Employment Training
Other Ranks (Non Technical)
Airmen Aircrew Initial Training
Combat Survival Course. You will be required to undergo a 3 week Combat Survival Course at RAAF Base Townsville. This is a physically demanding three week course, teaching you the skills necessary to survive after a forced aircraft landing or evacuation in harsh environments, or hostile combat zones, possibly behind enemy lines. The course includes a swimming component.
Aviation Medicine Course. You will also complete the Aviation Medicine Initial Course at RAAF Edinburgh. This course is one-week duration and provides theory and practical instruction in human physiology in the aviation environment.
Non Commissioned Officer Training
Non Commission Officer training is conducted in two separate stages. The first stage of training is a Corporal Promotion Course. This course provides the trainee with basic leadership skills. The Sergeant Promotion Course, completed near the end of AEA Specialist Training, provides SNCO skills required of a Sergeant AEA.
Corporal Promotion Course
The training comprises of two components: a 2.0 week residential CPL Course and a flexible delivery Communication Skills 1 (CS1) course.
The CPL Course and a Communication Skills 1 course will be managed by the RAAF College School of Postgraduate Studies (SPS). Specifically, the residential course will be managed by the SPS - Airmen Leadership Flight (ALF at RAAF Base Wagga) and the flexible delivery course by the SPS Distance Learning Flight (DLF).
Sergeant (SGT) Promotion Course
The training comprises of two components: a 2.0 week residential SGT Course and a flexible delivery Communication Skills 2 (CS2) course.
The SGT Course and a Communication Skills 2 (CS2) course will be managed by the RAAF College School of Postgraduate Studies (SPS at RAAF Base Wagga). Specifically, the residential course will be managed by the SPS - Airman Leadership Flight (ALF), and the flexible delivery course by the SPS Distance Learning Flight (DLF).
AEA Specialist Training
After all this you will be ready to commence AEA specific training at 292SQN, located at RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA, where you will cover topics such as Theory of Flight, Meteorology, Aircraft Systems, Navigation, Air Traffic Control, Intelligence Gathering, Photography, Mathematics, Electronic Warfare theory, Radar theory, Infra-Red and Optical systems, Acoustic Warfare, Communications, Airmanship, and both simulator and flying training. The training usually culminates in an operational deployment within Australia, or an international trip to Malaysia. The major shipping lanes in South East Asia are the perfect place to consolidate skills learnt and to complete your final assessment as an AEA trainee. All up, from 1RTU to graduating from 292SQN, your training will take around 16 months.
You will also continue to develop your leadership and management skills.
Once you complete this course you will graduate from 292 Squadron wearing the AEA brevet. You will also be promoted to the rank of Sergeant and be ready to join an elite crew in an operational squadron.
Career Progression through training
AEA direct entrants are enlisted as Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman Recruits (ACR/ACWR) and remain as such until graduation from 1RTU, where upon they are reclassified to Airborne Electronics Analyst Trainee (AEA/T). On subsequent graduation from AEA basic course, you are presented the AEA Brevet and re-classified to Sergeant Airborne Electronics Analyst Grade 1 (SGT AEA1).