smart move as the auto trade has gone quiet (at least in my area) and its tiped to only get worse.

savagE · 04-06-2007, 08:13 PM

I'm joining as Rifleman, done assessment. Just got to get my enlistment date for around mid February 2008.

sprjenkins · 04-06-2007, 10:49 PM

I'm in the army, what do you wan't to know mate

savagE · 05-06-2007, 05:20 PM

Hey sprjenkins. Is it really as these guys ( http://www.ftarmy.com/ ) claim it is like, or are they just salty.

Also, one of the reasons I'm joining up is to not have a job that is derivative and repetition, a job that is physical and mateship.
Am I right in saying that I could possibly find these things in the army.

Envious · 05-06-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savagE

Hey sprjenkins. Is it really as these guys ( http://www.ftarmy.com/ ) claim it is like, or are they just salty.

Also, one of the reasons I'm joining up is to not have a job that is derivative and repetition, a job that is physical and mateship.
Am I right in saying that I could possibly find these things in the army.

Mate, you need to form your own opinion about this. Take all that is said on the website with a grain of salt. Most of the whinging i see on that site is, 'ive been in for a few months and this or that has happened or i dontlike the army now but they wont let me get out before my four years is up' whaa whaa whaa. you signed a bloody contract, fullfil the damn thing!

:

And yes i am a serving member, and yes i have days when i hate barracks life in the army, but you get over it.
Dont sign the line unless you are sure, too many lids are coming through these days whining about how hard done by they are and how much the army sucks and yet all they have experienced is training...

*takes a breath*

Anywho, like i said, form your own opinion, make your own choice.

Cheers mate

savagE · 05-06-2007, 05:54 PM

Oh yeah I took that place with a grain of salt. I have been wanting to join now for 3 years now so I think I am pretty definite. Always liked AFL and being around the boys so I sort of took it on from there.

Psycho Chicken · 05-06-2007, 06:40 PM

Yes infantry life isn't the greatest thing, but that guy has got a serious problem somewhere. I've met a lot of people unhappy with the infantry, but no where near that bad.

The infantry's job is to kill, it's spelled out in plain english in the role of the infantry. So of course it's going to get a bit boring when there's no killing going on. If you get bored easily doing nothing at all (I mean nothing at all) DON'T join the infantry.

I can't speak for 3RAR, but the facilities at 5/7 are second to none. I'm lead to believe one of the best messes in the army (best I've been to for sure) and on base housing is great. Bare in mind the infantry is currently getting a major revamp so I doubt anyone will be living in anything older than 10 year old housing come 2010.

That said, Singleton is a **** hole. A cold, wet shithole. Try get an enlistment date around July/August so you can at least get some better weather there.

The only thing I'll agree with on that site is DON'T BELIEVE A SINGLE WORD RECRUITERS TELL YOU. They are paid to BS. They are civis with no idea. The number of people who have fallen for the "just join this job, you'll get in earlier and you can change when you get to Kapooka". Make sure you want to do what you're signing for. Kapooka is so much easier when you're not spending all your spare time filling in paperwork.

Envious · 05-06-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

Yes infantry life isn't the greatest thing, but that guy has got a serious problem somewhere. I've met a lot of people unhappy with the infantry, but no where near that bad.

The infantry's job is to kill, it's spelled out in plain english in the role of the infantry. So of course it's going to get a bit boring when there's no killing going on. If you get bored easily doing nothing at all (I mean nothing at all) DON'T join the infantry.

I can't speak for 3RAR, but the facilities at 5/7 are second to none. I'm lead to believe one of the best messes in the army (best I've been to for sure) and on base housing is great.

Just too bad about the people there... bloody mesh heads

JG66ME · 05-06-2007, 11:13 PM

The first week or so at Kapooka can come as a great shock to the system. If you join make sure you are FIT FIT FIT. The pace is hectic, or at least it used to be. Try not to get noticed and work out a routine. They tell you when to eat, ****, breath and fart. One thats over its a lot diffrent.

If your a mechanic you would be better going into RAEME and then try to get attached to 1st Armoured Regiment or one of the Cavelry regiments. Then you would get to work on and drive AFVs and trucks. On exercise you will be doing the real thing, repairing machines and getting them back into "battle".

What Phsyco Chicken said about getting bored because you dont get to kill much in the Infantry is true for many. Endless contact drills and patroling would bore me.

If you do want Infantry then I would of thought 3RAR (Para) or 4RAR (CDO) would be the ones to aim for your inclination is towards special forces and being fit. They would be the fittest of the Infantry Corp (Flame suit is on and going to ground). For Infantry my choice would be 5/7 RAR (Mech Inf)(Have they de-linked anyone?). They get to ride in APCs.

Good luck with it. You will learn a lot about mateship, loyalty, leadership etc in the Army.

Psycho Chicken · 05-06-2007, 11:55 PM

Not so much the contact drills (loved em!) but the cyclone drills.

No point going for 3RAR, they are going mech soon anyway. I think there's something in the water at Holsworthy anyway. Perhaps the glue on the parachutes gets to your brain. Everyone from 3RAR I've met seemed a little 'different'.

4RAR are no longer taking direct entry anymore, I believe.

5/7 are delinked, but still doing everything together, at least til everyone is back in Darwin. One of them will be going to Adelaide with 3 when the base is built? Not sure if both battalions are staying mech.

First two weeks of Kapooka certainly is different. Though my platoon sergeant the second time round seemed to want to whole 7 weeks to be run same way as the first 2. If he was infantry he would of been from 3RAR.

Armageddon Designs · 06-06-2007, 08:01 AM

I have just got out, jan 07, after nine years in. I was a Storeman with 5 Aviation Regiment, 10 Force Support Battalion - 9 Petroleum Platoon and 12 Ammunition Platoon, and then finished back at 5 AVN as a Repair Parts Storeman. I have some great memories of the Army and bad ones, they go hand in hand. The Truth about the Army is that you take the good with the bad; sometimes they drastically out weigh each other. I ended up leaving because I was going no where, professionally, and it had changed too much over the nine years. There was stuff all morale, team work, discipline etc. We had guys going AWOL, showing up Drunk on Duty, stealing and they got away with it. One guy was locked up by the cops and didn't show for work, when he did he was drunk un shaven etc and they just said don't do it again, after doing it four times before!!! The Army is all about disciple and it has gone; too many people treat it as just another job!!! They whinge and ***** about going field and doing the Army thing!!!! The other reason I left was for my Family. I have a young family and they mean too much to me, that really hit home after Bingers died in the Black Hawk crash last year. A grunt mate of mine was in the same boat, he went to Iraq for 8 months and got home just in time for his sons birth, from some of the stories he told, he is lucky to be home! He is now a civvy as well and struggling with it!

The Army can be a great way to just start a career, it can form a great jump off point to move up in the civvy sector, the training and experience it gave me was enough to give me a guaranteed start in my new job.

Alot of it depends where you go and what you do, it can be good for some and it can be bad for some.

:

If you want any direct info let me know.

lukey · 06-06-2007, 08:33 AM

My brothers a heavy vehicle mechanic in the army and he really likes it. He's also doing a management diploma now supported by the army, so theres lots of opportunities you can take up.

2fishingdogs · 06-06-2007, 09:43 AM

I did a stint in the army as a gun number in artillery ( drop short ). Now Kapooka (1RTB)is designed to do 1 thing and 1 thing only and that is to turn you from a normal person in the community into s soldier. they break you down and then rebuild you in to a thinking killer, but that is what soldiers are. At the end of my time at kapooka I had a choice of Gun number(artillery), rifleman(infantry), and Trooper (armour). At this time I ahd enough of the walking around and carring enverything on your back, and didnt like the idea of driving a tin can target around. So artillery was for me, you get driven around the bush and only have to lift the heavy stuff into place then get to shot the 105 or if lucky the 155mm guns.

ORSMF6 · 06-06-2007, 10:44 AM

The army has changed alot over the past 13 years ... from being what a army should be to what it is today ... very soft .. training is nothing like it was when i had to go through it... the moral has gone down hill untill u r on a depolyment when things get real..
its just like working for a big company now there is back stabby etc within the units and its like poeple only look after them selfs, just what ya need when ya life depends on that person one day.

If ya not sure try reseves first, that way u dont have to pay back 4 years to army if ya dont like it ... it will allow ya to move easy to see what ya like ...

I enjoyed army ... made so many friends... saw so many things.. and did so many things with normal people just would never get the chance to do ..
there is the good and the bad .. both weight each other out ..
if ya really want to do it .. then do it..

SP.UTE1 · 06-06-2007, 03:57 PM

I agree with ORSMF6. I got out of the Army in 2000, after 21 years service. The pension for the rest of my life is very handy, but is not available to the serviceman of today. It is definatley not the same Defence Force now as it was when I joined. In my trade, Ammo Tech, the penny pinching and public servant oversears was very distracting and boardering on dangerous at times. I would give the reserves a try, and if you like it, transfer to the ADF. Transfers are easier from the reserves than they are from civy street. Good luck with what ever you decide on. My experience has set me up for life, but it is not for everyone.
Regards Bob

Flouro_Joe · 06-06-2007, 04:21 PM

I hear the weather is nice in Iraq this time of year

Bluefreak · 06-06-2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2fishingdogs

Now Kapooka (1RTB)is designed to do 1 thing and 1 thing only and that is to turn you from a normal person in the community into s soldier.

Not any more... The platoon staff now have to use 'please' and 'thankyou' and if they push you too hard and you sook, THEY get punished...

I was in Transport, 5 Trucks first then detached to 49 RQR... All this soft crap started with not allowing troops to travel in the back of trucks... Had to be bused everywhere... Imagine the boys getting off the plane in the middle of a war and waiting around for the bus to turn up...

It used to be hard but fair and simply put, if it got any harder, it was because YOU made it harder.

I personally wouldn't go back but it if you put in, it can be a satisfying career.

Envious · 06-06-2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JG66ME

If you do want Infantry then I would of thought 3RAR (Para) or 4RAR (CDO) would be the ones to aim for your inclination is towards special forces and being fit. They would be the fittest of the Infantry Corp (Flame suit is on and going to ground). For Infantry my choice would be 5/7 RAR (Mech Inf)(Have they de-linked anyone?). They get to ride in APCs.

Good luck with it. You will learn a lot about mateship, loyalty, leadership etc in the Army.

Unless you do Special Forces Direct Entry Scheme (which im not even sure if they do it anymore) you will have to do 2 years in a Battalion before you can try out for Commando (4RAR). All the Bn's have their fit people and their unfit people, 3RAR wouldnt be "the fittest" just because they jump out of planes, they actually probably have the least amount of people 'on the ground' because of the amount of jump injuries.
5/7 have delinked, yes. And if i were you, i wouldnt go to 5RAR, mech is not the way to go just because they drive around in APC's.
Things are pretty even across the board. Decide on what you want to do by locality. If you want to be out bush a lot and fight with another Bn everyday, try for 1 or 2RAR, if you want to ride around in rattly old chunks of metal, go for 5RAR, jumping out of planes your thing? join 3. Or cruising around in Bushmasters more your style, try for 6RAR. In the end its up to you mate.

My two cents.

Envious · 06-06-2007, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JG66ME

If you do want Infantry then I would of thought 3RAR (Para) or 4RAR (CDO) would be the ones to aim for your inclination is towards special forces and being fit. They would be the fittest of the Infantry Corp (Flame suit is on and going to ground). For Infantry my choice would be 5/7 RAR (Mech Inf)(Have they de-linked anyone?). They get to ride in APCs.

Good luck with it. You will learn a lot about mateship, loyalty, leadership etc in the Army.

Unless you do Special Forces Direct Entry Scheme (which im not even sure if they do it anymore) you will have to do 2 years in a Battalion before you can try out for Commando (4RAR). All the Bn's have their fit people and their unfit people, 3RAR wouldnt be "the fittest" just because they jump out of planes, they actually probably have the least amount of people 'on the ground' because of the amount of jump injuries.
5/7 have delinked, yes. And if i were you, i wouldnt go to 5RAR, mech is not the way to go just because they drive around in APC's.
Things are pretty even across the board. Decide on what you want to do by locality. If you want to be out bush a lot and fight with another Bn everyday, try for 1 or 2RAR, if you want to ride around in rattly old chunks of metal, go for 5RAR, jumping out of planes your thing? join 3. Or cruising around in Bushmasters more your style, try for 6RAR. In the end its up to you mate.

Then again, you still might want to do your mechanic thing, in which case, go anywhere, hopefully you will still enjoy it.

My two cents.

Psycho Chicken · 06-06-2007, 05:56 PM

Kapooka is a joke! It was soft the first time I went through. It got even softer in the 3 years between I did it again.

My platoon at Kapooka last year was half ARA inf/half direct entry 4RAR. I was lead to believe they were the last direct entry group.

3RAR haven't been doing any jump training for FNGs for a few years now.

Forget getting into 6RAR. It's next to impossible. My guess is most planes from Singo will be going to 5/7.

primo · 06-06-2007, 08:00 PM

cheers fellas, this has giving me a better idea of what to expect. As asked earlier im looking at going in as a rifleman

Envious · 06-06-2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

Kapooka is a joke! It was soft the first time I went through. It got even softer in the 3 years between I did it again.

My platoon at Kapooka last year was half ARA inf/half direct entry 4RAR. I was lead to believe they were the last direct entry group.

3RAR haven't been doing any jump training for FNGs for a few years now.

Forget getting into 6RAR. It's next to impossible. My guess is most planes from Singo will be going to 5/7.

I know a few blokes that have done jumps not too long ago.

Re: 6RAR, tell that to the 90 odd blokes that have been posted there in the last 12 months...

A fair few will be going to 5 and 7 yes, but there are still spots avaliable for the others.

Armageddon Designs · 06-06-2007, 08:11 PM

As most people have said look at reserves first, will give you a taste of things to come, especially as a grunt.

Psycho Chicken · 06-06-2007, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Envious

I know a few blokes that have done jumps not too long ago.

New blokes? I could of sworn they stopped training people up. Though it was a corporal that told me.

Quote:

Re: 6RAR, tell that to the 90 odd blokes that have been posted there in the last 12 months...

Oh yeah, they got tours finally. Had to clear the retirement home out somehow I guess!

savagE · 06-06-2007, 08:21 PM

Specifically to those in Infantry/riflemen previously/currently.

What are the cons and pros of joining the Army as a Rifleman?

TURBOTAXI · 06-06-2007, 08:28 PM

I am ex 6RAR Joined in 1995. Great life for a young bloke - needed to make more money.

Armageddon Designs · 06-06-2007, 08:33 PM

I thought 3 where loosing there wings anyway?

I forgot one other important thing, try to get a trade or civil quals from the Army, they all transfer over, if you are going to go infantry look at transferring to another trade to get some quals, not a lot of jobs out there for a rifleman! My mate was in for 9 years as one, left a a signals detachment commander, the only job he can get is as a security guard or labourer, he can't do the labouring work as he is too 'broken' from the Army.

savagE · 06-06-2007, 09:45 PM

I wanna eventually either try out for Officer, Trade in the army or do a degree while in the Army (or go ADFA). But I have to get in first and see how I go of course.