Strange title for a post? Yes indeedy. But it’s actually a search term used quite a bit lately that has brought people to my blog. So I thought I’d throw up a quick post to explain it.
Basically, it all depends. It depends on the time frame between when you finish Kapooka and when your IET course starts. The general process is to get you to your IET course location as soon as possible, and then you wait there. That could be a couple of days, it could be a couple of weeks.
So the Army has this thing called Holding Platoon. If you arrive at your IET location, and there’s a bit of a wait until your course, you get posted in to Holding Platoon and they look after you until the course starts.
Generally speaking, you’ll be given random administrative tasks to complete during the day. You could be helping out at The Mess preparing meals, or you could be working in the Orderley Room (the HR office) helping file paperwork, or you could be out there painting rocks and doing some gardening.
In VERY rare cases, you may actually be able to take REAL leave and go somewhere else. But like I said, that is VERY rare. There would need to be an extended period of time before your course AND you would need to have been hanging around long enough to accrue some leave AND you would need a pretty damn good reason not to stay where you are.
Once your course starts, you probably won’t get any real leave until the course ends. You may get the occasional weekend off – again, depending on how long the course is and how intense it is – but you won’t be able to go anywhere further than the local town.
Once your IET course ends, the intent is to get you to your new posting as soon as possible. Generally, you’ll be sent there within a couple of days of completing your course. And then, depending on what’s going on in your new unit, you might get leave – or you may not.
Another thing I should point out – as raised by “Joel” – at the bottom of my “What happens at Kapooka” post, is what happens with people who are married when they join the Army.
Defence is really quite open-minded these days when it comes to relationships. We no longer talk about Married or Single, we talk about a Member (soldier/sailor/airman) that either does, or does not, have dependents. Defence recognises that you might be a single parent, you might be a step-parent or even have adopted kids. They even recognise same-sex relationships these days, as well as common law de facto marriages.
So, if you are “single” and have no dependents (kids, spouse, person you care for, etc) then you are known as a Member Without Dependents (or MWOD). If you DO have a dependent, then you are a Member With Dependents (or MWD). Easy enough?
If you join up as an MWOD, then life is simple. If you’re an MWD, then things get a bit more complicated. When an MWD is separated from their dependents FOR SERVICE REASONS, they are considered “Unaccompanied” – so now you become an MWD(U). During Kapooka, you obviously need to leave your family at home, so you are an MWD(U) member during basic training.
If you go to a “normal” IET course, then this will continue to be the case throughout your course. If you join a Corps with an extended IET course (and some can go for a year or more), then you may be allowed to bring your family and be an MWD again. There are a few entitlements for MWD’s, and you can read about them here.
If you remain MWD(U) during your IET course, then either immediately after your course – or shortly after arriving at your new posting – you will be given the chance to “reunite” with your family and arrange to have them move to your new posting location. Naturally, all this is at Government expense. If this happens to you, your admin staff will guide you through the process and tell you what to do.
So does that answer more of everyone’s questions? If not, drop me a line – or keep those funky search terms coming – and I’ll post more info to clarify what happens to you when you join the Army.
Hello!
First off, your blog has been a fantastic resource. So thanks for making the effort. 🙂
Next! My partner went off to Kapooka last week, aftewards he has about 3 months in Victoria and then 3 months in Brisbane. Brisbane is where we were from, so just wondering during the second half of his IETs will he be able to live back at home? Or does he still have to live on base? Sorry if you’ve already answered this somewhere else..
Hey Birdie. That’s a tough question. So much of what soldiers are allowed to do during IETs depends on themselves. If you guys are married, or you’ve had the Army recognise you as being in a De Facto relationship, then there’s every chance that he can move back home when he gets to Brisbane.
Hi, My Hubby finishes Kapooka in 2 weeks, right when i’m due with third child, his been approved 2 weeks parental leave. His IET (Mechanic Recovery) does not start for 3months
Q.1 What are chances of him getting more leave?
Q.2 We live in WA, his training is in Victoria. Would he be able to do shared housing with me ? Would us renting with him, with only basics affect army relocating all our ‘stuff’ in WA when he gets posted?
Thank you,any info is much appreciated.
Katie
Hi Katie, good questions! I believe that the Parental Leave can be taken at half pay, which doubles it’s duration. Just think carefully about whether you can afford to live with his pay being significantly reduced. He may be able to apply for Recreation Leave (or Trainee Leave) and maybe even some Carer’s Leave, so he should talk to his platoon staff about all that.
As for the renting situation, he should be getting Rental Allowance (RA) from the date of his enlistment. He should have been categorised as a Member With Dependents (Unaccompanied) or MWD(U) since his enlistment date which gives him a few more entitlements, which may assist financially, or even with him coming to see you.
If his IET course is 6 months or longer, which is rare these days, then he would be entitled to a posting to Bandiana, which would mean the Army will move you and the kids over to Vic. It doesn’t really matter how much stuff you have, the Army will move it. Removals are based on a set policy, which is usually related to how long a posting is – so having less stuff doesn’t help get you a removal if you wouldn’t normally be entitled to one. Chances are, you guys have to tough things out as MWD(U) until after his IET course and then the Army will move you to wherever his first posting is.
How am I supposed to find out his platoon number so I can send him letters? And do you know the postal address for the Kapooka base? He left on Monday, and I received calls and texts up until he arrived at Kapooka, it’s now Thursday, so you know when he can contact me next? Would it be on Sunday?
Hi Letitia. The recruits don’t get much access to their phones, especially at the beginning of training. Eventually, he will be able to text or call you and can ask him then what his Platoon number is. The postal address is:
Recruit J.A. Smith
3 Pl, A Coy (as appropriate)
1st Recruit Training Battalion
1 RTB
Blamey Barracks
MILPO KAPOOKA NSW 2661
hi
my fiance who will be on platoon hold whilst we are getting married is there any chance he can stay with me a few days after we get married? as it will be 7 days until his IET start? really would like some time with him after we get married
thank you
Congrats on your big day Natalie! This is a REALLY good question, and sadly one I can’t give you a definitive answer to. Doesn’t sound like I’m being much help to you, does it? lol. In theory, the answer should be Yes, but I’ve tried second-guessing the Army before and failed dismally. But the sooner he mentions it at Kapooka, the better his chances. If he springs it on them at the last moment, they’ll probably say No.
So, I will be undertaking the Medical operator / Technician IET at the ALTC and goes for 18 months. My wife and children will be remaining in the family home at Melbourne due to work and school. Subject to training requirements, would I be permitted to travel from Wodonga to Melbourne (3hrs drive) for the weekend provided I’m back on base by Sunday evening?
Yes, you will be able to visit on weekends, but as you mentioned, it’s all “subject to work requirements”. You should expect to be working alot of weekends, especially in the early stages of the course, but later on you will be given more time off over the weekends.
Without going into detail about how travel works during leave, just remember to make sure you tell your staff that you’re going home, due to the distance between cities. They should explain all that when you’re there anyway.
Good luck on the course
Thanks mate, I can’t wait to get into it all. Have wanted this for a while and it’s a new course structure and better quals too. Will keep you posted after Kapooka.