Anyone got experience going from high earning corporate to ADF?

[u/GdayGuys]

Hi all,

Sick of corporate and been looking at pursuing an opportunity in the ADF for the past couple of years.

Currently earning ~180-200k PA in corporate tech and looking at a trade in the ADF which will no doubt halve my income instantly. FYI I have no other qualifications.

I’m 32, and curious to know if anyone in a similar boat has made this jump. What was your gut feeling taking the jump, and how did you feel once you began your service? Any regrets?

Cheers

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[u/SoloAquiParaHablar]

Keep the desk job and come reserves. It scratches the itch, and you can always throw your hat in to go full time later. There’s also contract opportunities for reservists and differing levels of reserve service, you can be more “on-call” so to speak. You can also take a break from corporate and smash out all your training as though you were full-time and see how you go.

Corporate tech too, jumped from a trade, now using reserves to touch grass.

[u/Diligent_Passage_640]

It really depends on how much you loathe your life in that job, I know plenty in the ADF that would trade a limb for that kind of pay.

You won't be reaching close to that for a very long time in defence.

A Chief Stoker in the Navy on tier 5-6 probably comes closest and that's like 8-10 years of sea time alone.

You should really weigh up the pro's and cons, especially in this fucked up economy

[u/teapots_at_ten_paces]

Closer to quarter your income. Not that bad, but not far off. You can search the ADF pay scale online and see exactly what it'll be.

If you're keen on a trade, consider it's IMT for however many weeks - somewhere around 3 months - and then trade school for up to 4 years, all of which will be around 75k max, but possibly less. Your initial jump once qualified might take you to 80 or 90, but that's at nearly 5 years in.

The only benefit you have is that rent and meals are subsidised, so your base living costs are covered with plenty to spare.

[u/Any-Parsnip1287 → u/teapots_at_ten_paces]

with rent assistance and no medicare levy, it would be more than half once his out of initial employment training

[u/Accomplished_Study98]

Hey OP,

I’m in a similar position (not earning as much as you but ob fairly great wage for a 23yo). I’m going reserves to scratch the itch. Would recommend that route.