Big dog,
Don't hold your breath over the 'pay review' mate. It gets submitted late this year (November I think) and by the time cabinet and the 'head shed' make a decision, it will all be too late in the coming.
Get out whilst you can instead of hanging in for small fry (30K)
Airlines recruiting massively as we speak.
Mate your most likely correct on that timeline.
Ironically I have had some job offers in the last couple of weeks, to which I have turned down. I’m not ready to calm down for the Straight and Level lifestyle that civil sector offers. Right now that would bore the crap out of me, but each to their own and maybe sometime in the distant future I will "see the light" and leave for greener pastures.
Right now I love the Army and love the confusion of never knowing where I might be next week. For me $30K is just icing on the cake, but hell I’m going to reach out and grab it with both hands. However, I know that won’t be enough to keep many of my colleagues.