Entry

Officer

Many of the officer employment specialisations in the Air Force are available to people without a degree qualification. Although the occupations listed under Officer do not require a degree, we find that a significant number of applicants are degree qualified.

Officer entrants typically join the Air Force direct from Year 12 at school, university or civil employment and proceed directly to the Officers' Training School at RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria, to undertake the Initial Officer Course.

Following graduation from initial officer training, officers undertake specialist training before moving on to full employment in their chosen specialisation in the Air Force.

Australian Defence Force Academy

The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) is designed to provide young Officer Cadets from all three Services (Navy, Army, Air Force) with the finest tertiary education in Australia.

ADFA is a College of the University of New South Wales and officers graduate with a University of New South Wales degree. ADFA offers degrees in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil and Aeronautical), Science, Arts, Technology and Business.

The rules for Arts and Science degrees at the Academy are quite liberal and allow you to select majors and minors from a broad range of disciplines.  Other subjects which may be of particular interest to you are also available. Meteorology, Computer Science and Mechanics of Flight, for example.  

Science and Arts students will generally graduate with their degree after three years although some may continue for a fourth (honours) year. Engineering students will undertake a four-year degree with the possibility of undertaking an honours year at the end of this time for some students. Application to undertake an Honours year is subject to being selected by the University College and approval by the Air Force. It is not a right.

A Bachelor of Technology degree, Aeronautical (BTech (Aero)) or Aviation (BTech (AV)) is offered. The BTech (Aero) degree involves three years of study in conjunction with the Aeronautical Engineering degree with common core subjects. The degree does not qualify the officer as an Aeronautical Engineer, however, 12 months of additional study will lead to an award of this qualification.

The BTech (AV) involves three years of study commencing with a common program of foundation science and engineering courses with other first-year technology and engineering students. In second and third years the programs diverge into their specialities with the BTech (AV) focusing on human factors in the aviation discipline. There is also an emphasis on the function of pilots, air combat officers and air traffic controllers and their role in aviation in infrastructure and safety management systems. Other streams such as aerodynamics and aviation systems often incorporate problem-based learning informed by academic research and industrial practice. Electives and a final-semester project enable students to pursue particular interests both within and outside the specialist discipline.

The BTech (AV) is accredited by Engineers Australia at the Engineering Technologist level.

The BTech (AV) program is differentiated from the BTech (Aero) program by its focus on human factors.

A Bachelor of Business (BBus) is available to all Air Force candidates except engineering and intelligence candidates. The BBus will seek to achieve a more pronounced emphasis on business-related study than is possible within the scope of a major in the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc).

The Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) is a three year course of study available to pilots, air combat officers and air traffic controllers which delivers an important balance between the ‘hard’ skills of programming and system and network management and the ‘soft’ skills of teamwork, communication, problem solving, and decision-making. Successful graduates are well-balanced, broadly-skilled IT professionals ready for the demands of modern information technology implementation.

The following details Air Force requirements by Specialisation:

• Aeronautical Engineer:  BE (Aero or Mech);
• Electronics Engineer:  BE (Elec);
• Armament Engineer:  BE (Mech, Aero, Elec);
• Airfield Engineer:  BE (Civil);
• Pilot:  BSc, BA, BTech (Aero), BTech (Avn), BBus, BIT;
• Logistics Officer:  BBus, BA (Econ);
• Administration Officer:  BBus, BA ( Econ);
• Intelligence Offficer:  BA, BSc, BTech (Aero);
• Air Combat Officer:  BA, BSc, BTech (Aero), BTech (Avn), BBus, BIT; and
• Air Traffic Control:  BA, BSc, BTech (Aero), BTech (Avn), BBus, BIT.

It is the Academy's philosophy to provide cadets with every possible resource and opportunity to help them do their best, which in turn helps the Academy and its graduates live up to the maxim "To lead. To Excel".

You are paid to study at ADFA and receive a textbook allowance, free medical and dental treatment, free uniforms and Higher Education Contribution Scheme payments are met by the ADF. In addition, you are guaranteed a job as an Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force when you graduate.  While you are studying, you will enjoy one of the best student/teacher ratios in the country and have access to state-of-the-art technology and facilities on campus dedicated to giving you the best academic and military qualifications possible.

But academic pursuits are just a part of being a student at ADFA.  There's also the military studies, fitness training, leadership and management skills you'll develop.

The first academic year essentially consists of the following components:

1 week Orientation;

4 weeks Academy Military Education and Training (AMET);

1 week Chief of the Defence Force Parade;

16 weeks Session 1 academic studies (This period includes a 2 week recess of career development and field trips which can be either academic or military in nature);

2 weeks mid-year examinations, followed by two weeks Single Service Training (SST) at HMAS Creswell (Navy), Royal Military College, Duntroon (Army) or RAAF Base East Sale (Air Force);

14 weeks Session 2 academic studies (This period includes a 1 week study recess);

2 weeks study and end of year examinations;

3 weeks SST at respective Single Service Colleges;

1 week - Graduation; and

5 weeks end of year leave.

Breaks during the year provide scope for academic field trips, military tours, excursions and adventurous training. Military training is also provided in Defence Studies, which include Current Affairs, Military History, Physical and Recreational Training. You will also take your place in Drill and Ceremonial Parades throughout the year.

Note: During 2nd and 3rd year, Single Service Training normally takes place at the beginning and end of each academic year and includes, for example, Ground Defence Training, Management and Operations theory and practice, Navigation and Single Service Drill and Ceremonial. It may also include Specialist Courses, visits to Military Units and opportunities for Service Attachments or Engineering Work Experience.