McTaff,
I would like to offer my apologies for not having replied earlier. Having to spend almost literally all my time with my relatives here from Greece has nearly left me with no time to myself, let alone be able to reply. As always, thank you very much for your assistance.
I'd be doing everything you can until you have a good clear few months, and
seriously lay off the bad stuff this Christmas - it'll destroy all the good work so far.
Once you have your clear few months, hit the gym and see a Personal Trainer at least three times a week, and once you're in the swing of it see if they do a Boot Camp, and do that as well. It's nothing remotely like what you'll do at basic training, but it's the all-round fitness it provides, and if you have a good instructor you'll learn to tune in to the person barking orders.
Sometimes in PT you'll do stuff like it, but there will be other stuff that'll be your bread-and-butter.
I will try to heed your advice re Christmas feasts and the like... I've become a little lax this week what with visitors coming over and it has eaten its way into my efforts to get fit. But, still, I do try to do my best such as when walking to the shops early this morning, I kept a quick pace and when returning home laden with shopping bags I maintained the briskness. I'll have to discipline myself further, though. About what you said of the gym; a next door neighbour said that she recently signed up with a women's only gym (I asked if I could go too, but she said I'd have to go in disguise
) and that it has been the best thing she ever decided to do, and encouraged me to also do the same. I immediately thought of what you wrote above, so am looking forward to joining up very early next year.
You need 50 posts before you can use the PM service here.
-But if you've served in the Greek Army as part of their National Service, or any other service, then that's no problem. Just make sure you are up front and honest, and get all records pertaining to the service or citizenship now, and have them ready.
-If you have family and/or ties to Greece, then that'll also take them time to work out, but it's no big hurdle either. It's also not too much of a problem with dual citizenship.
-A criminal record overseas is also no big deal either, as long as you have all the documentation, and you can get the local gendarmes to provide a full transcript of your record.
I threw a wide net - hopefully I might have covered your question.
I did not want to have you write a whole series of scenarios but you have explained things for other prospective recruits as well which is great!
The only one that kind of fits my situation is the second example (although my father completed his national service in Greece prior to migrating to Australia). I don't have dual citizenship or anything (and to tell you the truth being Australian more than completes me as a person
, but I digress); but I do have relatives there.
So I come to the question that was on my mind: A few people people have told me that they have heard that when those of a migrant background are going through the recruitment process, they have to sign a declaration that for example, 'Australia declares war on Greece, since you are of a Greek background, who would you fight for? Australia or Greece?' Is this something that is pressed upon (if it is true)? I mean I was born here and my loyalties lie with this nation and especially if I am in the ADF I would obey its orders to the hilt. It's weird, I know what I want to say, but I don't want to be misread and misunderstood. Can you see what I am trying to get at? Oh well, it's probably nothing and is more than likely an urban myth. My cousin had once been a member of the Reserves here for a short period of time, but that was a long time ago and he may not remember. But I'll ask him in case you don't know during the Christmas break.
When I said "looking like you've lost your dog", I mean remain happy and outgoing; don't get gloomy or bored. You'll be sitting in a chair for hours on end watching a ten minute loop of some once-was-exciting recruiting video, or perhaps daytime commercial TV so it'll be one heck of a challenge. So don't look like you would rather be elsewhere.
More to the point, be confident. Confidence comes with a combination of knowledge, self awareness, practice and common sense. Set yourself up to succeed and you'll manage fine.
I'm usually okay with boredom, good for drill practise I hope
. But I see what you mean.
Meh, I know people who went to ADFA for an aviation job and did things like BA, and they are in control of aircraft worth millions of dollars. Doesn't really matter about what degree it is.
The maths is an obstacle, but if your heart is in it, you only really need to know ratios, fractions, times tables and division. Any high school maths teacher or tutor can probably get you learning that stuff by rote.
Anything you need to know about working out windage or anything complicated like that, they will teach you exactly how they want you to do it when the time comes. There is no assumed knowledge in the ADF.
That would mean quite a different type of commitment to what I've been aiming for (I mean this in a positive sense). If only the teachers we had could only have sat down with us and explained maths problems futher, how different my life could have been! You've proven to be quite the mentor for me of late, I shall endeavour to see what I can do!
I'd consider going officer with those quals, as it sounds like you are bilingual (at least) and may even manage some good positions. As before, aim high, may as well take a shot at something high and get your second or third choice, rather than wondering whether you "couldabeen" by settling for something that you probably could have bettered.
I am bilingual. Obviously, English is my mother tongue. But I have been trained in Greek (through to tertiary level, but not formally recognised [long story]) and aside from some grammatical problems here and there and difficulties with some of the dialects, I am quite adept at the language and do speak it at home wherever practical (except with my brother of course who'll have none of that
). I have been known to translate Greek documents to English on a historical forum elsewhere and I also worked in a high profile position with the Greek Orthodox Church here. So I guess I'm OK with it. I guess it would be a good thing to discuss it further with my recruiter.
Anyways, it's no problem, happy to help out.
Seriously, Sir, thank you most wholeheartedly for your assistance, and again, I apologise for the most belated reply.
Nick
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re
Manpower issue
A few years back, my brother was after a position with the RAAF, we can't remember what it was though. Anyway, he spoke to a RAAF recruiter via telephone who said that with the tertiary qualification he would be obtaining, there would be no problem and provided he was fit enough to pass selection, he would be most welcome to enlist for that particular position. It was the dream job for him.
Anyhow, when he was nearing the end of the degree some years later, he called again just to see if anything had changed. Civilian recruiters had taken over by that point and they gave him a firm negative answer even though the RAAF recruiter had said it would be alright. He felt utterly dejected at the response.
I understand that gaining entry is competitive and based on a high standard of professionalism, but I doubt that a civilian would know more than an actual serviceman/woman (either active or inactive) about a particular aspect of a job within the ADF, if you all get what I mean. The government should slowly start to reimplement the practice of old thus avoiding the issues that McTaff has raised.
