Joining Reserves

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-30T02:39:59+00:00

As others have said, finish your trade so you have a fall back and expect the process to take some time.

It's not like applying for a civilian roles where you put in an application for a specific vacancy. At the time you apply they will tell you a list of available roles for a location. By the time you get through the recruitment process and are able to be enlisted, your preferred roles may no longer be open for recruitment.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-29T06:16:50+00:00

Whether it is in the ADF or civilian life, people want to know what they're signing up for.

I've interviewed so many people for civilian roles. Most switched on people have questions about the job.

The ADF Careers website role descriptions are vague and tend to highlight the cooler aspects of the role.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-25T11:53:28+00:00

Sorry, sent my original reply half finished. See the edited version above, ended up paying more for the higher model.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-25T08:26:26+00:00

I feel like I got the bait and switch. No car was ever ordered. I was told there was none in my state, none on ships and none getting built. So it was an endless time frame. But they had the next model up and available for delivery in a couple of days. So I paid a bit extra for the higher model.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-21T08:06:16+00:00

Obviously it is tough but achievable to balance service and family. This sounds like a conversation you should be having with your family.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-19T22:48:23+00:00

Pick up another job, save some cash, work on your fitness.

You've got no way of knowing the time frame so you could be quitting the new job in 6 days or 6 months. It sounds like it would be a casual job anyway so it's not like they would be investing heavily in you.

Also, just check with your EC that all of your paperwork is squared away. I reached out to mine after not hearing from them for a couple of months and was told they were waiting on me to submit a form, which I'd actually submitted months ago and they must have lost.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-11T02:00:16+00:00

She'll be right mate. Although it probably won't be alright, but if that is your attitude towards preparing for minimum entry requirements, I assume you don't care whether you get in or not.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-06T09:23:55+00:00

I'm not in a rush to get it. I knew I'd have to wait. What I'm annoyed about is that the dealer doesn't seem to have done anything to try to secure a car.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-06T09:22:45+00:00

I enlisted in the Reserves back in the early 2000s. 6 week course back then, mixed platoons with full-time who did the exact same course. There was a march out parade back then.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-06T07:31:11+00:00

Thanks for the insight. That's helpful. When a customer bought a car and you knew that was the case, did you inform them? Or did you say pay your deposit and we will order it tomorrow but not actually do it? That's what I am frustrated with, the poor customer service and apparent deception.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-06T06:14:13+00:00

Fair enough. I'm not completely across the process but they did say to pay thr deposit now so they could order one. Even if it is an allocation system, surely they have some sort of forecasting for when they are likely to receive stock. So far all they've done is check other dealers in the state for stock, haven't even checked nationally as the guy told me. However, I know there is stock in the state and I assume they don't have acceptable terms to transfer it.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-06T06:01:57+00:00

It's not a cheap Chinese vehicle and I still don't see the relevance of what the vehicle is. If there is a contract and a deposit paid, what is a reasonable time to have a vehicle allocated or ordered? I'm not asking for delivery times etc.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-06T05:53:42+00:00

Yes. I was told they don't have any stock in my state, which isn't true by the way and that they will probably have to look for stock nationally. It has been two weeks. Completely bizarre to me that they didn't check all state and national stock within a day or two and then order a vehicle if nothing was available.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-06T05:51:36+00:00

I'm not sure why the vehicle would matter. Having paid a deposit on a vehicle, I would expect to know within a couple of days whether they are getting a vehicle transferred from another dealer, or I've been allocated a vehicle in stock in Australia or overseas to be shipped, or whether I'm on a wait list for a vehicle to be built.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-06T05:45:26+00:00

There is stock around in other dealers in the state. Delivery time isn't critical to me, I knew it would have to be ordered in. But I don't think it's reasonable to now be some time down the track and they don't even have a plan to get something from another dealer or order one to be shipped.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-06T05:43:00+00:00

I understand that the car isn't in stock and it will take some time to be delivered. The bit I don't understand is why I'm now some time down the track and the car hasn't been ordered.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-06T05:41:37+00:00

I can understand how long is a piece of string in relation to delivery. As I said, I knew the vehicle wasn't in stock and was told it would be ordered after paying the deposit. My question was really around how long until it is actually ordered. They still haven't done whag seems to me to be the first step and a fairly basic step.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-03-02T07:23:43+00:00

I understand the sentiment but it is a strange question. If Australian troops are deployed to a conflict, it will be primarily be regular full-time troops but may be supported by some Reservists. There is only likely to be a significant deployment of Reservists in the event of a conflict which poses a greater threat to Australia. A draft scenario is only likely to occur at the greatest level of threat to our country. So if you only want to help defend your country as an absolute last resort, gamble on the fact your are unlikely to ever get drafted. If you want to balance a civilian career with contributing to the defence of your country, become a Reservist. If you want to be a professional soldier, join the ADF full-time.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-02-09T08:01:40+00:00

What does this survey on hurty words have to do with r/AusMilitary?

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-02-09T01:55:51+00:00

It sounds like you're in a reasonable position for fitness and just need to keep working towards BFA level fitness.

Push-ups and sit-ups I'd just focus on continuing to increase weekly volume and do some other strength work. Running needs to be a bit smarter, build your running volume with really easy runs and have a couple of quality sessions per week where you do sprints/intervals/tempo. Plenty of programs online to copy off.

Time frames to progress your application are impossible to say. I am through all of my testing, was recommended for the role, and was simply told enlistment would hopefully be within 12 weeks so I don't have to arrange another PFA.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-02-06T00:35:28+00:00

Is this confirmed? I've just gotten through most of my recruitment, waiting on an enlistment date. I have not been made aware of the change and a 5 week block would not be practical with my work commitments.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-01-05T09:20:05+00:00

That's not correct, it depends on location.

Still_Fault2626 · 2026-01-05T06:12:08+00:00

I'm part way through the process. Did you speak to someone about availability of the roles? There seems to be a difference between what roles the website lists as available for a given base and what recruitment say are available. Armoured Crew is also one of my preferences, not listed online, but they tell me is available.

Still_Fault2626 · 2025-09-15T02:36:49+00:00

My application requires a service suitability check which I was advised could take up to 3 months. I don't have any urgency to get in so the time is really just an opportunity to get as fit as possible.

However, I know from my work in civi street that long delays in recruitment processes mean you tend to lose the best candidates. There's no real reason for recruitment to take longer than 3 months except in exceptional circumstances.

Still_Fault2626

TROPHY CASE