hi all,

was speaking with my father in law, and he mentioned he saw a program a few days ago this week that featured a story on the Army Reserve, and showing reservist employers what their staff get up to when they go away.

ive searched through ACA, today tonight, 4 corners, sunday night, 60 minutes websites but i can't find mention of it.

anyone recall what program this was on?

appreciated if you do. thanks.

I do recall this was on last night... I only watched a few minutes.. channel 9 i think.

Strongly reccomend if you're looking to join up, don't watch a doco or ads, find someone actually in and ask face to face.

thanks phooks, yeah it actually for the 'employer perspective' part

You going to apply for Officer again phooks?

I can't really see you going General Entry.

Nah mate, too many conflicting opinions on what life in the forces is like. I've talked to dozens of people in the forces, serving and ex, and absolutely everyone of them has a different perspective.

So I've decided to go in a different direction for a few years. I'm still young and there are heaps of avenues I can still strive for, while keeping it in the back of my mind.

Still, it's a lifestyle I'd be interested in. My girl is going into gap year and then looking into a 4 year term, aiming for logistics, so i'm still involved with the info surrounding life in the services.

My old man is a brigadier general in the army reserve and also a school principal... let me just say I had a LOT of discipline at home growing up :)

RAAF, the only way to fly...

Are you in the RAAF HurricaneJim? What do you do?

Werd up on the RAAF, i was actually looking at doing the reserves while i keep working on 3d, turns out i nailed my apt test.. got the choice of going for a pilot position.. was like fk it.. i got the chance why not try?

Went and did the pilot testing, crazy stuff man some of the hand eye co-ord, multi tasking was just.. insane, i can't remember the last time i concentrated so hard.. actually i don't think i ever have.

Only thing i'm really not confident about is medical since i'm fairly unfit atm had to start running again to try get that back.

Anyway i passed it which was sweet, so onto the next stage of the game @ the assessment day, who's got pointers? Layer me up.

memorise the entire defence force structure, force element groups, protocols, all aircraft types, main people (chief of defence force, air vice marshal), and -everything- about the training, education, and your role in the job. The net is a good a source as any.

Basically, you need to know more about the job than the guy interviewing you does.

More or less everybody you talk to on the day will be telling you how competitive it is to become a pilot. They advertise as if they really need personell, but they don't. They have a smorgesboard of people to chose from, and you better stand out from the rest. The interviewer will try to use this information off the bat to get you on your toes. Relax, maintain eye contact and be enthusiastic about your chances.

Wear a suit.

prepare a 250 word essay on why you want to join the defence force (yes, you will need to write it down on the day)

When they hand you the psychological test they will ask you about ANY questions you answer yes to. So, the fewer the better.

You can fail the psych test and still get the job if you make a good impression on the interview.

Good luck.

so i shouldn't say yes, i've felt like killing people? :D

oh and everything the 3 representatives from the amry/navy/air force told you at the YOU interview - or will tell you at assessment day, is bulls***.

They act as if it's a great adventure or a long holiday. They focus on how much sport and travel they get to do while getting paid, or how fun and exciting their job is everyday compared to normal boring jobs.

There are different views from everyone I've talked to but all of them have said one thing in common.

It's a disciplined lifestyle choice, NOT an adventure holiday.

so i shouldn't say yes, i've felt like killing people? :D

Not unless you want a psychologist at a job interview knowing it.

Pilots need to be decisive, calculating and thinking clearly at all times. Displaying a high amount of aggressive tendencies will not help your chances at becoming a pilot.

A commando, maybe, but not a pilot.

Raider as a last piece of personal advice from my own experience in assessment day... If you think you are a strong patriot, you're not.

Him: Why do you love australia enough to risk your life for it?
Correct answer: Because I have been to country A B C D E F and G and they all suck s*** in comparison.
Wrong answers: Anything other than ^

last edited by Phooks at 01:55:04 25/Sep/09

i actually had the commando on my list to phooks, so if the psych is like yer... no pilot for u.. im like.. SAS .. psych: k.

In all seriousness thx for the advice, i know the whole adventure life style is full of s*** because if it was true everyone would do it, not to mention the guys at the YOU sessions are salesmen, it's their job to see the army to you.

I've also spoken to a few guys in the service and they're like.. basically.. RAAF is s*** unless you're a pilot or unless you really enjoy what you applied for, it seems for all purposes most people prefer the army.

Yer i noticed it was pretty clear in every test i did on the testing day that if you can't think on your feet with multiple things going on they didn't want you, luckily i can do that pretty well so i got through.

Interesting about the how patriotic thing, i'll have to keep that in mind since i don't really consider myself very patriotic, i'll say say i piss red white and blue and s*** stars :D

i know a bloke who was a raaf techie and he found it really easy to get work afterwords doing airplane maint..

being a pilot isnt the end of the world.. i remmeber when i went for selection.. i went in for radar operator.. and they wanted to give me a shot at one of the 4 navy pilot positions they have each year

long story...cbf telling it here