One year after leaving full-time service and moving back to his hometown, Private Dylan Smith was searching for a connection. Now, after a few months taking part in , he says he’s found it.
Private Smith grew up on the Gold Coast and enlisted in 2014 before being posted to Darwin to 8/12 Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.
In 2018, he corps transferred to become a supply-chain storeman with 1 Aviation Regiment, which he continued until halfway through September 2021.
Struggling mentally and missing his family, especially his young nieces and nephews, Private Smith left full-time service and returned to the Gold Coast.
He quickly found civilian work and was able to draw upon his Army logistics experience to become a disposal supervisor at Linfox.
However, Private Smith was missing the connection he had with Army.
In November 2022, he received a phone call from his local contingent workforce management cell to see if he was interested in returning to service in a flexible role through the ServeOn initiative.
Interested by the prospect, Private Smith began searching vacant jobs on .
“It was for the social aspect,” Private Smith said.
“I’m not the most sociable person, so to have a group – quite a welcoming group as well – that have similar experiences and a similar understanding of things was appealing.”
Private Smith began working at 104 Construction Squadron on a SERCAT (Service Category) 3 basis in his former role of supply-chain storeman.
He found the flexibility of serving on Tuesday nights allowed him to manage a good work-life balance, maintain his Army skills and make new connections.
“It’s good to keep that skillset,” Private Smith said.
“I did a little bit of infantry minor tactics and when it was time to refresh my knowledge, I actually realised that I knew a fair bit.
“Going into that environment I was able to provide feedback to some of the reservists because some of them had never done full-time Army.”
Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Corey Peterson has enjoyed having Private Smith at 104 Construction Squadron on a flexible arrangement.
“Private Smith has been very helpful and very useful,” WO2 Peterson said.
“As a SERCAT 3 member, he brings different knowledge and different experiences to the table.”
Private Smith has enjoyed the opportunity of serving in a flexible way that suits his current lifestyle.
“When I serve, it varies depending on what the unit has going on and my availability as well,” Private Smith said.
“The flexibility and social aspect is great. I’ve really enjoyed going out on a Tuesday night to meet people and start getting to know them.”
ServeOn is an Army initiative that lets people serve on their own terms.
