any army mechanic or automotive enginneer here ?

used to be in the army and my old man was in the army in RAEME Royal Australian Electrical Mechnical Engineers His units motto was" PISTON BROKE" any way in some aspects he thought it was better ie more money for parts and international training recognition especially with overseas models but he would not work much on staff cars just mostly unimog 4x4 trucks turbo diesel 6 wheel trucks and landrovers a few troopy and such but not as much as your average local mechanic because all staff cars sedan and utes and mini buses were all fixed by a local contractor like everything else in the government that has ruined this great country of ours any way enuff said.
good life for a single guy not bad money but its hard to get into apprentice school through the army now but with proposed budget improvements coming up in defence this could change.
good luck

Hi Tommy:

I'm ex army (Infantry) ... but enjoyed my time. Being away from home is the main problem and I would not worry about discrimination because you are from the "country" ... They also keep a much wider eye out for this nowadays. Good money, free medical and dental, not a bad super scheme.

I was a Nasho (1966/67) and it was not an issue, even though the regs didn 't like us nashos much. Worked out fine because we didn't like them either. But, when the **it hits the fan it's all forgotten.

The benefits .. travel .. great lifelong mates, learned good useful skills, and still look back on it as being a great time of my life.

If you can handle the "hurry up and wait" syndrome it's a good life.

Jack

Just don't trust em round your wife/girlfriend other wise they are likely to take her! I was in for 8 years but most of them don't tolerate this kind of thing. My REAL mates are going to take care of him don't you worry. It is a good life for a single bloke and the mates(99%) are life long friends after that and when you all work together you forge trust and respect from each other.

Chris/Jack - Nasho/Reg - Toyota/ Nissan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's all the same isn't it. As soldiers you did the same great job, just as the vehicles do the same great job, but for some reason we still have to have a go at each other. How about comeing up to Camp Pandanus on the 18th of August to comemorate the occasion when Nashos and Regs were as one, and the only 4WDs around were Rovers and Jeeps (L113A's are only 2 sprocket drive). We can discuss this over a beer and Barramundi.
And Tommy, A military apprenticeship is a great grounding for a future civilian career. Good luck for your future.

Mal T.

Tommy,

Just coming up to complete nearly 20 yrs in the Army. I seen operational service in South East Asia and East Timor. I had good times and I have had bad times, but I haven't regretted joining the Army or the skills that I have learnt. As a mechanic in the Army you will required to work in places that you would never have dreamed of. Whether is in outback Aust on a major exercise or in some country overseas on operations.

You wont always just be fixing vehicles, you may be required to lend you skills to other assignments. You wont spend every working day of your life in the same old shop doing the same old thing.

And best of all when your out on exercises etc it's all four wheel driving and in a varity of vehicles.

If your keen and want to do it go to the local recruity centre and speak to them, they will help you.

P.S. When we wear the uniforn we are all the same, regardless of colur, religion etc.

Tommy, i spent 9 years in the army as a mechanic and really enjoyed it, i was medically discharged in 95 after i broke my back, otherwise i would still be there.
When i joined, their was 2 types of trade training: 1st was as an army apprentice which was 15 to 18 year olds, where you did 4 years trade and some military training at Army apprentice school at Bonagilla in Victoria. The 2nd ( which i did ) was as an adult trade ( 17 to 35 year olds ), where you did 3 months basic military training at Kapooka in NSW, then went on to RAEME training centre in Bandiana near Wodonga in Victoria, to under go 12 months intense trade training, after 12 months, posted to a real unit to do 3 years OJT, doing the real stuff, mainly working on Land Rover, Unimog, Mack, the occasional Land Cruiser, Armoured personel carrier ( v6 2 stroke diesel ), International S line, Generators and various small engines ( gen sets & small engines are usually maintained by the Fitter / Armourers.
As far as trips over seas, sometimes your lucky sometimes your not, i never got over seas, mainly because when these trips came up, i was doing specialist courses, or promotion courses, However i did get promoted through the ranks quicker than my mates did, it also depends on the type of unit you are posted to, for example, more tradies from field force units will travel compared to tradies that are in logistics units ( Base workshop ), i do have mates that have been to Germany, England, Milaysia, East Timor, Iran/Iraq, Somalia, Cambodia, Gallipoli, Bouganville, PNG, Hong Kong etc, you get to learn excellent bush mechanical skills and as mentioned in one of the earlier threads, you get to some of the best 4WDriving areas in the country that civillian people can't access, lastly, you only get out of it what you put into it, give it a go, you'll enjoy it, regards Dave.

The ARMY,
isn't that where they seperate the men from the boys?




















- with crowbars