Thx AD
I haven’t been able to find somewhere the gives detailed description of what a normal Australian soldier is kited out with so if u could point me in the right direction that would be great
Also what do people think the chances of me getting into Duntroon after I leave school if I have decent grade , good fitness and study and prepare for the interview?
Cheers AlphaTeam :australia
This info dates from 1987 (yep, before most of you asking questions were born!).
Two ways in - 1 complete yr12 entry as normal (recomended), or 2, join as a digger then the Education Corps used to run an accellerated yr 11/12 course then come on in if you are selected (don't know if this is still how its done).
There are advantages and disadvantages to both ways, many 'ex servies' as we used to call them resented going through the equivalent of recruit training again (and back in my day despite having say 10 years ARA experience, they sat through the same drill instruction, weapons instruction and fieldcraft lessons as the blokes off the street). If you were say a corporal or Sgt, you probably would not appreciate standing out in the blazing sun at Majura learning to left and right turn (again). Also, there is a certain very strict and anal mindset at training establishments that is at odds with the more easygoing nature you'll find in the units once you graduate. A lot of the ex-servies did not find being yelled at by a senior classman back in the companies (lines) a terribly enervating experience either, especially if the senior classman was about 8 years younger and the issue was something that in the real world would be a non issue (say a slight crease in the way you made your bed). The blokes who were successful, were the ones that just sucked it all up, stayed 'grey' (did not draw attention to themselves unnecessarily) and kept the end goal in mind. The blokes that failed (and we lost 1/3rd of our class) kept trying to buck the system, kept arguing that something they were being taught was "not how it's done in the real army" etc.
That former CO of the bird gunners wouldn't have had a surname that had something to do with weight would it? If so he was my class, along with another 2 ex-servie CO's that I can think of.
If you are going to go straight to Duntroon, here's a few tips from my day:
1. School Cadets, Scouts, Venturers etc, all point to a willingness to work as part of a team and some fondness for the bush (good).
2. Sport, shows you like a challenge and are not allergic to exercise, even better team sport - as it again reinforces the teamwork aspect.
3. Start listening to the news, no, not the 15 second news breaks played between songs and ads on XYZ FM, the real news like the 15 minutes at 7.45am on ABC. Those who are keen will keep listening to AM 'till 8.30am. Why? Because you need to have a good grasp of world events/personalities and an interest in current affairs. You will be asked a question at some stage either directly as an answer to an off the cuff talk to the group, or as part of a group discussion in the testing the board will conduct to determine your suitability.
4. Read a few books about how to convey a point orally, be concise, confidant but not arrogant. This last point is important - Staff or Officer cadets are selected because they are confident enough about their own abilities to get the job done, the selection panel are not looking for little hitlers who are so full of themselves that they cannot see past their noses.
5. During group activities (used to be known as 'wasby's') or group discussions, be confident about giving an opinion and explaining why you hold that opinion (even if it is different to others), but do not dominate the conversation or others, and be prepared to listen and change your opinion if you think that a clearly better suggestion has been made - again read above about arrogance if you don't. If you are so shy or lacking in ideas that you do not say anything at any stage, you will not pass testing even if you have an IQ on the far side of 1000.
6. Finally, don't lie. The used to be a psyche on every panel, if the others don't pick it up he will. If there is something that you don't know, admit it and move on.
On what an Infantry Platoon Comd carries, standard field kit with Steyr (never a pistol but this was the peacetime army remember) - depending on your unit's SOP's or directives from higher, you may augment the issued gear with privately bought equipment (the Alice pack was a popular swap in my day). Extra or platoon stores I usually was allocated by the Pl Sgt (he's the bullets and bean's guy): spare bloody radio batteries (heavy), marker panels, sometimes spare radio CES (equipment) extra rounds, maps, etc. Maybe sandbags, Patrol Ambush Lights, Claymores, - it all depended on the mission.
Hope this helps (remembering the date of my info).
