ADF - Wording my application

[LeezR]

Hi, I am currently applying for the Army as an Artilleryman and Rifleman for my second preference. I am having trouble wording something.

I am writing down why I would like to join the ADF and the main thing I am having troubles with is what is motivating me to join. I am very motivated in joining the ADF if your asking but am just having difficulties wording it.

Any sugestions or Tips for my Assessment day appreciated!

Cheers. :

 

[Marc 1]

Hi, I am currently applying for the Army as an Artilleryman and Rifleman for my second preference. I am having trouble wording something.

I am writing down why I would like to join the ADF and the main thing I am having troubles with is what is motivating me to join. I am very motivated in joining the ADF if your asking but am just having difficulties wording it.

Any sugestions or Tips for my Assessment day appreciated!

Cheers. :

What appeals to you about being in the ADF? What appeals to you about the role of Rifleman? (trust me - don't go shaftillery).

For example you may write something with these thoughts contained within:

1. I have always enjoyed an outdoor life with plenty of bushwalking/camping/ballet in a tutu in the wild (delete the least appropriate). Joining the army allows me to continue to do this in my work.

2. I have heard that a career in the Army is a hard physical and emotional challenge - I believe I have what it takes to meet that challenge.

3. I plan to make the military my career and aspire to achieve the rank of (Lance Bombadier/Bad tempered Warrant Officer/Field Marshall (again, I'd be looking at something realistic)..

4. You should always include something in the patriotic/ service to country area...eg. A desire to serve my country. You could add any historical links in this picture too... eg My grandfather served during WWII he did his bit for the country and I would like to also serve my country.

Basically, they are looking for your true feelings for why you want to serve. The last thing they want to hear is "I'm joining for the free dental and snappy uniforms - warfare? You , can stick that up your howitzer".

Good luck, and remember its not 'rocket surgery' - tell the truth in a way that makes you look and sound keen.

Cheers mate, (an ex-grunt).

 

[Raven22]

As long as you don't write down 'to get my life in order', 'for the money' or 'because my dad told me to', the recruiter won't pay too much attention. At that stage they're looking more for a reason to keep you out than a specific reason to get you in.

Any combination of 'to serve my country', 'travel and adventure', 'to make lifelong friends' and 'an active lifestyle' will be looked on favourably. They're historically the indicators of a successful recruit. Just make sure its the truth though, otherwise you will not enjoy recruit training or what comes next.

Perhaps more to the point, why artillery? Surely that is a mistake and you actually want to be a cavalryman. Everyone else does...

 

[Volkodav]

Perhaps more to the point, why artillery? Surely that is a mistake and you actually want to be a cavalryman. Everyone else does...

Well sorry Raven but some people just don't get along with horses, you know the smell, the flies and having to muck out the stables. Artillery is great if you enjoy lifting, pushing and carrying heavy things.

For the application the thing to avoid is saying anything that make you sound unbalanced, i.e. you want to shoot people, or that you have tried drugs etc. Some people actually came out with stuff like that at a recruitment day I attended years ago.

 

[Abraham Gubler]

Well sorry Raven but some people just don't get along with horses, you know the smell, the flies and having to muck out the stables. Artillery is great if you enjoy lifting, pushing and carrying heavy things.

Cavalry? Didn’t they USED to ride horses? These days they are glorified bus drivers… There ain’t nothing elegant or high falutin about watching turretheads bash trucks or trying to get in and out of an ASLAV via the side hot box door.

Now artillery does keep some near deaf, knuckle dragging gun bunnies around for heavy lifting but the rest is an artistic pursuit in blowing the f**k out of things from a distance.

“Artillery lends dignity to what might otherwise be a vulgar brawl”. Frederick the Great

For the application the thing to avoid is saying anything that make you sound unbalanced, i.e. you want to shoot people, or that you have tried drugs etc. Some people actually came out with stuff like that at a recruitment day I attended years ago.

Watch out for the old question “do you ever want to jump of a building” which apparently is quite a common curious thought amongst us normal humans but the psych will try and label you as suicidal if you fess up and tick yes. I can still remember talking myself out of that and it was 22 years ago.

 

[Marc 1]

Watch out for the old question “do you ever want to jump of a building” which apparently is quite a common curious thought amongst us normal humans but the psych will try and label you as suicidal if you fess up and tick yes. I can still remember talking myself out of that and it was 22 years ago.

Nov 86 - still remember that question too. I was worried that it was so damn obvious that if you said 'no' they'd know you were lying so maybe it was a trick...Or maybe they were waiting for the first idiot to actually put 'yes'.

Dunno - psyches do my head in.:drunk1

 

[Raven22]

Cavalry? Didn’t they USED to ride horses? These days they are glorified bus drivers… There ain’t nothing elegant or high falutin about watching turretheads bash trucks or trying to get in and out of an ASLAV via the side hot box door.

Now artillery does keep some near deaf, knuckle dragging gun bunnies around for heavy lifting but the rest is an artistic pursuit in blowing the f**k out of things from a distance.

“Artillery lends dignity to what might otherwise be a vulgar brawl”. Frederick the Great

You sound confused. The cavalry I'm talking about can be found 20km in front of the FEBA, travelling at >100km/h and destroying moving targets at >2000m - all while sipping brandy, smoking a cigar and telling a witty anecdote about lovemaking over the IC. The Barney Stinson of career streams if you will.

In comparison, the artillery can usually be found pushing a gun around and around the compound for some reason. I've always assumed its because they aren't smart enough to work out how to start their gun tractors, but I've never cared enough to ask.

BTW, if we're going to use quotes, I might mention the tradition cavalry toast -

'To horses, to women and the men who ride them both'

Also, 'Chicks dig tracks' and 'Plumes get the poon'. Not as elegant perhaps, but they get the point across. You'd be amazed at some of the beasts I've mounted while wearing spurs...

Watch out for the old question “do you ever want to jump of a building” which apparently is quite a common curious thought amongst us normal humans but the psych will try and label you as suicidal if you fess up and tick yes. I can still remember talking myself out of that and it was 22 years ago.

I did the exact same thing with the exact same question. Mind you, it was only 11 years ago.

 

[Volkodav]

The slouch with the plume was great but the black beret was often sufficient to pull the talent and don't forget the chromed as opposed to polished brass very smick. My first ANZAC day as a Trooper was an eye opener after 4 years as a grunt, even the ugly gnomes in the troop did well with the plumes on ANZAC days.

The down side was the special care and attention some of the crew commanders desired from their drivers; cooking, cleaning and making coffee is one thing but being called wife and expected to carry out extras more associated with the senior service was a bit much.

My favorite psyc question was "do you ever cross the street to avoid someone" I answered yes and had to explain during the face to face after.

 

[old faithful]

Cav are great, they drive you around and supply you with their salami,s and goffa,s, then drop you off, go home and spend the rest of the time cleaning and maintaining their cars so they can pick you up, and give you more of their nice tucker for the return trip.
Arty....for some reason,most of them have an inferiority complex, and they feel the need to be greener, and more regimental than the other corps, to prove to grunts that they arnt pogo,s. They will annoy you in no time.
Go infantry, more travel, and you will meet some real charactors and develop the weirdest sense of humour possible! Unfortunately, there is only 1 battalion worth being in, and that's 3 RAR. If you are a non performer at IET training, you will end up posted in one of the penal battalions, 5 or worse yet, 7 RAR.
2 RAR might be interesting in the near future, but you might end up being the navy,s cleaning bitch.

 

[LeezR]

What appeals to you about being in the ADF? What appeals to you about the role of Rifleman? (trust me - don't go shaftillery).

For example you may write something with these thoughts contained within:

1. I have always enjoyed an outdoor life with plenty of bushwalking/camping/ballet in a tutu in the wild (delete the least appropriate). Joining the army allows me to continue to do this in my work.

2. I have heard that a career in the Army is a hard physical and emotional challenge - I believe I have what it takes to meet that challenge.

3. I plan to make the military my career and aspire to achieve the rank of (Lance Bombadier/Bad tempered Warrant Officer/Field Marshall (again, I'd be looking at something realistic)..

4. You should always include something in the patriotic/ service to country area...eg. A desire to serve my country. You could add any historical links in this picture too... eg My grandfather served during WWII he did his bit for the country and I would like to also serve my country.

Basically, they are looking for your true feelings for why you want to serve. The last thing they want to hear is "I'm joining for the free dental and snappy uniforms - warfare? You , can stick that up your howitzer".

Good luck, and remember its not 'rocket surgery' - tell the truth in a way that makes you look and sound keen.

Cheers mate, (an ex-grunt).

Thanks for the tips mate.

And one question what do you mean by dont go Shaftillery? (I know you mean Artillery) but what did you mean by it?!

Thanks for your help though was greatly appreciated.
One of my Uncle's closest friends served in the SASR and he was talking to him yesterday and gave me a few tips as well which was great!

Cheers.

 

[Abraham Gubler]

And one question what do you mean by dont go Shaftillery? (I know you mean Artillery) but what did you mean by it?!

There was a scandal in the Army in the late 80s where on an Arty post course party some gun bunnies got drunk and apparantly inserted "cabana sticks" aiming stakes up where the sun doesn't shine. If I recall correctly it happened at Singleton so no doubt they were just copying the local infantry habits... Nothing anyone in the Navy would consider out of the ordinary...

 

[Marc 1]

And one question what do you mean by dont go Shaftillery? (I know you mean Artillery) but what did you mean by it?!

Cheers.

Many years ago when I was in (and it was a great many years ago - issued slingshots and roman sandals :rel) the corps that nobody wanted to go to was Arty (there was only two who selected it. However, they had a quota to fill for the number of bodies that were needed in each particular corp, so sometimes you didn't get your choice of corps at all and were 'shafted' by being sent to artillery.

That, and I had the misfortune to share a Mess with 1Fd Regt when I was at 6RAR (incidentally - the only Inf Bn you need to know about - google the battle of Long Tan):gun Don't be too worried by the shrill cries from ex 3 RAR personnel - they are only 3 foot tall on average and are rather angry ants as a consequence.

 

[Marc 1]

There was a scandal in the Army in the late 80s where on an Arty post course party some gun bunnies got drunk and apparantly inserted "cabana sticks" aiming stakes up where the sun doesn't shine. If I recall correctly it happened at Singleton so no doubt they were just copying the local infantry habits... Nothing anyone in the Navy would consider out of the ordinary...

Twas the happy chappies from 1Fd Regt in 1989 IIRC and the sausages were real - there was also some humming involved (don't ask - it just gets more untidy) - we shared a mess with the "sausage smugglers."

No, definately not a habit picked up from any grunt - I'd suggest perhaps that it was because as per usual Singo was so damn cold that the flames were frozen on the stove - and they decided to use their initialive to warm said smallgoods. A true grunt would have just smashed any frozen salami with his entrenching tool and eating them frozen.

 

[old faithful]

I remember the Arty incident, and also the Hummers..hahahaha.
anybody remember the medic at Tully? I used to threaten my digs, that I would send them to see him if they didn't lift their game-he was painting his toe nails when we first rocked up there. Won't mention his name. he was a good bloke actually, and I felt sorry for him when they dischaged him after 19 years, It was no secret who he batted for long before his pension would have kicked in.
Sorry for thethread hi'jack.

Good luck with your application:rel

 

[Abraham Gubler]

Twas the happy chappies from 1Fd Regt in 1989 IIRC

Just 105 Bty not the whole regiment... Well at least they didn't have the current member for denison and ex 6RARer there demanding they celebrate Hitler's Birthday along with the reverse entry sausage shenanigans.

 

[Raven22]

No, definately not a habit picked up from any grunt -

Rubbish. What about the old 'ramps down, pants down' of 5/7? Very untidy business.

There's a reason that the only two soldiers to have undergone a sex change operation have both been grunts...

 

[Marc 1]

Rubbish. What about the old 'ramps down, pants down' of 5/7? Very untidy business.

There's a reason that the only two soldiers to have undergone a sex change operation have both been grunts...

Yeah, we get rid of those who can't hack it - tell 'em to go buy and handbag and chose another corp.

Can't understand why you'd be recommending becoming a blackhat. The poor dude may end up a vege in the back and than all he'll be is a less effective less capable grunt anyway.

 

[Scrumpoacher]

Rubbish. What about the old 'ramps down, pants down' of 5/7? Very untidy business.

There's a reason that the only two soldiers to have undergone a sex change operation have both been grunts...

Those the boys sent home from Timor? 5/7 beach party anyone? Fricken hilarious at the time-heard one of them was sent to 6RAR? Anyway first post...Cheers boys