G'day fellas, gap year enlistment is opening again very soon and i was thinking of signing up as an artillery - air defender, or Operator Weapon Locating Radar...but i really have not much idea how much work and training is involved, so i was wondering if any of you have had any experience along this path, or know much about it

 

those two were just something that my employment trainer suggested to me because they were related to IT...

My mate just finished his gap year last year. He said to me he would never go back, he hated it. I'm not sure why exactly but it wasn't the physical aspect of it. He said the training was tough, get to play with guns and blow stuff up but at the end of the day he didn't like the culture that came with it

I have two mates in my college who did it last year, they said that all though they didnt enjoy it at the time, they would do it again in a heartbeat. They made some great mates and had some great times.

 

Im personally thinking of skipping next year Uni and doing it... not sure though...

I know for a fact that a lot of full time Diggers look down on "gapies".

If you want to join the ADF go full time or reserve or don't go at all. Gap year won't be around much longer.

 

Here. http://www.ausmilitary.com.

Has everything you want to know.

I say go for it!

 

After doing the GAP year and you enjoy it, you can keep going.

 

If your looking at gettin into the Artillery Corps, talk to Nathanual Nolan, thats where his job is at the moment.

Im thinking about going into the army and I just may do the Gap year. I will have to find out more.

I know for a fact that a lot of full time Diggers look down on "gapies".

If you want to join the ADF go full time or reserve or don't go at all. Gap year won't be around much longer.

 

Here. http://www.ausmilitary.com.

Has everything you want to know.

 

well i don't think i will really go full time into the armed forces.

well i don't think i will really go full time into the armed forces.

 

why not?? you dont have to be in for the next 50 yrs or anything, only 10 yrs or so..

 

its a great lifestyle, plenty of travel, and most of the time, its a usual working week (8-5) except when you go on an exercise

its a great lifestyle, plenty of travel, and most of the time, its a usual working week (8-5) except when you go on an exercise

Depending on the job, it's barely a normal working week, some are ridiculous.

 

A friend of a friend who only finished his first course (as a sapper) during his 4th year in the army is now getting paid ~$60k to study drafting for 2 days a week at tafe for 24 months.

 

I admire the guys who put in the hard yards and do us proud, but screw that guy!

why not?? you don't have to be in for the next 50 yrs or anything, only 10 yrs or so..

 

its a great lifestyle, plenty of travel, and most of the time, its a usual working week (8-5) except when you go on an exercise

 

yes i know, it would be great, its just family that's really holding me back, i don't want to be away from them, my first nephew is going to be born in august so i don't want to miss him growing up.

Mate I would have done a GAP year in a heart beat if it was available when I left school that said. Now I am older and much much wiser I take one look at this list of possible jobs and I bloody sigh.

 

Refer to the Employment Training section of your preferred Army job for more detailed information:

 

* Administration Clerk – Bandiana, VIC.

* Artillery - Air Defender – Puckapunyal, VIC.

* Artilleryman – Puckapunyal, VIC.

* Combat Engineer – Moorebank, NSW.

* Dental Assistant - HMAS CERBERUS, Westernport, VIC.

* Driver Transport – Bandiana, VIC.

* Operator Movement – Bandiana, VIC.

* Operator Weapon Locating Radar – Puckapunyal, VIC.

* Rifleman – Singleton, NSW.

* Steward - HMAS CERBERUS, Westernport, VIC.

* Supply Coordinator – Bandiana, VIC.

* Surveillance Aircraft Operator – Puckapunyal, VIC.

 

I don't want a part of any of these jobs other than Combat Engineer and that's got more to do with the fact I would like to end up as an Officer in the Royal Australian Engineers as it would be both fun and relevant to my overall goals.

 

All in all I don't think this offers a great deal for someone like yourself. If you're not interested in giving the ADF a go as a "career" then prehaps look elsewhere. Take a job for a year or leave the country for a bit. Hit up the snow fields somewhere or go work a couple of tourist jobs and see the world.

 

Long story short if your not feeling it then why bother?

Long story short if your not feeling it then why bother?

 

I do feel like it, it has in-fact been what i have set myself on since i was little, but i don't want to leave family, and being the only male in my family line, i don't want to be the end of the family name if something were to happen while on deployment, better to be safe than sorry, if you get what i mean..

 

and yes combat engi would be a bloody blast

Perhaps consider going to uni first while deciding, then if you want to jump in after do so and you'll have something to fall back on. You'll never regret having a degree...

Perhaps consider going to uni first while deciding, then if you want to jump in after do so and you'll have something to fall back on. You'll never regret having a degree...

 

Or a trade...

Once you get in there, and find yourself a group of friends, you wont have to worry bout family all too much.

 

You will still get leave like any other job to go visit family, and also do have a look at where certain jobs are based (close to family), but dont go for that certain jib just cos its close to home. Need to let your wings loose.

Or a trade...

Bah... too much hard work...

Once you get in there, and find yourself a group of friends, you wont have to worry bout family all too much.

 

You will still get leave like any other job to go visit family, and also do have a look at where certain jobs are based (close to family), but dont go for that certain jib just cos its close to home. Need to let your wings loose.

 

well most of them are in VIC, asides from Combat Engi and Rifleman, you are right tho i really do need to fly.. also its a bit hard to get leave when you have been deployed to afghanistan for iunnno how many months , just sayin..

well most of them are in VIC, asides from Combat Engi and Rifleman, you are right tho i really do need to fly.. also its a bit hard to get leave when you have been deployed to afghanistan for iunnno how many months , just sayin..

 

 

Deployed to Afghanistan on the gap year program

MADNESS I SAY!!

Deployed to Afghanistan on the gap year program

MADNESS I SAY!!

 

well it actually does say this

 

Deployments within Australia and overseas could occour in response to events such as peacekeeping missions, planned excercises and natural distaters.

You won't be going anywhere like Afghanistan on your GAP year.

Deployed to Afghanistan on the gap year program

MADNESS I SAY!!

no, its either Patrick or Sparta . . .

it would be a different experience for ya to go on a AIDE mission in the GAP year.. thats the sort of thing you wont forget..

yes that is true, well if i get in, this whole thing is going to be a great experience

 

 

*EDIT*

 

oh another question..

 

if i do this gap year, will i start pretty much immediatly, or will i have to wait until next year, because shady said something along the lines of

"i'm pretty sure it'll start next year, also i like braiding my hair and dying it pink"

Edited May 6, 201114 yr by jesse dobson

yes that is true, well if i get in, this whole thing is going to be a great experience

 

 

*EDIT*

 

oh another question..

 

if i do this gap year, will i start pretty much immediatly, or will i have to wait until next year, because shady said something along the lines of

 

SIR THAT IS ABSURD!!

It was more along the lines of

"I'm pretty sure it'll start next year, also I like straightening my hair and dying it purple"

lol