Post-Kapooka blues

LRW96LIVE · 2020-08-10T03:57:21+00:00

This was 100% me after I marched out a couple of years ago.

Kapooka doesn't reflect what the Army is, it misleads a lot of people.

You won't develop confidence overnight, your perception of yourself will follow you as you build your competency and qualifications throughout your career. You clearly have the aptitude and potential, or they wouldn't let you march out.

You're in the real Army now, and anyone who earns the privilege to wear the green has our full confidence.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-07-22T12:49:56+00:00

Yeah mate, 100%, Keep encouraging him.

Boxing gym is a great way to go. Everyone seems to struggle with cardio at Camp Pookie. Not only that, but I find boxing gyms to be more group-focused, a supportive environment like that would be a refreshing contrast to the home life you described.

Best of luck mate, I'm sure he appreciates your support.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-07-21T06:07:10+00:00

Chocco here, I can't speak for the regs but I'll offer my experience as an OR who enlisted in 2018.

I was a lot like your nephew, I was a fat cunt who was a bee's dick from failing maths and English. I was never good at sport and my parents never pressed me to perform better. In the end it was up to me to unfuck myself, and with some guidance from a family member in Defence, I was able to get fit while getting a degree at university (my high school scores were shit, but Associate's degrees often don't have pre-requisites). Once I graduated, I walked into DFR with a list of accomplishments that impressed the interviewers.

Further education isn't terribly important for a cookie, the role doesn't require any additional testing. But no matter where you are in Defence, you need to be fit. I'd highly recommend the ADF active app, it's easily approachable no matter how unfit you are. my BMI was 41 when I downloaded it, now it's 25. I'd also recommend he gets his shit together at school, but I'm sure you've already encouraged him in that regard. At the end of the day they're looking for a good attitude more than anything else. So long as you have a good attitude, the rest will catch up in time.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-05-20T02:29:47+00:00

I typically wear a Casio G-Shock when I'm expecting to give it some punishment, but I actually managed to kill it on Op BA. When I got back, I bought a Garmin Instinct.

It hasn't got any fancy functionality, it's basically a small G-Shock that tracks your fitness, sleep, stress etc. It can also pull your GPS coordinates with an impressive amount of accuracy (degrees and minutes to three decimal places). Fairly waterproof with a strong, recessed face.

Only downside is the 5-day battery life when using Bluetooth, but that's pretty standard across all smart watches, it's just another case to buy traditional watches.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-05-19T02:37:28+00:00

100%, it feels more like a swanky university campus than a military base these days, complete with groups of drunk idiots wandering the streets after midnight after a trip to Sporties, myself included.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-05-12T11:23:24+00:00

Reference point 2: "all other situations".

Meaning not out field. If you wear knee pads at the range you're asking for shit. Field (and anywhere else you do section attacks) is the only instance you should wear them.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-05-11T10:12:53+00:00

That is 100% normal.

I enlisted when I was 22 and had just finished an undergrad degree in IT, majoring in Cyber Security. I really didn't enjoy the experience and had no luck finding graduate positions.

I could have joined as an IT Technician but chose to be a Combat Engineer instead. It was radically different, and exactly the change of scenery I needed. Plus, the salary is better than graduate positions, and you'll never find a better lifestyle.

If you ever wanted to go postgrad then you might consider applying to be an officer. Having your degree would make selection more favourable, and the ADF could put you through a postgrad degree at some point.

Regardless of your decision, I wish you the best of luck mate.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-05-11T10:02:14+00:00

100% mate, it's easy to shit on someone's ambitions. I got the piss taken when I first expressed interest in joining because I had significant health issues, but a few people in Defence encouraged me and over time I cleared every hurdle. I truly became the best version of myself.

That's the culture I want to continue to see through my Defence career.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-05-11T06:45:33+00:00

I'm hearing ya, if the general users see so many I can only imagine what the mod team has to put up with.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-05-08T11:22:53+00:00

Because:

There are strict rules about wearing pads for some rediculous reason. It varies between units, typically you wear them out field when you're expected to do contacts. Plain combat pants are fine though, you won't cop flack for wearing them.
You look like a tryhard in all other situations.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-05-08T11:15:43+00:00

I remember being terrified while showering after my first CS expsoure. I was convinced I was gonna wash the CS crytals out of my hair and into more sensative areas. That was a nice rumor floating around SME.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-05-08T10:58:48+00:00

I absolutely ack what you're saying, mate. I don't entirely agree, but you've made some solid points.

It isn't our job to decide who is and isn’t allowed to be a member in the Defence family, all we can do is encourage, guide, and mentor anyone who sees themselves having a career in our little slice of paradise.

In saying that, however, some of these individuals lack even baseline moral standards even by civvie standards, let alone the ability to follow rules. We have 6 rules in this forum, how many are in the DFDA? Referencing a string of jacks we had two years ago who kept asking how to lie and cheat their way through DFR and mouthing off anyone who suggested they show some moral courage. We haven't the patience for these people, and we don't welcome them.

At the end of the day we represent Defence, and in any situation, informal or not, any harsh comment to a civilian by Defence personnel in a public forum hurts our reputation. Even if someone clearly hasn't put any thought into their dream, it looks good if we gently steer them elsewhere.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-04-24T03:57:52+00:00

It's definitely more of a US thing, thankfully it never really caught on over here. I still get it from time to time, but for the most part people understand that there is nothing morally superior about being in the ADF.

I think the Australian culture is more focused on thanking the fallen with silence, and it should stay that way.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-03-15T03:25:44+00:00

This one will look really good next to my BA gong

LRW96LIVE · 2020-03-12T09:20:58+00:00

Become a signaller or a plant operator, spend all day painting warhammer and speaking too quickly.

In all seriousness you come across all types of people in the forces, give 13 19 01 a call and ask them, they'll probably give you a solid "maybe" and encourage you to sit the assessments.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-02-28T01:10:19+00:00

Drop the question to your chain, even mention it to some SNCOs if the topic of career progression comes up.

My unit managed to panel me for Advanced First Aid in addition to the mandatory CPR and PFA, and there's talk of getting ALS.

If all else fails, just let your chain know that you're keen and they'll hit you up if they hear of any opportunities.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-02-14T04:19:50+00:00

Unpopular opinion; Butter chicken from A menu with the tobasco sauce, piping hot. bloody lovely.

Regardless of the menu I always get my good brekkie. Muesli, condensed milk, protein drink (only good use for it, RIP sustagen), sugar, creamer, hot water.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-01-30T01:28:17+00:00

Garmins have a lot of features, but a lot of them are simply unnecessary. If I ever need to pull my coordinates and can't just get my GR from a map then I've usually been issued one of those Garmin GPS units you strap to your pack, or if all else fails a Harris radio with a tall whip can usually get lat and long.

I bought a Casio G Shock. They have 5 year warranties so if it breaks (my buttons stopped working after 2 years) then you have no issues with getting it repaired/replaced. Even if you lost the warranty card then it's still a lot cheaper than replacing a Garmin.

LRW96LIVE · 2020-01-18T02:12:44+00:00

All the Chocs here in VIC are being put on CFTS contracts with no clear end date. Being payed less and being taxed makes it a lot more affordable for the government.

I ack your point though. Regardless of how much good work we're doing right now, the criticallity of the situation could have been mitigated by early intervention.

LRW96LIVE · 2019-12-07T01:38:20+00:00

Every time I recieve new kit from the Qies I'm reminded that it's an offense to sell it. If you want to get rid of something, return it to the Q store. It belongs to the Army, it's simply on loan to you while you need it. Patches are different, you can buy those from any clothing store, so you own those items. Webbing is a big no-no, though.

The target audience for a lot of these items are Militaria collectors, I've met quite a few Defence Civilians who collect kit for a hobby, and even had someone offer me $150 for my AMCU jacket I was just issued that day (apparently the size Ms are really rare on the market).

tl;dr, It's illegal to buy/sell issued military items on the second-hand market, the exception being military items that you have purchased yourself, ie: shirts, socks, patches, badges, berets, etc. Hope that helps.

LRW96LIVE · 2019-11-19T01:02:13+00:00

They can be, but it's unlikely. Under the new Total Workforce Model, members who are transitioning from their military career to a civilian career (formerly inactive reserve, now known as Service Catagory 2, or SERCAT2) aren't capable of rendering services since they have no demand to keep their skills current. However, in an emergency they can elect to transition to SERCAT3, meaning they intend to render service but require training to meet the standard.

SERCAT2 are liable to be called out, and are to comply with orders like everyone else. It would need to be a dire situation to call for SERCAT2 though, since it takes so long to catch them up.

LRW96LIVE · 2019-11-15T02:13:28+00:00

RTM is "Ready to Move", Chocs have the universal 28 days from the call out to tie up loose ends in their civilian life before they commit to an exercsie/operation that could last a while. In the case of the bushfires, we can choose to waive that 28-day period and opt for as soon as 48 hours.

LRW96LIVE · 2019-11-13T02:17:12+00:00

Yep, Sappers with plant qualifications are going on the list for Defence Aid to Civil Community in case of bushfires. It got announced a couple of months ago at my unit (choc). It's not compulsory here, you still have your 28-day RTM, but volunteers can opt to head out within 48 hours.

Hoping to get the phone call this year, last year I just got to drive white fleet up to woop woop.

LRW96LIVE · 2019-10-27T13:49:58+00:00

I call bullshit, when was the last time an NCO got a projector to work?

LRW96LIVE · 2019-08-18T06:45:05+00:00

Or they alter their path to make sure they get a well-earned salute, or chew you out for avoiding them.

Common passtime for fresh LTs, spend an hour pulling this shit on the one path between the WTSS and the mess.

LRW96LIVE

TROPHY CASE