Current/ex-military types...
- Thread starter Perp
- Start date
OK, I'll pitch in:
Army Reserves Officer from 1988 to 2001~ish I think.
Did Officer Training at OCTU (Officer Cadet Training Unit) 54 course.
Posted 2nd LT to 10 Battery, 23 Field Regiment at Holsworthy. Started out as a lowly gunline officer, running the line and ensuring laid on the correct bearing/elevation. Did some courses, promoted LT and posted Gun Position Officer. Loved that post, very techie and controlled the whole gunline. Did some more courses, promoted CAPT and posted Forward Observer. Now it gets fun, leave the gunline and go forward to call in fire. Its one thing firing the 105mm Howitzers, its another thing altogether watching the fall of shot and adjusting it onto target. Loved it!
Innactivated for 2 years to live in the UK around 1995/6.
Re-activated 1996 and posted as FO again to 28 Battery, 7 Field Regiment at Dee Why. Then they started threatening me with posts like Battery Captain (BK) which is basically an admin job. Decided I was in it for the fun and not the admin so got out before promoted Maj.
Did some cool stuff like the Kokoda Track, and all the other adventure training gigs like abseiling off the Harbour Bridge. Stayed on in PNG after Kokoda and dived the north of the island: be-a-utiful!
Loads and loads of live fire exercises including a couple of ARTEPS.
Too many warries to share. Might let some others sign in first.
Cheers,
Michael.
Army Reserves Officer from 1988 to 2001~ish I think.
Did Officer Training at OCTU (Officer Cadet Training Unit) 54 course.
Posted 2nd LT to 10 Battery, 23 Field Regiment at Holsworthy. Started out as a lowly gunline officer, running the line and ensuring laid on the correct bearing/elevation. Did some courses, promoted LT and posted Gun Position Officer. Loved that post, very techie and controlled the whole gunline. Did some more courses, promoted CAPT and posted Forward Observer. Now it gets fun, leave the gunline and go forward to call in fire. Its one thing firing the 105mm Howitzers, its another thing altogether watching the fall of shot and adjusting it onto target. Loved it!
Innactivated for 2 years to live in the UK around 1995/6.
Re-activated 1996 and posted as FO again to 28 Battery, 7 Field Regiment at Dee Why. Then they started threatening me with posts like Battery Captain (BK) which is basically an admin job. Decided I was in it for the fun and not the admin so got out before promoted Maj.
Did some cool stuff like the Kokoda Track, and all the other adventure training gigs like abseiling off the Harbour Bridge. Stayed on in PNG after Kokoda and dived the north of the island: be-a-utiful!
Loads and loads of live fire exercises including a couple of ARTEPS.
Too many warries to share. Might let some others sign in first.
Cheers,
Michael.
RAAF 1990-2000 Ten years was enough as an instrument Fitter / Avionics Technician.
A couple of years training in Adelaide then Wagga.
Two years at CPE (Central Photographic Establishment) then the rest of my time at 481 SQN & 77 SQN at Willytown.
Had a great time, but have moved on and am now earning twice as much as I used to as a Program Manager which comes in handy when trying to support negatively geared properties.
Am still fairly heavily involved with Defence working on Defence projects around the country.
Cheers,
Nick
A couple of years training in Adelaide then Wagga.
Two years at CPE (Central Photographic Establishment) then the rest of my time at 481 SQN & 77 SQN at Willytown.
Had a great time, but have moved on and am now earning twice as much as I used to as a Program Manager which comes in handy when trying to support negatively geared properties.
Am still fairly heavily involved with Defence working on Defence projects around the country.
Cheers,
Nick
RAAF 1999- Present
2 years ADFA
2 years RMIT
4.5 years Amberley (82WG, EBU, 1SQN)
currently doing a 12 months masters in the UK. Finish in September and then back to DGTA for 4 years to pay my penance.
Most enjoyable/challenging job so far was JENGO at 1SQN. 2 trips OS for exercises in malaysia and the US.
Still loving it and will probably be around for a while yet. Although nothing like 4 years at DGTA to suck the life out of you. Will see how that goes.
2 years ADFA
2 years RMIT
4.5 years Amberley (82WG, EBU, 1SQN)
currently doing a 12 months masters in the UK. Finish in September and then back to DGTA for 4 years to pay my penance.
Most enjoyable/challenging job so far was JENGO at 1SQN. 2 trips OS for exercises in malaysia and the US.
Still loving it and will probably be around for a while yet. Although nothing like 4 years at DGTA to suck the life out of you. Will see how that goes.
I joined the WRAAF in 1971 (it was a separate service then - amalgamated with RAAF in the mid '70s) and I left in 1977. Was a Personnel Selection Assessor and was posted to Directorate of Psychology (Canberra), HQSC Psych Unit (Vic Barracks, Melbourne), and Recruiting Centres in Melbourne, Hobart - and three-and-a-half wonderful years in Townsville with what was affectionately known as the Royal North Queensland Air Force (due to the very relaxed attitudes towards almost everything)!!! Met hubby there!
[Hubby joined the RAAF Academy in 1969, became a Pilot after graduation, and served on Maritime squadrons (10SQN, 11SQN & 92WG), became a Flying Instructor (1FTS Point Cook and also Maritime) then back to 1FTS as Flight Commander. Then came the big promotion and the posting that all pilots dread: flying a 'mahogany bomber' at HQSC! Fortunately he had contingency plans already in place and gave the required 3 months' notice on his first day at 'the desk' - and left in 1987 to join an airline.]
As for 'war stories' - nothing really stands out more than any other in retrospect - and certainly nothing that could possibly top happy's real war story!! Had an absolutely great time, partied like there was no tomorrow, and made some truly wonderful life-long friendships. We caught up with 5 of them in Canberra this Easter - my liver is still recovering!!!!!
Cheers
LynnH
[Hubby joined the RAAF Academy in 1969, became a Pilot after graduation, and served on Maritime squadrons (10SQN, 11SQN & 92WG), became a Flying Instructor (1FTS Point Cook and also Maritime) then back to 1FTS as Flight Commander. Then came the big promotion and the posting that all pilots dread: flying a 'mahogany bomber' at HQSC! Fortunately he had contingency plans already in place and gave the required 3 months' notice on his first day at 'the desk' - and left in 1987 to join an airline.]
As for 'war stories' - nothing really stands out more than any other in retrospect - and certainly nothing that could possibly top happy's real war story!! Had an absolutely great time, partied like there was no tomorrow, and made some truly wonderful life-long friendships. We caught up with 5 of them in Canberra this Easter - my liver is still recovering!!!!!
Cheers
LynnH
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Great stuff here but for all us Civvies can be have alittle more detial on what DGTA and I assume a fighter controller is a pilot?
Dumb it down a little please
.... PeterPeter
Not up to date on the DGTA thing - their names change all the time! Hazard a guess and say Director General Technical Analysis (since poyner is an engineer) - but could be hopelessly wrong! (Howzat, poyner?)
A fighter controller is an Air Traffic Controller in charge of fighter aircraft.
Cheers
LynnH
Not up to date on the DGTA thing - their names change all the time! Hazard a guess and say Director General Technical Analysis (since poyner is an engineer) - but could be hopelessly wrong! (Howzat, poyner?)
A fighter controller is an Air Traffic Controller in charge of fighter aircraft.
Cheers
LynnH
Hey, we can only talk in acronyms!
No, a fighter controller is not a pilot. It's also known as a GCI (ground controller of intercepts), but basically we engage in "air battle management". We sit on the ground (or these days, more commonly, in the back of an airborne aircraft such as AEW&C) and watch the whole air battle on radar, and communicate with all the aircraft on our side. FCs send in fighters against targets, deciding how many fighters we need to protect each position, tell the fighters if they can shoot something down, etc. We love to shout out "bandit in your six" and stuff lilke that.
DGTA = Director-General Technical Airworthiness - if I recall correctly - and is the place where all the RAAF's aircraft maintenance procedures etc are developed. A very paper-driven organisation and not considered a wonderfully rewarding posting.
Tracey
How the terminology changes!!! Yonks ago, they were known simply as GCI controllers, not fighter controllers - and the RAAF didn't have AEW&C aircraft! Could never figure out why the military felt they had to change the names of everything every few years (maybe to keep 'the enemy' guessing?!).
BTW, loved your 'around the campfire' story from the other thread - laughed for ages!
Cheers
LynnH
How the terminology changes!!! Yonks ago, they were known simply as GCI controllers, not fighter controllers - and the RAAF didn't have AEW&C aircraft! Could never figure out why the military felt they had to change the names of everything every few years (maybe to keep 'the enemy' guessing?!).
BTW, loved your 'around the campfire' story from the other thread - laughed for ages!
Cheers
LynnH
Wash your mouth out, LynnH! My sister is an ATC, and I assure you, ATCs and fighter controllers have always been, and remain, intrinsically hostile to each other. They kind of have enough in common to have people (such as yourself) think they're alike, yet in fact have such diametrically opposed goals that they have difficulty relating to each other... The only thing in common is the tools - radar and voice radio. But the objectives are completely different. It would be kind of like saying that a property developer is similar to a real estate agent.
Glad you liked my warrie - I've got some more, but I'm waiting to give others a go...
Depends - were you close enough to get a "flesh wound"? Have you seen "Top Gun"?I went to the Edinburgh RAAF Air Show last year and saw Hornets doing a bombing run. Does that count?
I went to the Edinburgh RAAF Air Show last year and saw Hornets doing a bombing run. Does that count?
Not unless they actually dropped bombs on you, Steve!
Cheers
LynnH
Couldn't agree more
Closer analogy would be Property Developer vs Demolition agent
ATC - keep 'em apart
FC - put 'em together
(From a soon to be ex-ATC
)Hi everyone, full time Army. Joined in the WRAAC (Womens Royal Australian Army Corps), but that was disbanded and I am now RAAOC (Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps).
I worked in HR administration and finance.
That was at the age of 18, in 1975. Now I am almost 51, out of the full time Army in 1999, still do Army Reserve and work for an organisation that supports Army Reservists and their civilian employers. My civi job is with Defence as a public servant, Unit Resource Officer (Finances etc).
No warries, but had a great career, like Lyn, partied alot, trained hard, worked hard, and played hard.
Army - Its a great life.
Christine W
I worked in HR administration and finance.
That was at the age of 18, in 1975. Now I am almost 51, out of the full time Army in 1999, still do Army Reserve and work for an organisation that supports Army Reservists and their civilian employers. My civi job is with Defence as a public servant, Unit Resource Officer (Finances etc).
No warries, but had a great career, like Lyn, partied alot, trained hard, worked hard, and played hard.
Army - Its a great life.
Christine W
Depends - were you close enough to get a "flesh wound"? Have you seen "Top Gun"?
Suprisingly enough, I haven't seen Top Gun - must be about the only guy who hasn't! Mates always give me hell about it if the topic ever comes up.
I have however seen the Top Gun take off - 'Hot Shots' a fair few times. Does that count?
Not too good with this military stuff am I!
The only thing in common is the tools - radar and voice radio. But the objectives are completely different. It would be kind of like saying that a property developer is similar to a real estate agent.
Glad you liked my warrie - I've got some more, but I'm waiting to give others a go...
All the same to me. Bunch of raafies sitting around miles behind the lines eating pizzas and complaining about their allowances. Running to the medical centre when a fingernail gets chipped
I was a soldier for 17 years. Joined in 1983 as a Recruit and reached the dizzying heights of Private within my first year ...
Was commissioned as a Lieutenant a few years later and commanded a Troop of 30 odd Tactical Electronic Warfare Specialists with their associated jamming, locating and eavesdropping gear.
Had a reasonably enjoyable and sometimes exciting career and retired as a Major commanding a Squadron of men and women some years later.
Noone is interested in all the details and acronyms
Must have something to do with the eras. I was just a Radio Tech on Neptunes, finally.
One of the last rookies to go through Rathmines and did the Mechanic's modules at Ballarat in winter. We used to go to Melbourne over the weekend for the good weather.
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