has anyone any experience of the oz army, my hubby is 3 years off his 22 year mark in British army is wanting to join oz army. any advice

My brother in law is trying to join the Australian army but it is on hold until November as that is when the army is next recruiting (or so they say?).

It's been done by quite a few guys from the Air Corps though.

so far we have to wait till his service is completed but no one can tell us how long the process takes it is difficult to gain any info, fingers crossed that your bro in law makes it he is closer to moving than we are.

Have a good think about the reasons he wants to leave and why he would want to do the same things here. my hub retired from UK forces and then joined RAN.The same issues and gripes exist here but the paper work & bureaucracy are worse. he may have to drop a rank on transfer & may spend more time away too- how resilient & committed r u & kids( if you have them& what age r they, what r their interests). Have a really good read of some of the family,health,education and living cost threads. we made the move and like it here but it has been more expensive reestablishing ourselves than we thought. the removals and defence support network is excellent though.

hubby has been in army since 16 and cant imagine not being in army but when hiss 22 are up he is out civvy street doesn't appeal. Ive been an army wife for nearly 16 years but with hubby for nearly 19, we have 3 kids, 4,6,8 all boys at mo hubby is posted away from home and has been for nearly 2 years. I'm used to life with the army and i suppose the life doesn't bother me,i just get on with it, but it will be different in oz so appreciate any advice regarding life out there in the forces.. thanks Mandy

See out the remaining three years, think of the pension!!!!!

I take it he'll be 40 when he leaves after 22?

This gives him plenty of time to apply for a skilled visa and 3 years to research where you want to live etc..

I know this adds 3 years onto your plan but he comes out with a pension immediately. If he transfers or leaves the British Army then joins the ADF there will be a minimum amount of time to serve and this will almost certainly be more than 3 years.
Can he transfer his pension to the ADF? I'm not sure as I didn't go this route and finished my 22 in the Navy.

Stick it out mate at your stage of the game.

Rich

Also, what if it takes him 12 months to transfer, or longer?

he is planning to do his time he has thought of the pension but has been told he needs to start the ball rolling as it may take a long time to sort it all out. im just going with the flow and doing all the research to make his life easier
nice to know ther are other people out there doing the mil route i was starting to think we were on our own
Mandy

Hi
The process has taken 2 years for me, I know others who have taken about a year.
I would reccomend sending the initial enquiry with 2 years to end of service. The aussies will wait for your husbands service to finish, as long as it's within a year or two.

email address I used is available on the 'defence jobs' website. I found it using google...

Nige

Thanks looking at your badge are you REME as that is what my hubby is hoping to join RAEME thanks for the advice he emailed a guy at the defence website (i found it ages ago)but so far has not had any response from them.
How far into the process are you?
Mandy

We have our meds on Thursday, as long as everything goes OK, we should get Visas issued within 2 months.
My Discharge date is 30 Aug, so hopefully there will be no complications...
I hope to start in Aus at the beginning of September

Good luck my hubby will watch your progress with a great deal of interest.
Mandy

Just found your message on this forum Nige, and best of luck for your meds on thursday. Thanks for all your help during my transfer ordeal and I'm sure you can come and have a free holiday in Sydney when I get there.

have you guessed who this is yet, I'll leave you with a clue: the last time I saw you i left you in Bernie's capable hands in Iraq Dec!!

Best of luck