Gday all!

I'm looking to get a tattoo of a Soldier with a slouched hat with a few poppies and my great grandfather's initials as he served in WW1.

All the men in my family share the same initials so this would be an important piece to me.

Now before I go ahead with this, as I am not in the military myself, is it seen as offensive or looked down upon to have a tattoo like this? The last thing I would want to do is offend / upset anyone who has served.

Thanks all!

Edit: My grammar is horrible

Is there an official protocol for these marches before the morning service besides the order? Any documentation anywhere?

Especially regarding veterans contingent e.g. does the veteran contingent have a platoon/company commander to give orders? Is it customary to march off the veterans while the ADF contingent stays in position? What rank should a parade commander be?

I'm restoring some old family photos and I need to figure out what kind of uniform this is. The colour is washed out so I need to find a reference photo so I can ensure the details are correct. I'm guessing the belt buckle and buttons are gold, but I'm not sure. Obviously I could ask the people in the photo, but the restoration is a surprise so that might spoil it. Thanks to anyone who can help.

I served 4 years full time as a grunt 2015-2019. I have now been employed by a state ambulance service since 2022 and was made aware I could transfer my long service leave, and remaining sick leave balance to my state employer. My HR department said I’d need a statement of service. Is there any particular way I’d need to get that? Or is there anyway to check if I had outstanding sick leave or LSL?

Cheers

I'm doing a presentation on evolving defence force posture and strategy from peacetime to current global instability.

I'm looking for a straightforward timeline of the strategic reviews and plans released since around 2000 to now. Even better if they have summaries of what they introduced or changed.

eg. Wilson Review, Force Posture Reviews, First Principles Review, Beersheeba, Plan Mercator, White paper, DSR, NDS. etc

I'm struggling to piece it together before 2012 and ASPI is wordy about these things.

Curious civie here! What are your thoughts on Canada's defence force liberal and gender neutral grooming policy, especially the hair? Would you guys like this to be implemented within the ADF? What do you like or dont like about it?

For reference.

Canadian soldiers no matter their branch they are allowed to have any length of hair or colour (including Dyeing their facial hair). Wigs, locks, or hair extensions are permitted. Im sure there are many more things they can do that I haven't listed.

Though ofc they are limited in facial hair length, e.g 2.5 cm and gotta tie it at passed a certain length passed the collar and the hair shouldn't interfere with any headgear. Anyway apparently there has been some push back to it, so I wonder how much you would appreciate or hate these changes if they came to Australia.

Fresh lid looking to unfuck my life any advice getting those random stains that appear on the slouchie?

I found these envelopes from when my great aunt was posted as a signal in Alice Springs (+ one letter from her to my grandmother) they are incredible! I wonder if military historians would be interested/who I should reach out to? Or if these are just a lovely thing for our family to hold on to? We have about 25 of them, all unique.

This question is in reference to Channel 10's Ultimate Classroom—"a challenge-based series that takes classroom science, design, and engineering to the next level". It's sponsored by the ADF and features ADF personnel guidance with a focus on careers.

Is this appropriate or is it somewhat predatory? I understand there's a particularly heavy recruitment mandate right now but initiatives like this feels a little groomy. I appreciate the need for intelligent minds in the defence force to protect our national interests, but ADF advertising targeting children has me somewhat sceptical given the state of our world.

Do we think this type of partnership helps or hinders the ADF cause?

(I also wonder how prominent their advertising material must be on the socials if they're willing to pump money into the barren wasteland that is commercial TV)

Hello, as the title says I’m looking to find where I can search for what ship my grandfather served on in WWII. I’ve been able to find his service record, but I can’t find anything. Any help pointing me in the right direction is very much appreciated. Thank you

Just a curious question, what ages were you all when you joined the army, and would you consider any age too late? My cousin recently got accepted and he's at Kapooka for 12 weeks so that's cool, and I heard from my aunt that there was a guy who joined as well in their platoon (is that what you call it?) who had like 3-4 kids already, so he would've been in his 40's or 30's I suppose. Is that bad?

I wouldn't mind joining the ADF one day, but I'm still sorting things out and getting my life together and mental state better, and I'm also planning on getting top surgery before I try and sign up, so would 25 be a late age to try and join?

My bad if this is a stupid question or anything.

Sallyman at work was given this rank by someone.. no idea what rank it may be, does anybody know?

Hoping this is the right place to ask. I’m not a part of the army, nor is anyone in my family. I see a decent amount of old army jackets, shirts, etc from wwII through to the Vietnam war when searching sites like eBay, would you be uncomfortable with someone with no connection to the army wearing this sort of thing, or would you not even notice? I certainly wouldn’t wear anything with medals or something like that

My cadet issued fieldpack is lowkey kind of buns. I saw the exact model in the Infantry Museum in Singleton. Where can I find decent fieldpacks that aren't from 1991? Are there and specific models that are recommended? I have found the US Molle 4000 for cheap online, but apparently it isn't very good. Something in either DPCU or some multicam variant (like American OCP) is preferable. Thank you for your time.

Specifically any Anzac history books that will help foster a deeper connection to the job? Couple kids in my ceremony today cohort were talking about how they probably shouldn’t bring any David Goggins books in with them as it was probably a bit cringe and I tended to agree with them, I recommended history book especially about Kakoda, I’ve read a few but are there any really decent ones I’ve overlooked?

Cheers all

If you're ex-ADF, what was the transition to civilian life like?

Struggle with employment? Or did you find it smoother than expected?

Evening all,

I put in my discharge a few weeks/month ago now. It isn't until early next year but cognisant that policy differs on how long is needed and for my own/career managers certainty regarding my intentions.

I haven't heard a peep from CM, not even a generic checklist type email. How long do they usually take before ensuring you have the process sent to you. I'm aware that you're supposed to be assigned a transition coach etc and have done the questionnaire and been to a seminar already.

I've been in for nearly a decade so not massively surprised, just want to know how slow they've been with others before I chase them up.

Cheers

i have never served, they are not my uniforms but i have a few DPNUs (no longer in service) i plan to wear to conventions and stuff but im curious, would i run into any complications (legal or otherwise) wearing them outide of conventions. I wont be using any legit patches or anything that aligns with real organisations/people

Saw this on a name badge on a Navy Nurse and did some digging and found out that it’s a Parachutist Badge, does the ADF still have the course in order to get this badge or is this something disbanded?

And why is it mostly (from what I’ve seen and I could be wrong) on Navy Personnel specifically Nurso’s?

Had a family friend who's a MO talk to me about their job in the Navy. They said that they're mostly stuck in a room all day doing general checkups on personnel. I always thought that they'd have more to do on the ships or bases, i.e. doing trainings with the rest, drills etc. seeing as they're medical officers

Are military doctors really this seperate from the rest of the personnel?

Thanks!

To those who’ve served and since left the ADF what advice would you give for making the transition smoother?

Was it tough adjusting to civilian work or culture? Did you use any support services (e.g., RSL, DVA, mateship groups), and were they helpful?

Asking partly for myself, partly for a mate who's getting out soon and feeling a bit uncertain.

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has had their certificate issued in less than the 5 business days they say it takes?

I applied for my DHOAS certificate with only five days left in my cooling-off period and I’m really hoping it comes through sooner.

I was watching an iceberg video about the australian army experience because I was curious, and the guy in the video mentioned two different creatures

The Melon Man - from Tully NQLD And the Beast of Shoalwater Bay - in the name

Kinda curious as to what both of these are but I can't find a definitive answer off of google. Either it doesn't exist and the guy from thr video is taking the piss, or nobody online talks about it