Potential Australian Army Recruit

[neon_black88]

Hey my names Sam, and I've been interested in joining the Australian army for quite some time. I did Army Cadets for about 2 years but I know that doesn't really count for much. I found this forum by chance and noticed Aussie Digger's posts, and I hoped to get more insight into the Aussie Army life from him, or others, whoever can help! BTW I'm 19 years old And I want to apply before I turn 20. I've started working on fitness so thats generally not a concern to me. All the other stuff like, housing, family ect. is stuff I can work out personnaly myself aswell. Ummm, I don't know exactly where to start so this might seem a bit jumbled so here it goes.

Keep in mind some of this stuff might be a bit Ideal, but lets just fantasize this can happen and then tell me how unrealistic it might be, or how to achieve these goals more.

I defently want to join as an Army regular because I'm not interested in a "watered down" aproach per say, (Gap year for example, or reserves). I was wondering how much by choice it is to join a Specific Regiment, because my goal is to Join 3RAR to get parashooting experience because my next goal would be 4RAR (3RAR is becomming basic standard infantry in 2011 correct?). I basically wan't to get something more out of the basic infantry experience (actually try to become one of the "special forces bad arses" ive always idolized). I know you can directly apply for special forces now, and if completet you can go directly into 4RAR, but it seems to be the "easy" way in, wouldn't most of the 4RAR guys belittle this approach? Thats why I'd want to serve in 3RAR for a year to get more of a feel for the army, also I could see If I actually stack up well enough to even consider myself for 4RAR.

Anyway thats my ultimate "plan" but ofcourse nothing goes to plan, heh. I don't even really know what Im asking for haha, just any insight from anyone would be good because I've been thinking about this for a long time on my own, I havent even talked to anyone remotely interested in the Army since cadets. Also what "kind" of people are in the regular army nowadays? I know its kind of broad question but there's so much conflicting information and portrals in the media aswell as my general reading.

Anyway ill wait for some replys before I get more into it, hope to hear from some people soon, if this is in the wrong forum please feel free to move it. Cheers.

 

[battlensign]

Hey my names Sam, and I've been interested in joining the Australian army for quite some time. I did Army Cadets for about 2 years but I know that doesn't really count for much. I found this forum by chance and noticed Aussie Digger's posts, and I hoped to get more insight into the Aussie Army life from him, or others, whoever can help! BTW I'm 19 years old And I want to apply before I turn 20. I've started working on fitness so thats generally not a concern to me. All the other stuff like, housing, family ect. is stuff I can work out personnaly myself aswell. Ummm, I don't know exactly where to start so this might seem a bit jumbled so here it goes.

Keep in mind some of this stuff might be a bit Ideal, but lets just fantasize this can happen and then tell me how unrealistic it might be, or how to achieve these goals more.

I defently want to join as an Army regular because I'm not interested in a "watered down" aproach per say, (Gap year for example, or reserves). I was wondering how much by choice it is to join a Specific Regiment, because my goal is to Join 3RAR to get parashooting experience because my next goal would be 4RAR (3RAR is becomming basic standard infantry in 2011 correct?). I basically wan't to get something more out of the basic infantry experience (actually try to become one of the "special forces bad arses" ive always idolized). I know you can directly apply for special forces now, and if completet you can go directly into 4RAR, but it seems to be the "easy" way in, wouldn't most of the 4RAR guys belittle this approach? Thats why I'd want to serve in 3RAR for a year to get more of a feel for the army, also I could see If I actually stack up well enough to even consider myself for 4RAR.

Anyway thats my ultimate "plan" but ofcourse nothing goes to plan, heh. I don't even really know what Im asking for haha, just any insight from anyone would be good because I've been thinking about this for a long time on my own, I havent even talked to anyone remotely interested in the Army since cadets. Also what "kind" of people are in the regular army nowadays? I know its kind of broad question but there's so much conflicting information and portrals in the media aswell as my general reading.

Anyway ill wait for some replys before I get more into it, hope to hear from some people soon, if this is in the wrong forum please feel free to move it. Cheers.

Hello Sam.

My name is Brett and although a Law student like Ozzy Blizzard, and a Navy Cadet Midshipman in days gone by, I may be of some help until someone more authoritative on the subject arrives.....(AD et cetera). Might I also say how much we on this forum appreciate well-communicated posts (Logical and using paragraphs, and I don't think your post was jumbled at all.

It is good that you have begun physical training as irrespective of your later decisions based on the information you come across, the capacity to undertake the Barrier test successfully can only be asset in any scenario.

In relation to your specific concerns/questions:

1) The electiveness of the RAR Battalions is beyond my capacity to comment upon in relation to army matters.

2) Yes, 3RAR will become a "Pure light infantry" as distinct from its current designation.

3) I would think that there would be many benefits in having been an infantry soldier before attempting to join 4RAR. However despite the potential for copping crap from the others about going "direct" to 4RAR, I think that it is more of an issue of how determined to get in there you are. If you have a timeframe in mind that might indicate direct entry attempts, just as if it is something that you would 'like to do' in the future then maybe 3RAR is a better option. The second option has the advantage of providing a relative safe point from which to springboard if desired later.

However, having said that there may be some issues. You may, once joined up as regular infantry with a view to 4RAR, have to undertake minimum training periods and obtain competantcies before an attempt to the Commandoes is allowed.

4) The "Kind" of people? Hmm......takes one to know who is in it these days I suppose (So I cannot really say much). I am desperately trying not to engage in inter-service rivalry with my answer here..... I woud think that the backgrounds would be quite diverse (perhaps the reason behind the conflicting portrayals). The days of the one job for 30 odd years are well and truely over.

5) Unless there are issues such as those raised above (point 3) there is nothing blindly idealistic about your plan. It is definately workable. Its purley a matter of which method of entry is best for you, and will they get you what you want. Personally, I think a stint in 3RAR would do you wonders, but strictly speaking I have no army experience and cannot speak authoritatively.

Well......I wasn't all that much use but hopefully I'll get some backup from someone in the know soon....

 

[barra]

Hey Sam,

Sounds like you know what you want to achieve in an Army career so all that remains is to just do it!

I would recomend a career in the ADF to any young Australian. Service life can offer you experiences and challenges that no other career can. A military career is not for everyone, some people just can't hack the discipline and sacrifices that you will have to make. It is more a way of life then job and is sometimes hard to balance a career and family at the same time. Finding a partner that is willing to put up with your frequent comings and goings will probably be the hard part.

Getting through your basic and specialist training will be the biggest "chore". Once you are out into the wider ADF than you will start to enjoy service life. The pay is good (particularly if you are SF qualified it is then extremely good) you will make friends that will remain friends for life, you will learn new skills and you will have the opportunity to use them on operations.

The Army does offer direct entry to its SF elements, I was under the impression that this was a way to attract people that already have certain skills, like police TAG operators, to help boost numbers in the SF community. I would think that someone walking in off the street and being accepted without any proir experience would be rare. I could be wrong, no doubt someone will correct me if I am.

SF selection is open to all musterings in the ADF, so you could join whatever service and get whatever skills you want under your belt and still have a crack at the SF entry test. I do know of a couple of cases of RAAF members joining the SF(no ADGies though AD ) community so it is achievable. No doubt the route you have already outlined is by far the most common and probably desireable from the Armys point of view.

Hope this helps a little, it really is just up to you and how much you want to achieve it.

Hooroo

 

[Simon9]

I did Army Cadets for about 2 years but I know that doesn't really count for much.

It's good that you know it doesn't count for much - that's the right attitude to have when going from cadets to the Army. Some cadets think they know everything, in fact some of them I've known have been downright arrogant. Kapooka Corporals love to come down on ex-cadets like a ton of bricks. Might be best to keep that fact to yourself when you get to Kapooka.

My section commander at Kapooka was a Bombardier who had a special hatred for cadets - he said he had a CUO tell him he had to call the CUO "sir." We had an ex-CUO in our section but the bombardier never found out! Lucky for him.

BTW I'm 19 years old And I want to apply before I turn 20.

Yeah start applying now, the recruitment process is painfully slow. It's not unusual for it take a full year or more from when you first contact Defence Recruiting to when you leave to Kapooka.

I defently want to join as an Army regular because I'm not interested in a "watered down" aproach per say, (Gap year for example, or reserves). I was wondering how much by choice it is to join a Specific Regiment, because my goal is to Join 3RAR to get parashooting experience because my next goal would be 4RAR (3RAR is becomming basic standard infantry in 2011 correct?).

When you apply, you put down that you want to enlist as a rifleman and that's it at that stage. After Kapooka you will go to Singleton for IET where you get to do all the good stuff like shoot rocket launchers and throw grenades (and also all the bad stuff like dig pits for three days straight and sit out on all-night ambushes getting eaten by bugs!).

While at Singleton you will have the opportunity to nominate which battalion you want to join (the terminology is battalion, not regiment - all infantry battalions such as 3RAR are part of the Royal Australian Regiment, and 3RAR is properly called the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment).

Of course nearly everybody puts down 3RAR because they all want to be Paratroopers. So only a few of those who want to join 3RAR get there, and priority usually goes to those who performed best at Singleton. So if you want 3RAR, make sure you put in your best effort at Singleton and don't slacken off.

But chances are that since the Army currently is raising two new battalions (7RAR and 8/9 RAR), you won't get into 3RAR first time around. A lot of new Diggers will probably go to these new battalions.

There are rumours going around now that 3RAR will maintain ONE company of paratroopers when the rest of the battalion is re-roled as light infantry. Stand by for more info on that.

I basically wan't to get something more out of the basic infantry experience (actually try to become one of the "special forces bad arses" ive always idolized). I know you can directly apply for special forces now, and if completet you can go directly into 4RAR, but it seems to be the "easy" way in, wouldn't most of the 4RAR guys belittle this approach? Thats why I'd want to serve in 3RAR for a year to get more of a feel for the army, also I could see If I actually stack up well enough to even consider myself for 4RAR.

If you want to join 4RAR, all I can say is, no matter how fit you think you are, get fitter. And then even fitter. The fittest guy in my unit tried for 4RAR, and he went on a massive fitness campaign before he went, he was training at least two hours a day. He developed a program with some of the PTIs at Enoggera.

But he didn't get into 4RAR - he was taken off the selection course with bleeding kidneys, sent to hospital and eventually discharged from the Army. The other guy I know from my unit (which is a Reserve unit) who tried for 4RAR passed the selection course but failed in the 18 months of continuation training you have to do before you get badged as a fully-fledged Commando.

I'm not saying that to discourage you - just that if you want to get into 4RAR, expect it to be very hard work. Once you're in your regular battalion (be it 3RAR or another one), try and find out guys in your unit who have tried the selection course and find out as much as possible about it. And talk to your PTIs to develop a fitness course. But that's a long way off for now.

It IS possible to get into 4RAR - obviously a lot of people have done it! Just know what you're up against before you try out for it.

But I'd focus on getting through the recruiting process first - I think many people would say that's even harder to get through than 4RAR selection.

 

[Aussie Digger]

Hey my names Sam, and I've been interested in joining the Australian army for quite some time. I did Army Cadets for about 2 years but I know that doesn't really count for much. I found this forum by chance and noticed Aussie Digger's posts, and I hoped to get more insight into the Aussie Army life from him, or others, whoever can help! BTW I'm 19 years old And I want to apply before I turn 20. I've started working on fitness so thats generally not a concern to me. All the other stuff like, housing, family ect. is stuff I can work out personnaly myself aswell. Ummm, I don't know exactly where to start so this might seem a bit jumbled so here it goes.

Keep in mind some of this stuff might be a bit Ideal, but lets just fantasize this can happen and then tell me how unrealistic it might be, or how to achieve these goals more.

I defently want to join as an Army regular because I'm not interested in a "watered down" aproach per say, (Gap year for example, or reserves). I was wondering how much by choice it is to join a Specific Regiment, because my goal is to Join 3RAR to get parashooting experience because my next goal would be 4RAR (3RAR is becomming basic standard infantry in 2011 correct?). I basically wan't to get something more out of the basic infantry experience (actually try to become one of the "special forces bad arses" ive always idolized). I know you can directly apply for special forces now, and if completet you can go directly into 4RAR, but it seems to be the "easy" way in, wouldn't most of the 4RAR guys belittle this approach? Thats why I'd want to serve in 3RAR for a year to get more of a feel for the army, also I could see If I actually stack up well enough to even consider myself for 4RAR.

Anyway thats my ultimate "plan" but ofcourse nothing goes to plan, heh. I don't even really know what Im asking for haha, just any insight from anyone would be good because I've been thinking about this for a long time on my own, I havent even talked to anyone remotely interested in the Army since cadets. Also what "kind" of people are in the regular army nowadays? I know its kind of broad question but there's so much conflicting information and portrals in the media aswell as my general reading.

Anyway ill wait for some replys before I get more into it, hope to hear from some people soon, if this is in the wrong forum please feel free to move it. Cheers.

G'day mate.

In terms of 4RAR. Forget about til you are in Army. The Direct Entry scheme is not "easy". The majority of direct entry personnel have failed special forces selection and it hasn't proven a great success.

In saying that, you still have to undertake basic training, advanced basic, IET and then undertake the SFET, if you get through that you undertake "advanced infantry" training, designed to provide you with the skills and to a degree the experience you would have from spending a year in a line infantry battalion. You then go on to conduct the standard Commando training courses, special forces weapons courses, parachute operations course etc, like anyone else.

This is all conducted back to back and extends for more than 12 months I understand. No-one who has successfully completed all that training is going to be taken "lightly" and any "ribbing" is not going to be nasty in nature, I should imagine.

At the end of the day, you've done all the same training as anyone else. No-one who has got in through the Direct Entry scheme is a 20 year old who hasn't experienced much of life anyway. Most applicants are ex-police, firefighters, triathletes etc. They have experience a wide variety of life and a helluva a challenge getting through special forces training with little or no military experience prior to that.

Personally I don't the people who have actually made it through are the sorts of people who would be overly worried about other's opinions anyway...

As to a particular battalion, Simon outlined everything well, but I know that Army is actually flush with infantry recruits at present, so much so that for a time Singelton was actually unable to accomodate all the infantry recruits Army had and a lot were being sent straight to 1RAR from Kapooka as IRAR was actually running it's own IET courses...

With the new battalions being formed, I expect you may get sent to one of them (5RAR or 7RAR) both of which are currently based in Darwin, with 7RAR moving to Adelaide when the new barracks are completed down there. They are both mechanised battalions and are part of 1 Brigade, the Mechanised brigades. Consequently you'll get plenty of practise operating with M1A1 Abrams tanks, 155mm artillery support and the ASLAV's of 2nd Cav Regt.

In future you'll probably also get plenty of experience operating with an against Tiger armed recon helo's...

Of course as always the battalions in Townsville will remain high priority units, so there's a fair chance you'll end up there as well. Again there, you'll get to operate with MRH-90 helo's (in due course), Chinook helo's and other "gucci" bits of kit that are due over the next few years...

As to the types of people in Army? All types would be the best answer I can give? Army reflects the community it recruits from...

 

[neon_black88]

Wow. Thanks for the well-informed and long replys.

Might I also say how much we on this forum appreciate well-communicated posts (Logical and using paragraphs, and I don't think your post was jumbled at all.

Thanks man I do my best but sometimes I have a hard time consolidating my thoughts into a sentance haha.

A military career is not for everyone, some people just can't hack the discipline and sacrifices that you will have to make. It is more a way of life then job and is sometimes hard to balance a career and family at the same time. Finding a partner that is willing to put up with your frequent comings and goings will probably be the hard part.

I don't think I've ever even considered the army as a "job" per say. I've always thought of it as something i've just always wanted to do with my life for the experience, I want to live my life as a soldier, not a be a soldier for my job.

It's good that you know it doesn't count for much - that's the right attitude to have when going from cadets to the Army. Some cadets think they know everything, in fact some of them I've known have been downright arrogant. Kapooka Corporals love to come down on ex-cadets like a ton of bricks. Might be best to keep that fact to yourself when you get to Kapooka.

Haha thats pretty much the attidude I'd expect If I walked in and said "I was in cadets for 2 years", whoopdy do right?

My section commander at Kapooka was a Bombardier who had a special hatred for cadets - he said he had a CUO tell him he had to call the CUO "sir."

Wait you mean an army cadet told an army regular to call him sir? If so, thats ridicoulous nfloorl:. I assume that I should bring up the fact I was in cadets in my first interviews though?

Yeah start applying now, the recruitment process is painfully slow. It's not unusual for it take a full year or more from when you first contact Defence Recruiting to when you leave to Kapooka.

Yeah i've heard about this, that really sucks. I'll start seriously considering the time Ill sign up after I finish school.

When you apply, you put down that you want to enlist as a rifleman and that's it at that stage. After Kapooka you will go to Singleton for IET where you get to do all the good stuff like shoot rocket launchers and throw grenades (and also all the bad stuff like dig pits for three days straight and sit out on all-night ambushes getting eaten by bugs!).

Digging holes and sitting out on all night ambushes is the fun part!!

Of course nearly everybody puts down 3RAR because they all want to be Paratroopers. So only a few of those who want to join 3RAR get there, and priority usually goes to those who performed best at Singleton. So if you want 3RAR, make sure you put in your best effort at Singleton and don't slacken off.

I'll dig the most badarse hole at singlelton then! But seriously, thats some good info. Im planning on going and doing a few sky dives after school just for fun by the way. Have any of you guys been skydiving?

I'm not saying that to discourage you - just that if you want to get into 4RAR, expect it to be very hard work. Once you're in your regular battalion (be it 3RAR or another one), try and find out guys in your unit who have tried the selection course and find out as much as possible about it. And talk to your PTIs to develop a fitness course. But that's a long way off for now.

Like I said its deffinetly an Ideal more than a realistic goal, but its something to shoot for. I defenetly understand that It would be alot of hard work, probably more than I could do, but im a dreamer. I guess 3RAR is a more immediate goal.

In terms of 4RAR. Forget about til you are in Army. The Direct Entry scheme is not "easy". The majority of direct entry personnel have failed special forces selection and it hasn't proven a great success.

Sorry "easy" was poor word choice. After reading the defence force website it just seemed like they were going for the civillian with no prior experience approach (not that I would try that approach, what would special forces be if someone like me could get directly into it), but thanks for shedding some light on the people they are actually going for.

If you ARE placed in a Battalion besides 3rd Battalion, such as the ones you were outlining below, do you get the chance to switch during your 4(?) year service or are you bound to it for the four years?

Thanks for all your replys guys they are all, really, really appretiated and have given me heaps of food for thought. I havent been able to get the Army out of my head for months .

Now just a completely random, more unimportant general question. When it comes to army webbing, how much is issued and are you allowed to add/buy your own aussault vests or similair? Im just curious because webbing is like porn to me.

 

[Aussie Digger]

If you ARE placed in a Battalion besides 3rd Battalion, such as the ones you were outlining below, do you get the chance to switch during your 4(?) year service or are you bound to it for the four years?

Thanks for all your replys guys they are all, really, really appretiated and have given me heaps of food for thought. I havent been able to get the Army out of my head for months .

Now just a completely random, more unimportant general question. When it comes to army webbing, how much is issued and are you allowed to add/buy your own aussault vests or similair? Im just curious because webbing is like porn to me.

You will have a posting cycle, every 3 years, so in a word, maybe. Depends on any number of functions, however I might suggest there's little real difference between life in most units. After spending 3 years in 1RAR (for instance) I very much doubt you'd be interested in moving to another battalion of the RAR, apart perhaps from four.

The reason for this is you are known in your particular battalion. IF you're a good digger, opportunities such as Mortar platoon, direct fire support weapons, or if you are truly switched on, recon platoon. 1RAR recon platoon in particular has a "notorious" reputation for it's personnel making it into special forces, though of course all soldiers in the regular recon platoons are generally more switched on, fitter etc.

AS to webbing, it very much depends on your boss and your SSM/BSM/CSM. and their attitudes to such.

2/14 LHR, my old unit, the vehicles were obviously the priority and personal webbing was not, so those inclined to do so were able to modify theirs quite substantially.

As an example mine was kitted out with a double belt comforter, a British styled 4 point "H" Harness and I had a little "chest webbing" magazine pouch that use to attach to my standard harness that I wore if we were conducting dismounted recon drills or infantry minor tactics (IMT's). Otherwise it was bog stock, except for the addition of 2 extra Minimi pouches, instead of the "bum" bag as we didn't need to carry much crap on our webbing, what with the vehicles and all...

The sole exception was the recon drills when we tried to carry as much ammo as we could physically get our hands on. Particularly for live fire exercises. 14x mags plus the one on our weapon wasn't out of the question...

 

[neon_black88]

What is the bog stock webbing, and general equipment for a standard rifleman in the army? I have a general Idea, but I love knowing this kind of stuff in detail so if you would care to satisfy my curiousity.

 

[Aussie Digger]

What is the bog stock webbing, and general equipment for a standard rifleman in the army? I have a general Idea, but I love knowing this kind of stuff in detail so if you would care to satisfy my curiousity.

Unless it's changed and it may well have in the 7 years I have been out of Army now it consists of:

1x webbed belt with "wide" quick release buckle,

1x belt comforter,

1x "H" Harness,

2x 1 litre water bottles,

2x F-88 Steyr magazine pouches,

1x Minimi pouch,

1x "bum" bag.

1x small rope (can't remember what they were called, I lost mine shortly after basic and never had one, nor needed on for the remaining 6 years of my service)...

Everyone also taped a wound dressing to one side of your H harness straps and they issued a crappy little compass pouch, that I don't think anyone ever wore...

 

[Simon9]

Unless it's changed and it may well have in the 7 years I have been out of Army now it consists of:

1x webbed belt with "wide" quick release buckle,

1x belt comforter,

1x "H" Harness,

2x 1 litre water bottles,

2x F-88 Steyr magazine pouches,

1x Minimi pouch,

1x "bum" bag.

1x small rope (can't remember what they were called, I lost mine shortly after basic and never had one, nor needed on for the remaining 6 years of my service)...

Toggle rope, AD! Yeah it's changed, bum packs are no longer issued. At Kapooka you get 2 Steyr and 2 Minimi pouches now.

But that's just at Kapooka and possibly IET. Non-infantry will pretty much stick to their basic webbing but infantry need to carry a lot more and the general rule is "there's no such thing as too many pouches." When you get to an infantry battalion you can expect a LOT different.

For a start you'll notice two things:

1. Most people ditch the Steyr pouches because they are fiddly. They are replaced with another Minimi pouch.

2. You'll find that you can fit another Minimi pouch round the back.

I sort of combined these two and replaced my Steyr pouches with a Minimi pouch, but put my Steyr pouches round the back on either side of the back Minimi pouch. I also added a grenade pouch to each of my forward Minimi pouches. So my basic webbing looks like this, starting on left side of my body and going around the back to my right side:

Minimi (with grenade pouch), 1L water bottle, Steyr, Minimi, Steyr, 1L water bottle, Minimi (with grenade pouch). The toggle rope is sitting inside the straps above my three back pouches.

But everyone has their own favourite set up for the issued webbing.

Infantry are also issued a modular sort of chest webbing. Some guys like it, some don't. As infantry you can generally choose which you want to wear. Gunners usually stick to the standard webbing because they have to carry more rounds, while some riflemen prefer the chest webbing because it is easier to move in and it's easier to get at your rifle mags.

Personally I don't like the chest webbing because it's too hot. But when I was in the Solomons we were wearing body armour anyway so it didn't make any difference to how hot we were.

A lot of Diggers buy their own chest webbing like you mentioned. As AD said it depends on your command as to whether you're allowed to wear it or not. The official policy that came out about five years ago (when Cosgrove was Chief of Army and then Chief of ADF) was that you were not allowed to wear any non-issued gear. This was because it was recognised that there were problems with the issued gear and guys were buying their own. So Cosgrove made it that we had to wear issued gear with the intent that we would submit reports (called RODUMs - report on defective or unserviceable material I think it stands for) and then these reports could be used to make the issued gear better.

Unfortunately it didn't work because the RODUM system is useless. So now we're in a sort of grey area - technically we're not allowed to use non-issued gear, but we are also doing a lot of deployments like Iraq and Afghanistan, and nobody wants Diggers getting killed because their equipment was crap. So a lot of the command will overlook Diggers wearing non-issued gear. And in fact some of the regular battalions I believe were actually issuing non-standard chest rigs. So if you go to 1 or 2RAR you might get issued one of these. But you will still have to wear your issued belt webbing for things like Mil Skills competitions etc.

This goes for boots too. You will very quickly find out that the boots we are issued are absolute crap. Words don't exist to express how crap our boots are. They are a whole new level of crap. But we aren't allowed to wear our own Taipan or Garmont boots. We have to wear the issued ones and get blisters and have them fall apart on us, then try and submit a RODUM which gets completely ignored because the guys who won the contract into the crap Terra boots seem to be chummy with DMO or something. They've issued I think six generations of Terra boots in the seven years I've been in the Army, and they are still crap. The high-ups in the ADF are still insisting there is nothing wrong with our boots. You'll soon find out how wrong they are.

The problem with boots is that nobody will overlook them. You MUST wear issued boots unless you are 4RAR/SASR or unless you're deploying on operations like Iraq where there is some leeway.

Wait you mean an army cadet told an army regular to call him sir? If so, thats ridicoulous . I assume that I should bring up the fact I was in cadets in my first interviews though?

Yeah, an army cadet told a reg. As my bombardier said, "I soon sorted him out!" Somehow this cadet got to CUO without realising that a guy on his first day at Kapooka outranks a CUO!

And yeah, you can bring that up in your interviews. It will help with the trade interviewer - the guy who determines whether you're the right person for your particular job, in this case infantry.

Digging holes and sitting out on all night ambushes is the fun part!!

Oh, how you will learn! nfloorl: But it's all good, the hard times just make the good times better, and you feel really good about yourself when you smash through the pain barrier (or the sleep barrier in case of all-night ambushes!) and do a good job.

Sounds like you've got the right attitude anyway, mate. All I can say is, start the recruiting process as soon as possible!

 

[neon_black88]

Yeah, an army cadet told a reg. As my bombardier said, "I soon sorted him out!" Somehow this cadet got to CUO without realising that a guy on his first day at Kapooka outranks a CUO!

Wow, thats amazing haha. Thanks for the webbing info too guys. Its pretty much the deal I thought It would be, hopefully I'll get a chance to deck myself out one day.

Do you guys have any links, or info yourselves on specific infantry battalions and their capabilitys? I've found some but most deal with the history of the battalion, which is good to. But I'd like some detailed info on some of the battalions today, specifically some which I might be serving in one day.


Edit
And that info regarding the boots sucks, I've been planning on buying a pair soon so I can start doing my physical training in them, I dont wana be super fit in normal shoes only to get my feet's arse handed to them by a pair of boots im not used to wearing. What are the exact boots they issue?

 

[Tasman]

Toggle rope, AD!
This goes for boots too. You will very quickly find out that the boots we are issued are absolute crap. Words don't exist to express how crap our boots are. They are a whole new level of crap. But we aren't allowed to wear our own Taipan or Garmont boots. We have to wear the issued ones and get blisters and have them fall apart on us, then try and submit a RODUM which gets completely ignored because the guys who won the contract into the crap Terra boots seem to be chummy with DMO or something. They've issued I think six generations of Terra boots in the seven years I've been in the Army, and they are still crap. The high-ups in the ADF are still insisting there is nothing wrong with our boots. You'll soon find out how wrong they are.

The problem with boots is that nobody will overlook them. You MUST wear issued boots unless you are 4RAR/SASR or unless you're deploying on operations like Iraq where there is some leeway.

It is unbelievable that the army is still issuing crap boots and that the minister keeps getting told by the top brass that they are OK. What can be done (short of mutiny) to get this issue rectified?

Tas

 

[Simon9]

It is unbelievable that the army is still issuing crap boots and that the minister keeps getting told by the top brass that they are OK. What can be done (short of mutiny) to get this issue rectified?

Tas

I think Lt-Gen Leahy had the right idea - he got out of the cushion of bullshit his staff were giving him about the boots and actually read what the soldiers themselves were saying.

That's the only way it's going to happen - from the bottom up. But the RODUM system is seriously flawed. Plus, it's not in the soldier's nature to be filling in a form citing defective boots. Most will steer as far clear of HQ as they can so they don't run into any officers. So they take, say, the 100-odd complaints on boots, average them across the 70,000 strong ADF and tell Lt-Gen Leahy that 99.9% of soldiers are happy with their boots.

Going to the media I suspect is pointless, given the crap we've had about how the weapons are defective, when they most clearly are not. By now it's like the boy who cried wolf - unless the complains come from within the Army nothing will happen.

Sam, the boots are called Redback Terras. They are both poorly-fitting and badly made. An infantryman will probably wear out a pair in about six months - the most common problem is that the heel peels off. That means every six months a Digger is breaking in a new pair of boots, usually on some pack march where they cut his feet to ribbons and he quite literally finishes with blood in his socks.

My advice to you once you get out of Kapooka is to buy some Elastoplast sports strapping tape and put that anywhere on your feet that is rubbing. It won't stop the boots from getting worn in and molded to your feet, it will save your skin from blisters.

 

[neon_black88]

Im doing some more reading on the redback terras and damn, these are not popular shoes haha. I defenetly do not look forward to wearing these. I wonder if they were the same boots I was given in cadets.

 

[old faithful]

G,day mate,ill PM you soon. Im ex-3RAR. Being in a para Bn sounds real cool eh? just remember that once on the ground you are infantry. the main difference is that you are really really infantry! not many trucks or other vehicles are airdropped by the RAAF which means you walk ....a lot. When back in barracks you even practice walking a lot, and you get very good at it! You also carry very heavy packs. Re supply is not an easy task for a para Bn,so we carry a lot of heavy stuff. that means that basic things like food gets sacrificed for ammo,water,more ammo and some ammo. Ammo is heavy! the best thing about 3RAR is the espirit de corp. the boys are close,you make mates for life. you become family,its the same with all the Bns, but more so with 3. the rumor i heard about 3RAR maintaining a coy of Paras comes from a very reliable source. he has been with 3RAR since I joined in 1985,bar a few instructional postings. good luck with your career mate,and webbing is porn to me to! some very good chest webbing is issued now.

 

[neon_black88]

G,day mate,ill PM you soon. Im ex-3RAR. Being in a para Bn sounds real cool eh? just remember that once on the ground you are infantry. the main difference is that you are really really infantry! not many trucks or other vehicles are airdropped by the RAAF which means you walk ....a lot. When back in barracks you even practice walking a lot, and you get very good at it! You also carry very heavy packs. Re supply is not an easy task for a para Bn,so we carry a lot of heavy stuff. that means that basic things like food gets sacrificed for ammo,water,more ammo and some ammo. Ammo is heavy! the best thing about 3RAR is the espirit de corp. the boys are close,you make mates for life. you become family,its the same with all the Bns, but more so with 3. the rumor i heard about 3RAR maintaining a coy of Paras comes from a very reliable source. he has been with 3RAR since I joined in 1985,bar a few instructional postings. good luck with your career mate,and webbing is porn to me to! some very good chest webbing is issued now.

Hey, it's really cool to hear someone from 3RAR. So thanks for the messege. Actually, I wouldn't be joining infantry If I wasn't prepared to do alot of walking. And to be honest, I haven't put much thought into the complexities of working along side vehicles nfloorl:. I'm kinda more into the infantry, and infantry only mindset which is probably a bad thing considering that I'm guessing, it's a highly mechanised army now. So less vehicles is good for me, although jumping out of a plane is a huge bonus hahah. Look forward to hearing from you soon. By the way, is there a private messege system on this forum because I can't find an inbox?

Mod edit: There is, but you can't use it. As an early introduction to a term you'll hear if you get gobby, "get some time up"...

Basically you need to complete 50 posts before being granted access to the private message system.

Regards

AD

 

[old faithful]

By the way,AD is spot on about the gobby thing....be the grey man,but dont take crap from any one. ayou will also become familier with the terms,LID,Billy,Jube....they all mean the same thing F N G. Once you have proved yourself,you will find no better mates anywhere.

 

[Brycec]

OK, while we're up for giving some advice to young 'uns, I was wondering if I could hijack this thread for a moment with a few "New recruit" questions myself.
First off, I have made a couple of posts regarding my future throughout the last year or so. Naturally, as I grow older my interests and my perception of reality changes. No longer is my sole goal in life to become a muscular ass kicking SAS trooper. Nor to be a general leading thousands of troops into glorious war.

Currently I've tried to make myself a few short term, and long term goals.
First off, finish school with the best results I can scrape together. If I can keep going the way I'm going I should be able to get roughly 80-90(+?) on my Victorian VCE ENTER score. Nothing new here. But it gets a little greyer.

Next is an idea I had a few months ago. After graduation I had planned to go to ADFA, (ultimately to become an officer and get sent off to RAR as a lieutenant with a platoon), relying on my (admittedly pathetic and irrelivent) cadet experience to give me some form of advantage so I could do my best. But then this ADF Gap Year thing came around, and I was struck with an idea of taking a year off, to learn what things look like from a regular riflemans point of view. It would give me a chance to learn about the job I am striving to get.

Hopefully my time in Kapooka and in whatever battalion they send me to will give me an advantage at ADFA that will allow me to stand out and do better at the job and way of life I am hoping to gain.
My long term plan after my gap year is obviously to go to ADFA, become an officer, and lead a platoon and see what happens from there.

So my questions are:
Is it worth a year of my time to do the Gap Year? Or should I just go straight to ADFA and let them deal with me?
If I plan to take a Gap Year anyway, should i do the ADF plan, or go get some real life experience with travel and whatnot?
I was almost considering joining the Navy, instead of army, as part of the Gap Year plan, then going to ADFA. I am really scared that if I do the Gap year thing in the army I'll get bored, (as my uncle tells me that the army becomes really monotonous) and be discouraged from going to ADFA. Would it be wise to shake it up a little by spending my year in the Navy, gaining some ADF experience, but keeping away from the infantry?

 

[old faithful]

Brycec,my advise to you is go straight for ADFA if you really want to be an officer. It would be a distinct advantage NOT to have served as an OR if you want your career to go forward.Also,i believe that the gap thing is a total waste of time and resourses,unless they include a reserve commitment after the years service. 6 months of that first year would be training,the next six months spent getting up to speed. i see the gap exercise lowereing the standard of soldier,as the turnover rate will stunt the Bns growth.