If you told us what job you are interested people might be able to be more constructive.

What jobs interest you?

http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/

I'd prefer to start off with Rifleman. I've read that further into training it branches off into other positions into the army, I like that I can experience training and the army for a while before making a decision on what I want to be doing.

Join the queue, literally, you want to really ask yourself if that's what you want to do, as I said I spent three years coming to that decision and I have been on the list for 13 months, and I'm still as set on it as the day I did my YOU.

I really hope it's not that long to get in. I don't know where I'll be in 13 months. And this is a life decision I thought I was making right now because I want a change.

Seeing as you're wanting to join Infantry I may be able to help a little, but this will be a biased opinion.

1 - The military being structured and always having a clear goal? You'd think so, but it's far from it. As a little ol' digger you're not really told anything, nor will you have any 'big' responsibilities. You'll hear the expression 'hurry up and wait' being thrown around a lot, the military really likes to stuff you around, even in every day barracks life.

2 - try 7:30 - 4, 5 days a week, and trust me... you'll get on the piss.

3 - I hope you like sitting on your ass and talking smack. There's a lot of it, it's actually really boring at times.

Despite those points, and sounding a little negative... When you're actually doing your job it's really not that bad, and at times, can be quite enjoyable.

You'll get structure, as for a clear goal. Good luck with that. I spent my first few years when I wasn't on ex, sitting around the donga talking shit listening to the weekend rooting warries. When I was a 2IC I spent time trying to find shit to keep the troops busy because the boss was complaining about the boys sitting around talking shit.


Get used to getting stuffed around at a moments notice only to get told to wait out, in other words "On the truck, off the truck".

Getting pissed happens alot. Especially when you live on base and are single. Even 5 years down the track you still end up alot of weekends getting pissed with the boys.


If you are thinking about rifleman, get set for a looong wait. Honestly it could be anywhere from a year up to two years.

Not sounding so good now? The wait is long he is not lying, it's a life decision you have to make at least for the next 5-6 years 2 of them being DFR hurdles.

Rifleman isn't a stepping stone on your journey of discovery. Read up on different trades in the ADF and come back when you're serious.

Sounds a lot different than I expected it to be. This is really disappointing.

Despite the recent 'negative' (albiet somewhat realistic) posts on the ADF you should definitely go for it mate!

The ADF is what you make it. Compared to what you're doing now its massively structured and will definitely provide you with plenty of opportunities you won't get anywhere else, from travel within Australia and abroad (Asia, Pacific, Europe etc) to learning a lot about yourself and what you can achieve. The mateship you'll experience is on another level compared to civvy street.

As for setting and achieving goals there is plenty of that for the right minded individual. From aiming to pass basic training and IET's to being the fittest in your platoon to being selected for a spt cse like mortars, recon, snipers, or myriad of other courses from learning a language all the way up to having a goal of joining SF.

Gaining rank and being responsible for others can be extremely rewarding and extremely painful at the same time.

Just remember the ADF isn't just a job to do because you can't find any other work. People with that mentality are serving and they bring everyone else down with their sh!t attitude and work ethic. It's a profession and way of life.

Good luck!