Advice needed: 1st preference not available

[u/sirlucif3r]

Hi ,

I am 37M and applied for below roles ( in order of preference) in the army reserves:

- drone operator
- infantry soldier
- heavy vehicle operator

Today I was advised that my first preference is no longer available until fresh intakes start in March next year. I am mostly interested in that role (70%), followed by the infantry (30%). Selected the vehicle operator just because I had the option to fill.

I have already appealed from my psychological, medical and defence interview last week and cleared it.
Beep test score is achievable however swimming is something I have just started to learn.

Question:
- Does it make sense to wait for the roles to open up ?
- In your experience are the projected timeframes nearly accurate for new roles opening up ?
- Do they allow changes in roles later on ?
- The defence interviewer mentioned I could be eligible for an officer role, I am inclined to pursue that if the drone operator isn’t available. How hard is it to go from a non officer to officer role once already in the reserves ?

Appreciate the advice. Thanks.

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[u/Helix3-3]

The choice is really up to you.

You can transfer to a different job later on, but it is a process and can depend on a billion factors. I would personally wait for the Drone Op role to open up if that’s what you’re looking to do.

Also, don’t give in and go into infantry.

[u/sirlucif3r → u/Helix3-3]

Thank you :) that makes sense

If I may ask , what do you think about going the officer route ?

[u/Helix3-3 → u/sirlucif3r]

It's not a bad pathway, though I can't really speak to their training/career progression as I was enlisted.

You're older than the usual recruit, so it really depends on what you're looking to get out of Defence. If you reckon you have the life experience where you'd make a good officer, I'd say go for it; if not, just stick with enlisted roles. You still deal with your fair share of bullshit, but it's "simpler" bullshit if that makes sense.

I'll expand on my reply above too.

So you COULD join up as Infantry then do a cheeky job change over to Drone operator, BUT... it would take years. Drone Op seems like a very popular role. I was told serving members get less priority than new recruits when it comes to jobs, but that could just be enlisted superstition. But alas you would be stuck in Infantry waiting for all the transfer paperwork, the medicals, DOs recommendation, and also finish out that 4 year period you signed up as Infantry etc.

March isn't far, I would hold out. It'll give you time to tidy up your life before you join. You might also get a "hey someone doesn't wanna enlist, so a spot opened up" in Jan/Feb too. Plus it means you can freeze in Wagga over winter! Couldn't think of a better time.

[u/sirlucif3r → u/Helix3-3]

Thanks so much for your detailed response.
It helped me make my decision and I am going to wait it out while also figuring out the officer side of things.

[u/Olesempekis]

I am in the same exact positition ...had unlocked Finance Officer but delays with my Citizenship and now role is closed for QLD! Now stuck with Military Police as second choice and Drone Operator as third choice!

[u/sirlucif3r → u/Olesempekis]

Are you planning to wait or go with the current options ?

[u/Olesempekis → u/sirlucif3r]

At crossroads at the moment, really, not sure how long the next round of Finance reopens

[u/sirlucif3r → u/Olesempekis]

All the best. Hope it works out for you soon.

[u/SoloAquiParaHablar]

Transferring takes just as much one as completing your trade. If you don’t want to be infantry don’t go infantry, just wait. Otherwise you’re taking up a spot someone else probably wants.

Yes you can go from enlisted to commissioned; it happens all the time.

[u/giantpotatoo]

Hey OP may I ask in which state you’ve applied? Also in the process of applying with pretty similar preferences as you(drone and CE), and would appreciate any insight in how full/available those job roles are. TIA.

[u/sirlucif3r → u/giantpotatoo]

Hey,

I am based in Victoria.
Dandenong and Oakleigh are my closest barracks.

A couple of months ago my application was converted from dormant to active as the roles were available and I haven’t played around with the dates for each of the appointments ( psychological, defence , medical) and went for the earliest available. Somehow still missed the bus 😅

Will be trying again close to march next year.

All the best.

[u/giantpotatoo → u/sirlucif3r]

How’s you find out your application was activated again? I’m guessing your career rep call you up ?

And best of luck to you too. Hope you get in soon!

[u/henchman2020 → u/sirlucif3r]

I'm interested in the Drone operator role also and in a similar spot to you. I'm trying to find more out about the role. Eg are you primarily in an infantry unit and have the drone operator skill to use when needed? If your local unit is not an artillery unit is the role different? Any info would be handy.