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Be it dealing with natural disaster, or protecting Australia during an international crisis, officers in the Australian Army are trained to be effective leaders in all aspects of army life.
Doctors Or Intelligence Officers?
There is a wide variety of occupations in which army officers can work, including Signals (Communications), Aviation, Transport, Medical, Engineering, Intelligence, Infantry, Armoured Corps and a whole lot more. Positions exist for engineers, infantrymen and women, doctors, lawyers and pilots, who are responsible for a team of soldiers and other personnel under their command.
Duties performed by an officer vary according to which Corps they are assigned. Officers in the Royal Australian Artillery are trained to locate enemy targets, produce combat intelligence, provide low level air defence and produce the firepower needed in battle. These officers would be familiar with missile systems, radars and sound ranging equipment.
As a contrast, officers working in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps are trained to deal with trauma, hospital medicine and tropical medicine like that used in disaster relief.
No matter the area in which they specialise, all officers must possess high degrees of self discipline, excellent fitness and great leadership skills. Being part of the armed forces involves the ability to work in a team and communicate effectively with all members along the chain of command.
Your Options
You can become an officer by studying at the Royal Military College (RMC), Duntroon; by completing a degree at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA); or as a sponsored undergraduate at another university. You may also enter as a graduate after finishing tertiary studies elsewhere.
If you want to pursue a leadership role in the Army but don't want to undertake a degree program straight away, you can become an officer via the Royal Military College non-graduate entry program. Officers pursung this entry path complete three, 22 week courses over 18 months at Duntroon covering battle craft, command and leadership skills, weapons training, communication, administration, first aid and navigation, amongst others. After completing the courses, you then start specialist training at various barracks and centres around the country.
To Lead. To Excel.
If combining a career in the Army with a university degree interests you, then there are two options available. You can enter the Army and complete officer training while studying at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA). To qualify for ADFA, you need to have completed your TEE or equivalent, meet the entry requirements for the course you intend to study, be 17 years of age and meet general Army entry requirements.
If successful, you will attend University College, part of the University of New South Wales, which is responsible for conducting courses of study and research for defence personnel. University College offers undergraduate courses that lead to the University's degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Technology.
The undergraduate students are officer cadets of the Regular Army in residence at the Academy. In addition to their academic studies, officer cadets undertake programs of military training at the Academy and at service training establishments.
After you've completed the three-year academic study and military training period at ADFA, Army officer cadets proceed to the Royal Military College (RMC), Duntroon, to complete a further 12 months of military studies before graduating as an officer in the Regular Army. After graduation, cadets will be allocated to a specialist branch (Corps) such as the Artillery, Armoured, Medical or Intelligence Corps. And you'll be expected to live up to the ADF's maxim, 'To Lead. To Excel.'
Sponsored Undergrads And Graduate Entry
If you intend to complete a degree at another university, or are currently studying at one, it is possible to become an officer as a sponsored undergraduate where you will be paid to study, have most study-related costs met and have a guaranteed job at the end.
There are a number of opportunities to work in the profession of your choice within the Army, if you are already fully qualified. The Army recruits some professionals to meet varying needs including doctors, dentists, nurses, educators, civil engineers, psychologists, chaplains and lawyers, amongst others. After appointment, you complete your officer training at Duntroon.
Everyone who completes specialist training is guaranteed a job in the Army, however, the ADF's recruitment needs can vary. For more information about recruitment go to: (http://www.defencejobs.gov.au), click on Careers Explorer at the bottom left-hand side of your screen and choose from Army, Air Force or Navy. A minimum service period of six years applies to officers.
During basic training you will be paid approximately $25,400 which increases to approx $43,000 upon completion of recruit and category training. For more up-to-date salary information, contact the Australian Defence Force directly.
To apply for a job in the Army, you must be at least 17 years of age and be an Australian citizen (or eligible to become one) or a permanent resident. You must also have the appropriate educational qualifications and pass aptitude, fitness/medical/aptitude tests and pass a security clearance check. Please contact your local Defence Force Recruiting Centre's Human Resources unit who will arrange for you to talk with a recruitment officer.
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