Soldiers reveal their biggest surprise since joining the Australian Army

We spoke with soldiers to get their authentic takes on what life in the Australian Army is actually like.

The Army has over a hundred roles, but what's it actually like once you've joined and kicked off your career?

To understand a little more about what life in the Army is actually like, LADbible had the chance to crash the Army Inter Brigade Rugby Comp — a competition designed to build friendly rivalries, camaraderie, banter and teamwork between the brigades — and get the low-down on their most surprising takeaways since entering their military career.

Mateship came out on top as the most important takeaway, but it was the level of teamwork that really shone through, both on and off the rugby field. "I think people who aren't in the Army might not understand how strong and close-knit we are," Renee, Army Human Resources Administrator, told us.

The tight-knit teams rely heavily on respect and good ol’ Aussie mateship to function. As Jack, Army Weapon Technician, put it, "If you can't work together as a team in the Army, you're in a lot of trouble." "Mateship is what it's all about," he said.

The Army members on the pitch admitted they were surprised by the level of training offered by the Army, although it's hardly surprising since the Army is one of Australia's largest vocational training organisations. Renee talked us through the considerable training opportunities, including "promotional courses, leadership courses, fitness courses," telling us, "All these opportunities are open to everyone in the Army."

That means a bunch of people getting trained and supported by instructors, teammates and leaders at every level — not just on the technical side, but soft skills as well. For Bailey, Army Electrician, he was surprised to develop his public speaking ability.

"It's built my confidence massively just to be able to talk in front of a group of people and get my voice heard," he told us.

And according to Yolanda, Army Military Police, the training kicks off straight away. “Since day one in the Army you’re learning skills like teamwork, courage,” she said. “It’s actually really fun and not scary at all.”

When you think of roles in the Army, combat roles might be the first thing that comes to mind. However, with everything from logistics to trades and aviation, there are roles available for everyone.

For Viliami, he came in without a clue of what job he wanted, unsurprising considering how many jobs there are. "When I enlisted, I didn't really know what I wanted to do," he told us. "We've got jobs like artillery operator, weapon tech, chefs. We've even got guys that are in HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems)," he explained. Eventually, he found there was a job driving some of the Army's impressive fleet of vehicles including HX77 and 40Ms and it was a match made in heaven.

With over 100 roles available, you can be confident there'll be something you’re passionate about.

If you’re interested in all the training and experience the Army can offer — while also being paid to play rugby with your mates — visit ADF Careers to learn more about joining the Army today.

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