Australia Seeking NCO's and Officers

[tomahawk6]

For some the opportunity to continue serving down under is appealing.The money seems good.

http://www.stripes.com/news/serving-down-under-australia-offers-military-jobs-to-us-troops-facing-separation-1.176622

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — U.S. servicemembers looking at career options in this era of shrinking military budgets and force drawdowns might want to take a look Down Under.

The Australian government is recruiting experienced U.S. enlisted personnel and officers to fill a range of positions — from submariners to doctors — in its military, according to a posting on the Australian Defence Force website.

“The Australian Defence Force looks to overseas candidates to fill gaps in our Services, which can’t currently be satisfied by standard recruitment,” reads the intro for overseas applicants on the Defence Force’s recruitment website. “We recognise that these candidates can bring skills and attributes to the Navy, Army and Air Force that will strengthen their overall operation and success rate.”

 

[dimsum]

FYI that article was from May 2012.  The ADF is still recruiting, but with the drawdown from Afghanistan I suspect the trades (and numbers of people) they want have changed.

 

[x_para76]

IMO if anyone on here has the ability and the desire to make the move down under I highly recommend it. I spent a year in Australia after leaving the Para's and thoroughly enjoyed it. I even went so far as taking my service records into and ADF recruiters to see if I could enlist. The Australian army is the highest paid in the world and they're comparable in size and capability to the CF.

 

[chrisf]

They should really talk to the British.. shouldn't be a problem to pick up entire regiments on the cheap...

 

[dimsum]

They should really talk to the British.. shouldn't be a problem to pick up entire regiments on the cheap...

They pretty much *already* do that. 

 

[George Wallace]

They pretty much *already* do that.

And they do that here as well.  From time to time, you may even find the Kiwi's recruiting from other Commonwealth countries.

 

[dimsum]

IMO if anyone on here has the ability and the desire to make the move down under I highly recommend it. I spent a year in Australia after leaving the Para's and thoroughly enjoyed it. I even went so far as taking my service records into and ADF recruiters to see if I could enlist. The Australian army is the highest paid in the world and they're comparable in size and capability to the CF.

Note:  I have said this before, so if this sounds familiar, it's because it is.

I would also recommend it, if you have been to Oz for a while (ie. the novelty has worn off) and already have your CF pension to back you up.  If you're still in the CF or haven't been to Oz yet, I'd think twice before making the jump.

Why do I say this?  The ADF is highly-paid because Australia is not a cheap country to live in, and many of Australia's military bases are located in/near the larger cities which are expensive for housing, etc.  Things (especially staples like groceries) are very expensive here, much of it because, ironically, most things are grown/produced locally at a higher cost than shipping from overseas.  If it does come from overseas (such as electronics, etc.) chances are there is some sort of premium; an example that has made the news is the fact that iTunes songs which are 99c in North America are $2.19 in Australia.  Many Aussie friends of mine who have Canadian relatives/friends have mentioned to me that while it's possible to live somewhat comfortably in Canada on a high-ish single income, it wouldn't be possible in Australia.

Australia is a beautiful country, but many Canadians' perceptions of it is "Sydney Harbour-Gold Coast-Uluru".  It's like saying Canada is "Whistler-Lake Louise-downtown Toronto".  As with all places, after a while you get used to it and the novelty wears off.  I notice that folks from the UK seem to keep the novelty factor a bit (or a lot) longer because it is the complete opposite - vast spaces, lots of sunshine, very hot (and generally humid) weather.  However, my Canadian expat friends seem to miss more things about Canada, such as mountains, snow or even a cold Christmas.  And to get out of Australia is a) VERY expensive unless going to Bali or Fiji, and b) takes a very long time.

In the two years I've been here, the best analogy I've come across (and ironically the one that Aussies will hate the most) for Australia/Australians is "the US, but populated by Brits".  Australians seem to think they are very much like Canadians, when they are far closer to Americans or British; maybe that's why the Brits and the Americans love it here so much.

My view is definitely not the same as most others (the ADF has tons of lateral transfers from the UK, NZ, Canada, US, etc.) but while Australia is great for a posting, I can't see myself staying here.  The most ironic part?  I have had more than a few ADF folks ask me if Canada has a lateral recruitment program

 

[Sub_Guy]

There is a way around the iTunes issue, if you move there just keep your Canadian iTunes ID and you will pay Canadian prices.   

The analogy of Aussies thinking they are like Canadians, if you go over to NZ they swear they are like Canadians and Aussies are closer to Americans. 

As expensive as Australia is, it's probably cheaper than Nova Scotia!

 

[tomahawk6]

There is a way around the iTunes issue, if you move there just keep your Canadian iTunes ID and you will pay Canadian prices.   

The analogy of Aussies thinking they are like Canadians, if you go over to NZ they swear they are like Canadians and Aussies are closer to Americans. 

As expensive as Australia is, it's probably cheaper than Nova Scotia!

It is quite an adjustment leaving friends and family to live in another country.

 

[dapaterson]

As expensive as Australia is, it's probably cheaper than Nova Scotia!

And fewer Golers to boot!

 

[Journeyman]

...... but while Australia is great for a posting, I can't see myself staying here. 

psssst, guys.....Dimsum still thinks it's an exchange posting and that we're actually going to take him back.....shhhhh 

 

[dimsum]

There is a way around the iTunes issue, if you move there just keep your Canadian iTunes ID and you will pay Canadian prices.   

The analogy of Aussies thinking they are like Canadians, if you go over to NZ they swear they are like Canadians and Aussies are closer to Americans. 

As expensive as Australia is, it's probably cheaper than Nova Scotia!

I tried keeping my iTunes ID for a while, but when I had to download Aussie apps (banking, etc.) then, predictably, they wouldn't show up. 

As for NZ, I actually found it like that when I visited Wellington and Auckland.  There is a subtle difference between the two countries, but I would definitely say Kiwis are much closer to Canadians than Aussies are.  Travellers can give Auckland a miss, but Wellington reminded me of a cross between Halifax and St. John's.  I haven't been to South Island (Christchurch, Queenstown, etc.) but friends who have say it's much like Vancouver Island.

When folks in NS start paying $12.99/kg for cherries or $4.99/kg for apples in the major cities and think that's a great deal, let me know 

 

[RDBZ]

In the two years I've been here, the best analogy I've come across (and ironically the one that Aussies will hate the most) for Australia/Australians is "the US, but populated by Brits". 

I chuckled when I read that: that's how most Aussies view Canada. ;D

 

[Sub_Guy]

When folks in NS start paying $12.99/kg for cherries or $4.99/kg for apples in the major cities and think that's a great deal, let me know 

Well right now here at the ZX superstore and sobeys you can get yourself apples for 6.54 a kg.. 

Comparing numbers Halifax and Brisbane.

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/city_result.jsp?country=Canada&city=Halifax

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/city_result.jsp?country=Australia&city=Brisbane&displayCurrency=CAD


Green Seedless grapes are being given away for 8.73 a kg!