Education & Reference Defence Force Career!

[fondest tozzy]

I begin a role in the defence force (navy) in a months time. Very much looking forward to the challenge, training and job. Im a 19yo fit well educated male and just looking for any advice/tips from those that may have been involved with it or family etc.

What can i expect from initial training? (cererabus* near melb)
What is the lifestyle/culture like?
Advice/tips in general?

Thanks look forward to the responses.

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

I begin a role in the defence force (navy) in a months time. Very much looking forward to the challenge, training and job. Im a 19yo fit well educated male and just looking for any advice/tips from those that may have been involved with it or family etc.

What can i expect from initial training? (cererabus* near melb)
What is the lifestyle/culture like?
Advice/tips in general?

Thanks look forward to the responses.

*Cerberus.

Initial training is easy, just long days, 0500 or thereabouts up until lights out at either 2200/2230. Depending on how good your ironing skills could depend on how late you're up.

What job/trade/category will you be doing?

The lifestyle is great, just be careful if it's your first time out on your own and don't piss everything up against the wall. Taxi fares are expensive to and from the Mornington Penninsular or to and from Frankston.

Since you're starting at Cerberus you're obviously a Genera Entry.

You've got probably 2 paths you can take and it will basically be set pretty early on in your career. You can be a ****wit who's on the piss all the time and takes 15 years to make it to Leading Seaman or you can still enjoy yourself but stay responsible and professional and rise up pretty quickly if that's what you want.

I was in for 10 years and absolutely loved it. Good luck.

Don't be nervous, most of it will be new to you but it's basic, just listen what your instructor/s tell you and you can't go wrong.

 

[Tiger Time]

I'm also planning on joining the navy when they start recruiting for the job I want to do. I have been wanting to join for so long and now am in a position to do so but just have to keep waiting until they are recruiting.

 

[r dub 19]

How long do you stay away from home? Are you always on ships?

 

[rossi]

*Cerberus.

Initial training is easy, just long days, 0500 or thereabouts up until lights out at either 2200/2230. Depending on how good your ironing skills could depend on how late you're up.

What job/trade/category will you be doing?

The lifestyle is great, just be careful if it's your first time out on your own and don't piss everything up against the wall. Taxi fares are expensive to and from the Mornington Penninsular or to and from Frankston.

Since you're starting at Cerberus you're obviously a Genera Entry.

You've got probably 2 paths you can take and it will basically be set pretty early on in your career. You can be a ****wit who's on the piss all the time and takes 15 years to make it to Leading Seaman or you can still enjoy yourself but stay responsible and professional and rise up pretty quickly if that's what you want.

I was in for 10 years and absolutely loved it. Good luck.

Don't be nervous, most of it will be new to you but it's basic, just listen what your instructor/s tell you and you can't go wrong.

I lol'd at this

 

[whats_at_stake]

I'm also planning on joining the navy when they start recruiting for the job I want to do. I have been wanting to join for so long and now am in a position to do so but just have to keep waiting until they are recruiting.

You may want to get in touch with them. They can keep you on record or something. I also recall reading recently the navy spent $50 000 on some advertising thing for recruits so they are looking for people.

 

[fondest tozzy]

thanks for those good words/advice herne. i am entering as a combat systems operator and no i rarely drink etc, am disciplined and determined to be professional in the new role.

 

[Tiger Time]

You may want to get in touch with them. They can keep you on record or something. I also recall reading recently the navy spent $50 000 on some advertising thing for recruits so they are looking for people.

I entered an expression of interest type thing which means as soon as the Boatswains mate position is recruiting I will get emailed telling me so.

 

[rofltown]

last sunday i went out and the city was littered with guys and some (ugly) girls from the HMAS cerberus, they were in full uniform and were the biggest dweebs getting shut down left right and centre from the girls in the club/bar

i guess its not like the movies where the semen get all the girls

anyways gl and when you go out trying to pick up girls don't think they'll go weak at the knees if you just put your hat on them

 

[beez]

Watch out for pirates

 

[DoubleO7]

Watch out for pirates

Especially those Somali pirates.

 

[Hawk Dork]

I ran a hotel we had king beds when the navy booked a few rooms we asked are they single guys
The answer was yes so we split the beds into single beds.
They wanted them all put back together as kings.

Cue the village people [youtube]InBXu-iY7cw[/youtube]

 

[fondest tozzy]

some interesting thoughts here. keep them coming haha...

 

[jerry springer]

thanks for those good words/advice herne. i am entering as a combat systems operator and no i rarely drink etc, am disciplined and determined to be professional in the new role.

that will change

 

[fondest tozzy]

that will change

is there a culture of this sort of stuff within the navy?

nah dont think it will change as im not that sort of person and dont need alcohol in my system to have a good time.

 

[darcytiger]

Its a defence force thing, not just a navy thing. Basically, alot of peanuts join the defence force. These people are usually already alcoholics and the rest of us turn to the drink to put up with them

 

[Hawk Dork]

Never met a sober sailor in my hotel or in general life.

Have a friend who is an ex navy man,his wife was also ex navy,she went out once and got sea sick spent her career inside at a desk.
He went on got his tickets and became a marine engineer.
Downside is the routine of sleep deprivation, plus a bit of Vietnam War, has totally stuffed his sleeping habits
He is lucky to get an hour or two of sleep a day, constantly cranky, tired and on sleeping tablets.
If he could have his time back he would never have signed up.

 

[bunsen burner]

is there a culture of this sort of stuff within the navy?

nah dont think it will change as im not that sort of person and dont need alcohol in my system to have a good time.

Good luck fitting in. Defence forces have drinking cultures. You will need to learn how to drink. That doesn't mean be a pisshead, it just means that you will occasional need to get on it to gain the boys club respect.

Don't ever say "I can have a good time without alcohol". You'll be the first one getting rooted by a broom stick the first time you cross the equator.

 

[fondest tozzy]

what you mean by "cross the equator"? lol sorry

 

[Sportman1987]

The Navy has line crossing ceremonies which amount to getting drunk & rimming each other, the focus being on the sailor that's crossing for the first time.

 

[bunsen burner]

what you mean by "cross the equator"? lol sorry

It's tradition in the navy that whenever they cross the equator they get all the N00bs (ie navy recruits who are doing their first equator crossing) and make them lie on deck. They tie them all up and then chuck eggs and flower and stuff at them. Some have been known to have a broomstick handle inserted in their rectum.

Good luck with that. Hope you get lucky.

 

[Dawson]

Defence Force Career

1. Remove brain
2. Learn to become a Robot
3. Get liver transplant
4. After X number of years leave and get a real job

 

[bunsen burner]

I like when you see dudes who are 40+ and been in the defence force all their life. I used to be mates with a guy in primary school and his dad was in the navy.

What time is dinner dad?
1800 like every other day.

His dad would come into his room every morning at 0600 and switch the lights on and make him get up. He wasn't very flexible this dude. Wasn't into any tomfoolery whatsoever. I think he was digitally r*ped when he did his first equator crossing.

 

[hamG]

dont need alcohol

Choose another career.

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

thanks for those good words/advice herne. i am entering as a combat systems operator and no i rarely drink etc, am disciplined and determined to be professional in the new role.

I know one thing is for certain. When you do your category training for CSO you'll be in one of the nicest locations in Australia, HMAS Watson.

People might be surprised these days, there is still the drinking culture but probably not as bad as it has been. Sailors when pulling into port are just as likely to grab their camera and piss of for a few days as opposed to finding a stool in the closest bar.

As a CSO expect to be doing plenty of seatime and making plenty of money.

I'd be interested to know how many of the people making negative comments in here have actually been in the defence forces as opposed to having a mate or mate of a mate who is, or from running into a member out on the piss one night.