Serving or ex military members?

[sprintman1]

Any here apart from myself
RAAF 1970-76
RADTECHG

[mcnews]

Lots of us in here. And some still serving too.

[LTDHO]

I'm not but respect to those that did/do serve.

[Kingsley]

RAAF 1987-1993 and the became a retread (re-entered) 2000 - 2011 for a second stint. And no, I won't paint your stuff for a carton of ****!!!

[kenify]

ARA 73-94, happy peacefull years.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Not a serving member, but was a member of the APS working predominantly with RAAF and DMO, and a little with Navy. Also spent time as a contractor to Defence with Navy for a short time.

Now I'm just an every day pleb working in a dirty, foul-smelling brown coal-fired powered station.....

[Cav]

2RAR Sth Vietnam 70-71

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by Cav

2RAR Sth Vietnam 70-71

Just finished reading Paul Ham's 'Vietnam, the Australian War' for the 4th time. If you haven't read it beg borrow steal a copy.

[saber]

Originally Posted by superpursuit05

RAAF 1987-1993 and the became a retread (re-entered) 2000 - 2011 for a second stint. And no, I won't paint your stuff for a carton of ****!!!

Curious to know, but why did you go back for your second stint?

One of my regrets is not completing some form of military service when I was younger...

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by saber

One of my regrets is not completing some form of military service when I was younger...

Not me. When I 'was younger' the Vietnam Lottery was on. At the time it didn't bother me if I got picked or not.

Later on, after seeing how some of my mates came back (not counting those that didn't) it was one lottery that I'm kinda glad I didn't win.

[Kingsley]

Originally Posted by saber

Curious to know, but why did you go back for your second stint?

One of my regrets is not completing some form of military service when I was younger...

They were attempting to civilianise our mustering (trade) in 1993 and they offered good redundancy packages. Those in the know told us to hold out for the third offer since it was going to be better than the previous two because not enough troops were taking the bait to quit. The ADF needed very low numbers in the trade to civilianise it. But the mustering plugged along with bare minimum ADF crew until a push to replenish the mustering came along in 1999 because there weren't enough troops to do the job and not enough civilian trained people were available or interested. So I got made an offer, took it up, and re-joined. Yet even now they're still talking about civilianising the mustering!!!

[Cav]

Originally Posted by sprintman1

Just finished reading Paul Ham's 'Vietnam, the Australian War' for the 4th time. If you haven't read it beg borrow steal a copy.

Yep I have a copy. Some good stories in it.

BTW I have an online blog of my experience

http://veteransmissout.blogspot.com....australia.html

Up comes the last chapter so you need to scroll backwards and click on older posts.

[Makovic]

My daughter is currently serving and studying at ADFA.

[Dusty]

Raaf 1970 - 1982.

[Legit290]

Thanks for your service boys

[Makovic]

Originally Posted by Legit290

Thanks for your service boys

And Girls.

[Legit290]

And girls!

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by Cav

Yep I have a copy. Some good stories in it.

BTW I have an online blog of my experience

http://veteransmissout.blogspot.com....australia.html

Up comes the last chapter so you need to scroll backwards and click on older posts.

One the 4 ADG's mentioned left at Vung Tau at the very end was John Hansen. He was my DI during rookies at RAAF Edinburgh.

[calais]

RAAF 10 years service. Loved my time, but glad to see it in the past.

[Geez Louise]

Our son was talking about joining the army...who knows...if his real estate career doesn't work out....he may just serve. At least he has thought about it...most his age ( very early 20s) don't even see it as an option.


-------------------------------------------------

Just a 70's girl in a confusing world!

[Ratmick]

I was in the Army July '82 - Feb '89, served as a Radio Mechanic/Tech Electronics Systems (Ground) in RAEME.

Apart from basic training in Kapooka did two stints in 3 Base Wksp Btn on Camp Road in Broadmeadows and Armoured Centre Tech Support in Puckapunyal, so my entire career in two places less than 100km apart. Join the Army, see the world they said .

Wasted 6.5 years of my life, knowing what I know now I would have given it a miss.

Met quite a few really great guys, alas counter-balanced by an equal amount of tossers, most of them with rank.

[theBlake]

I was in Norforce (Darwin) for a few years but only on weekends. Its not the same I know, my experience stomping about the bush, in that heat, full kit was hard work, and made me realise that its a pittance compared to what the real soldiers go through.

[Makovic]

Originally Posted by Ratmick

Met quite a few really great guys, alas counter-balanced by an equal amount of tossers, most of them with rank.

Yes. Still true.

Back in the day, DFR was perfunctory. Half who applied would get accepted. There was no system of applying for a particular job and of knowing that job inside out before you applied. There was no rigorous fitness test before you applied.

Not today.

Defence Force Recruiting (in Melbourne) is rigorous. That doesn't mean to say that the flakes don't get through. Because they still do, albeit in smaller numbers.

I think the ADF has made a huge effort in applying so many psychological, I.Q, group, punctuality and morality tests, interviews, fitness tests and other expectations to would-be candidates that it's a whole new ballgame today compared to the 1970s. The rejection rate today is much higher. Though, when we look around at the calibre of youth in today's society, then it's no wonder. For those teenagers and young folk who are stand-up types, then I am obviously not referring to you.

As far as officer recruitment goes, DFR is brutal. The testing is relentless. The ADF would prefer to reject applicants as civilians rather than kick them out at Duntroon or Creswell. Nonetheless, officer cadets still do get thrown out during initial officer training when they fail to meet ADF officer standards.

[Mooka]

Originally Posted by saber

Curious to know, but why did you go back for your second stint?

One of my regrets is not completing some form of military service when I was younger...

You can still join up to 51 yrs of age these days due to govt anti age discrimination laws 😳
89-95 Army (artillery air defence)

[Makovic]

Originally Posted by Mooka

You can still join up to 51 yrs of age

55 years for certain jobs.

https://m.defencejobs.gov.au/mobile/...ry=eligibility

[damo6]

8/9 RAR, 85 to 88.back in the SLR and greens days.give me an SLR anyday over the steyr, brilliant rifle (SLR) if one knew how to use it,i managed to see part of the world,went to NZ and malaysia/thailand.recently discovered the exsistance of the SLR " the b.i.t.c.h" rifle that the SAS guys used in vietnam,saw one mounted on a plaque at my local disposal store,would have had one hell of kick with the shortened barrel! The instructors at kapooka are a lot more..um.."understanding".. these days i hear.anybody that went thru back in my time would fully understand that i have no desire to go anywhere near the place these days!

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by damo6

8/9 RAR, 85 to 88.back in the SLR and greens days.give me an SLR anyday over the steyr, brilliant rifle (SLR) if one knew how to use it,i managed to see part of the world,went to NZ and malaysia/thailand.recently discovered the exsistance of the SLR " the b.i.t.c.h" rifle that the SAS guys used in vietnam,saw one mounted on a plaque at my local disposal store,would have had one hell of kick with the shortened barrel! The instructors at kapooka are a lot more..um.."understanding".. these days i hear.anybody that went thru back in my time would fully understand that i have no desire to go anywhere near the place these days!

I remember the day they handed me an SLR and said "march with this". "You must be kidding says I, it doesn't fit anywhere". 8 weeks later it felt bloody weird to march without it!

[Kingsley]

I have to admit I far preferred the SLR to the plastic F88 Austyer. The SLR felt like a real weapon by comparison. Love to get my hands on one again.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by Ratmick

Join the Army, see the world they said .

My father was in the RAAF for 21 years, 1 month, 2 days and 4 hours (can't recall exact figures but the years and months are right ) and he went from rookies in Wagga, to East Sale, to Butterworth (for 2 1/2 years), to East Sale, to Wagga (for 18 months) and back to East Sale in that time

Didn't quite work out as the brochures (or his Mum, who gave him his joining instructions for his 16th birthday!) suggested

[SYZ]

L/Cpl, RAE, 24 Construction Squadron, Enoggera QLD.