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The shortage of officers now facing the army, navy and air force has seen them return to an old favourite, short term work experience. 

 

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon says "It is my view that if we are going to meet our people shortage challenge in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), we need to find new and innovative ways of giving young people exposure to the ADF."

In NSW, Queensland and ACT, students are exposed to five days of military life, from the physical training every day, to the lectures, what it's like to be deployed overseas, navigation, first aid and more.It's the best idea of real life in the forces that any civilian can get, quickly.

 

Gone are the days of ads that showed men in camouflage in tanks roaring around a paddock.

"You cant sell people a false dream," says career advisor Michael Geeves from St Pauls Grammar School situated nearby the NSW training ground in western Sydney. "By all means, sell it as a lifestyle choice - but you can't hide the harsh reality that it involves picking up a gun, even in non-combatant areas."

>> get more info from the Defence Forces website

"Defence Forces used to have a well organised work experience program, which was always popular," says Geeves. "However, some years ago they closed this down due to the complexities and security issues of running it. I think recruitment has been affected by this as they often picked up students through the program. The new program may indicate that the Defence Forces have realised the value of a work experience program."

 

Once in the military himself, Geeves warns, "[The job] can have adrenaline attached to it but also some very pedestrian things."

When asked why students such as his own are not choosing defence careers as much these days, Geeves sights recent wartime events and reticent parents as probable factors. 

 

Parents see current forces deployed in other countries' wars - and they're not happy about the thought of that happening to their son or daughter.""And the forces are aware of that" he says. 

"The irony is, that is what they are there for."

Geeves says a handful of St Pauls students are interested in forces careers each year,  and all those who are serious, make it through. Still, he believes the work experience may provide them a few new recruits.
"It sure is cheaper than an advertising camapaign," he says."When we used to run this, years ago, we'd send students to Richmond Air Force Base, even down to Nowra to the Naval Base 'Albatross'." 

"When the forces abandoned it that tended to see a drop off of interest amongst students too," he says.

"For many of them, it sounds exciting and they think they could like it."
"In the same way when Border Security started being shown, more students came to ask me about jobs in customs." 

 

More info

Defence Forces website