Australian Defence Force

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is constituted under the Defence Act 1903, its mission is to defend Australia and its national interests.

 The Recruiting Process

adf-recruiting-process

Defence Jobs

Click here to search for careers in the Australian Defence Force.

General Requirements

Citizenship

To join the Australian Defence Force, you must be an Australian citizen. The Australian Government makes this mandatory as it is a demonstration of your commitment to Australia’s future. You must provide the appropriatecitizenship documents: Australian Birth Certificate, Australian Passport or Australian Citizenship Certificate.

Fitness

You’ll need to pass a fitness test before you can be accepted into the ADF, including several medical tests to ensure you are fit for service. Once you become a member, you’ll need to maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle in order to cope with the physical demands of the role.

Age

Due to the physically and mentally demanding nature of ADF service, some age restrictions apply. The minimum age for entry is 17 with parental or guardian consent, however if you’re under 17, you can still begin the application process. The maximum recruitment age varies from job to job. As a general rule, the maximum recruitment age is three to six years below the Compulsory Retiring Age (CRA) and also depends on the Initial Minimum Period of Service for the role.

Gender

Almost all Defence Force roles are open to women, with the exception of a few direct combat roles.

Other Pre-requisites

Depending on the job you’re interested in, further restrictions or prerequisites may apply. For example, some intelligence roles have strict security requirements such as ten-year background checks.

Methods of Entry

Officer Entry

Useful Websites for Officer Entry Preparation;
Defence Jobs
 
Navy
 
RAAF
 
Army
 
Royal Military College
 
Australian Defence Force Academy
 
ADF Reserves
 
Air Force Officers
 
Maritime Warfare Officers
 
ADF Operations Link
 
ADF Pilot Selection Agency –  follow these links “Our People” > “Careers” > “Becoming a Pilot” > “Pilot Selection Agency”

General Entry

Defence Jobs
Go to the Additional Information page for:

  1. Important Requirements of ADF Service (Essential Reading)
  2. Joining Instructions
  3. Conditions and Benefits of Service
  4. Frequently Asked Questions

Navy
Go to the Additional Information page for:

  1. Navy Today
  2. Commanders
  3. Navy Recruit School
  4. Navy in Brief
  5. Equipment
  6. Establishments
  7. Fleet Activity

Army
Go to the Additional Information page for:

  1. What’s On
  2. Meet the Chief of Army
  3. Organisation
  4. Units of the Army
  5. Army Recruit Training Centre (ARTC)

RAAF
Go to the Additional Information page for:

  1. About Us
  2. Structure
  3. Organisation / Bases
  4. 1RTU
  5. Aircraft
  6. History
  7. News

RAN Recruit Training School
 
Army Recruit Training
 
RAAF No 1 Recruit Training Unit
To view 1RTU information, go to www.airforce.gov.au and type ‘Recruit Training’ in the search field
 
ADF Reserves
 
ADF Operations Link