I have a few questions in regards to Kapooka...

1. I'm a Christian, so I was wondering if it was possible to keep my bible (with zip-up cover which would include pockets & such) whilst at Basic Training?

2. I have a gold necklace with a cross, plus a wedding ring. Are they allowed to be worn at Kapooka during training?

3. What is the stance on facial hair? I have a go-tee, I'm assuming I'd have to shave it all off.

4. I also assume wearing any type of watch is not allowed during training.

5. If I was to continue my 35 days of Advanced Soldier Course, do I get any time off in between?

6. How often do you get to phone your family? Either by public or mobile.

7. Do you get dog tags whilst at Kapooka?

8. Do you keep any gear given by the Army when finished Basic Training?

9. Are camera's allowed at March Out Day?

10. What are the rules of smoking whilst at Kapooka?

11. I'm an older recruit (31), does that mean I'll cop more crap or less. Or will my age have no effect?

12. When only doing the 45 days (Basic Training), & going back to your home town because of joining the reserves. Is it possible to to get the same flight back home as your family who came interstate to see you on your March Out day?

How many regular troops do you see with facial hair?


I hardly think many people on here are clerks.
Just a suggestion. How about you ask your recruiter?

1) yes u can keep your bible, they give them out free at the church there anyway.

2)all jewellery has to be taken off, as for wedding bands they again have to be taken off and if they dont come off then you have to tape them up, OH&S there they dont want blokes skinning their fingers...

3)as mark has already pointed out, no facial hair watsoever

4) Watches are allowed except for PT

5)as for the advance soldier course im pretty sure u get one day off (the day after march out) before u begin, dont quote me on this though as i did not do it....

6)Surprisingly u get to use your phone a bit, well i did anyway i guess it all depends on the staff u get. We were able to use it maybe every 3rd or 4th day but again u only might get 5-10 minutes all up so be quick, u dont want to be the last person back to the lines... trust me on this one.... if u go to church on sundays, which i am assuming u would being a christian then u get a good 30 minutes to use ya phones there after the service.

7)Yeah well u are meant to get dog tags, i never got any...still waiting on those, i also didnt get any name tags or biscuits....

8)Just about everything issued at kapooka u keep.

9)Yes family members are allowed cameras by all means, they also film the march out and sell it on DVD, its a wopping $100 so honestly dont bother its shonky as, if u do want it do wat i did, we got 10 blokes together put in 10 bux each and then got one unlucky bastard to burn 10 copies and send em out to everyone..


10) durry punchers can smoke wen having breaks etc but just keep it away from the general masses...

11) mate everyone usually cops it, we had a 43 year old bloke in my platoon and if anything he got more encouragement. just keep ya head down, ya mouth shut and you will sail through....

12) you can opt to go home by own means and if that means flying then you will have to flick the bill for the flight, if u choose service means the army will fly u back the next day....

We had our watches taken off us for the first week, I don't know if they still do that.
You should be able to wear your wedding ring, but not during battle PT or out in the field unless you tape it up. I doubt the chain will be allowed though.
We didn't get our ID tags untill late in the course, but before that we had our locker keys on a ID tag chain at all times (except bush).
I've still got my camoflauge bible with the rising sun on it somewhere. God bothering's not my go, but it's an interesting keepsake.
Not only your beard but all of your hair is coming off. A #1 or #2 (craft
) will be one of the first things you get.

Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated.

When they show you a picture of that degloved finger you wont want to put your ring back on.

'Waaa! pictures frighten me! why cant they just make the army safer and friendlier and then we can all get along and not get hurt.?'

Because, noflex, the business of the army is war, which is about people killing each other. If you are afriad of pics of sore fingers and bashings then you sure as hell must be afraid of going to war. Dont be one of those pathetic losers that joins the ADF under the assumption they will never have to fight there is more than enough of you already and they are ruining the army.

Hey he is just biding his time in the choc so he can get his 6 year fag gong and try to rub shoulders with the diggers who have done the hard yards.
Another thing. Stop telling your reservist warries. No one gives a f*** abot shooting at WTSS or picking up your tea in a LR110 and showing off to the macca's chick pretending you have just come back from a mission and youv'e been protecting Australia's security. When in reality all you have done is failed your F88 weapon handling test for the second time and didn't get a ROC because your'e dickhead secco couldn't log on the the computer because he forgot his password....
(attempts to catch breath)

hahahaha served.

I couldn’t find any better suited threads so here will have to do.

In the ARTC Joining instruction it's got the list of things you need to take with you one of which is shoes (Skate/Runners not acceptable) my question is would my magnum boots be acceptable from what I know you only where you civiy clothes on your Enlistment day and on the trip to the War memorial in Canberra.

Also what's not on the list that would be a good idea to take?

Thanks