u/schqrk

Genuine question: Why does everyone seem to talk down on the ARA compared to the Navy and Air Force?

I’m joining the Australian Regular Army in February 2027 for a trade role, and whenever I read discussions online, there always seems to be people saying the Navy or Air Force have better conditions, better accommodation, better work-life balance, or an easier lifestyle.

Is the Army really that bad, or is it just a different experience?

The reason I’m joining isn’t because I’m looking for the easiest option. I want to challenge myself, build discipline, learn a valuable trade, earn my place, and be able to look back one day and be proud of what I’ve accomplished. If I only cared about comfort, I probably would’ve chosen a different path altogether.

“Do not pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” — Bruce Lee

Not everything in life that’s easier is necessarily more rewarding. Sometimes the harder road teaches you more about yourself.

I know conditions might be better elsewhere, but I’m trying
to understand whether the criticism of Army is genuinely deserved or if it’s mostly people comparing different lifestyles and priorities.

For those who have served in the Army, Navy, or Air Force, especially in trade roles, would you make the same choice again? Why or why not?
Cheers.

I’m 19M and the last few months changed me a lot.

Earlier this year my girlfriend and I broke up after 4 years together, and around the same time my dad went to jail. It wasn’t even the heartbreak itself that hit me the hardest.

It was realizing nobody was coming to save me.

Not in a dramatic way, just in a real life way. The world keeps moving no matter what happens to you. You still wake up the next morning. You still go to work. You still have responsibilities.

So I decided I had two choices: stay stuck or become stronger.

Since then I’ve changed almost everything about my life. I’ve been running long distance almost every day, going to the gym every day, working 9 hour shifts 6 days a week, saving money every single week, eating healthy, sleeping properly, journaling, and spending more time outside instead of wasting my life scrolling or escaping into distractions.

I’m also joining the army soon, so I’ve been pushing myself mentally and physically because I want to be ready for that life too.

From the outside, my life probably looks really good. I’m fitter than I’ve ever been, more disciplined, more focused, and honestly doing things most people would probably respect for someone my age.

But nobody really talks about how lonely this kind of lifestyle can become.

When your whole life turns into self-improvement, you spend a lot of time alone with your own thoughts. You get so focused on building yourself up that eventually you realize you don’t really talk to many people anymore outside of work or small conversations.

Sometimes I’ll finish a run or leave the gym and just sit there feeling empty for no real reason. Not because I’m failing in life, but because everything starts feeling emotionally quiet.

I miss simple things. Having someone to talk to about random stuff. Feeling close to people. Feeling understood without having to explain everything.

The weird part is I know I’m doing better in life overall. I’m proud of the discipline I’ve built. I know these habits are making me into a better man.

I just didn’t expect becoming stronger to feel this lonely sometimes.

I feel like a lot of young guys probably go through this but never really say it out loud.

It’s been about a month and a half since my relationship ended, and I’ve just found out she’s already with another guy.

We were together since Year 10. She was my first everything, first kiss, first time, all of it. We basically grew up together and I genuinely thought we were going to build a future.

Now it just feels like I’ve been replaced overnight.

I’m not even angry, I just feel sick, defeated, and honestly crushed. It feels like everyone replaces me. Like everything we had meant way more to me than it did to her.

I’m out here trying to rebuild my life in a new area, living alone, dealing with everything on my own. My dad’s in jail looking at years, my family barely calls, and it just feels like my whole life has been hard and keeps getting harder.

Why is life so hard.

It just feels like no matter what I do, people move on from me like I’m nothing.

TL;DR:
Together 4 years since Year 10, broke up 1.5 months ago, she’s already with someone else. Feeling defeated, crushed, and like everyone replaces me. Dad’s in jail, no real support, and life just feels constantly hard.