I am sure that your father would understand that strong rivalry between the services.  Having said that, there is also immense respect between the services for each of the jobs they do.  You will not find a meeting between the services where they don't hang sh1t on each other, and all done in good humour.

And if you think I have offended your father, I apologise for that, I am sure he is an excellent pilot and a good bloke... for a RAAFy. 

You are correct....

He wouldn't have been offended at all and it ain't my battle to fight but If I called your old man a small d1cked w@nker, I guess you'd bite too?

By the way, I still consider the Defence Forces to be the best paid hobby you can get. However, having said that, you will note that they no longer advertise the Defence Forces as a "career", it is now advertised as a "job". This has been done deliberately as the prospect of having to stay a long time does not appeal to the youth of today that look out four or five years. If you want to make a career of it, you still can though.

By the way, I still consider the Defence Forces to be the best paid hobby you can get.  However, having said that, you will note that they no longer advertise the Defence Forces as a "career", it is now advertised as a "job".  This has been done deliberately as the prospect of having to stay a long time does not appeal to the youth of today that look out four or five years.  If you want to make a career of it, you still can though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agree with the sentiments of 'career' and 'job'

Exactly what happened with the Police. The average length of service is down to 5 years as opposed to 15 as it used to be.

Tactical officers are a bit different...it is the bull, jealousy, envy and embarressment of not having the guts to go in to tactical policing that makes tactical officers have a hard time back in mainstream policing.

My medical discharge cannot come soon enough! TJF !! TJF!!!

Thanks for all the advice guys, and the PM sixfan. I guess I am stuck a bit between a rock and a hard place. As much as I am a proud aussie and love flying I'm unsure if it's worth the long term sacrifice. As I have stated I am getting paid a lot more at the moment and would continue to be paid more over the next 11.5 years then if I was in the service. However, If I were to disregard pay I think I would have much greater job satisfaction serving in the defence force.

Having said all that I take on board what plonky has said about the culture and peer preasure. It does seem (no offence to anyone) that most of my mates who have been in the army full time came out very different then when they went in.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you already have your pilots licence don't you? A PA28 may not be an F18, but to me, flying is flying, however I can get it.

If you don't have that burning desire to go and do it, don't.

The attitude thing? the "brainwashing" and indoctrinisation...Well...that's why I didn't join, too much of an individualist here....

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you already have your pilots licence don't you? A PA28 may not be an F18, but to me, flying is flying, however I can get it.

If you don't have that burning desire to go and do it, don't.

The attitude thing? the "brainwashing" and indoctrinisation...Well...that's why I didn't join, too much of an individualist here....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Indeed I am. I love the challenge of an instrument approach down to the minima after a long hard flight. I couldn't think of many things more challenging (from a flying perspective) then doing the same thing in an F/A-18 or even a Herc for that matter.

The love of flying, the challenge and the professionalism draw me to it, but the brainwashing and loss of personality are keeping me away. Is this more prominent amongst the lower ranks? I imagine the higher ranks would obviously have to adopt the same philosophy however maybe they are allowed a little more free will due to their position?

What I really wanted to know, is what a day or full week as an Air Force officer would involve and how satisfied they would really be at the end of the day. Would a strong individual feel squashed and held down by the pressure of the mass or the nature of the culture, or would a persons strengths as an individual be recognised and encouraged provided they followed the cause.

I have to say that the Defence Forces foster leadership and the ability to think as an individual. I suspect that if you were seeking out a career in the Chinese Air Force, you may get the brainwashing approach and loss of individualism. One of the great things about our Defence Forces is that it encourages the person to bring out their strengths and to build on areas that may not be prominent. The Defence Forces of today are not full of 'yes men' I can assure you of that.

So hands up all the raafies in here!!!

Think long......and very very hard.

I'm not an RAAF Officer, and to be honest I don't know too many RAAF service men(and women) but I can offer 7 years personal experience being a current serving sailor in the Royal Australian Navy,

...cue Village People (In the Navy...)

therefore the Australian Defence Force as a whole.

There are some good perks, Dental and Medical, subsidised housing, generous loans and tailored salary packaging.

Regardless of being an Officer or General Entry remember,

You sign on the dotted line and THEY OWN YOU!!!!!!.

Ultimately, they have the final say in everything.

1. They want you pushing paper, you'll push paper!

2, They want you flying Fa-18s out of Tindall in the Northern Territory for

2 years, you be doing exactly that!

3. They want to yank you away from family and loved ones whilst your on a well

earnt 2 weeks fully paid leave, telling you only where your going, but not how

long for, and having no idea as too what your going to be actually doing!!!

Yep they'll do that also!

I've been a Medic in the RAN for 7 years now and seen a lot of changes, better, yes there are some, worse...yes there are plenty of those too.

They used to award a pension after 20years service, that changed in 1991 with an introduction of super.

Take that away and theres 75% of the reason people no longer want to make a career out of the services.

I could go on, and to all out there reading this that may think I'm disgruntled with The Navy and ADF;

2 out of 3 ADF personnel are wanting to discharge - taken from a poll of 4000 adf members, those stats are about 4 months old.

I used to love my job, first five years, the last two years, especially after returning from Indonesia on Hmas Kanimbla, my time here (NAVY) is done.

Think Long and Hard

Darren

Think long......and very very hard.

I'm not an RAAF Officer, and to be honest I don't know too many RAAF service men(and women) but I can offer 7 years personal experience being a current serving sailor in the Royal Australian Navy,

...cue Village People (In the Navy...)

therefore the Australian Defence Force as a whole.

There are some good perks, Dental and Medical, subsidised housing, generous loans and tailored salary packaging.

Regardless of being an Officer or General Entry remember,

You sign on the dotted line and THEY OWN YOU!!!!!!.

Ultimately, they have the final say in everything.

1. They want you pushing paper, you'll push paper!

2, They want you flying Fa-18s out of Tindall in  the Northern Territory for           

    2 years, you be doing exactly that!

3. They want to yank you away from family and loved ones whilst your on a well

    earnt 2 weeks fully paid leave, telling you only where your going, but not how   

    long for, and having no idea as too what your going to be actually doing!!!

    Yep they'll do that also!

I've been a Medic in the RAN for 7 years now and seen a lot of changes, better, yes there are some, worse...yes there are plenty of those too.

They used to award a pension after 20years service, that changed in 1991 with an introduction of super.

Take that away and theres 75% of the reason people no longer want to make a career out of the services.

I could go on, and to all out there reading this that may think I'm disgruntled with The Navy and ADF;

2 out of 3 ADF personnel are wanting to discharge - taken from a poll of 4000 adf members, those stats are about 4 months old.

I used to love my job, first five years, the last two years, especially after returning from Indonesia on Hmas Kanimbla, my time here (NAVY) is done.

Think Long and Hard 

Darren

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Darren, this is the sort of feedback I am looking for, from someone who is serving or has served in the forces. It's suprising (and shocking) to hear that 2/3 ADF personnel are wanting to discharge. I wonder how spread or focused the sample was (I.e across all ranks, just lower ranks, or just Navy personell etc). A good friend of mine that joined the army loved it for the first two years, then hated the next two years and has now decided he may as well stay on, neither enjoying or disliking his job. Apart from being medicaly unfit to serve is there any other way to discharge before your return of service obligation is up?