The Royal Australian Air Force has a huge job to do including keeping the nation's air defence capabilities operational, providing a search and rescue function and assisting in times of national emergency. If you are already a degree qualified professional, and looking for a job that offers satisfaction, excitement and a challenge and the opportunity to utilise and further develop your management and leadership skills, then you may wish to consider a career as an Officer (Graduate Only) in the Air Force.

Degree qualified officers normally start their careers at one rank higher than non-graduate officers.

The Air Force sponsors suitable applicants to undertake tertiary studies at a civilian university in an Australian State or Territory from the first semester of their first year of study.

Successful applicants are usually appointed to the rank of Officer Cadet and paid at that rank while studying full-time, with increments granted on successful completion of each year of study.  However, the granting of a higher rank will be dependent upon the degree course studied and the year of study on entry.

Undergraduates are members of the Permanent Air Force and as such, all normal entitlements are available to you including access to married quarters, removal benefits and Rental Allowance, under the same guidelines which apply to all Air Force members.

You are entitled to free medical and dental treatment as well as hospitalisation if ever required.

You will be issued free uniforms, clothing and accessories at the scale applicable to officers performing part-time duty. Upon graduation and commencement of full-time duty, you will receive additional issues to outfit yourself to the normal scale of issue. Undergraduates are not entitled to free exchanges of uniforms.

The Air Force will authorise payment of all compulsory fees for the year in which sponsorship commences and continuing for the duration of the approved course of study.

A student receiving benefits from the Australian Government as a full-time student will have these benefits withdrawn from the date Air Force sponsorship begins. Books and equipment already provided may be retained.

Subject to approval, you will also be reimbursed the costs of prescribed textbooks essential to your course of study.

The Air Force will also pay tertiary institution fees and Student Contribution Charges for as long as the student remains in the Service.  An obligation to serve in the Air Force for a period of one year for each year of sponsorship, plus one additional year, is required before sponsorship is finally approved.  This means that a three-year degree sponsorship will attract a four-year return of service obligation on completion of degree studies.

Note: Sponsorship is not available to applicants who are already in receipt of sponsorship via schemes such as the rural and medical bonded positions.

Full-Fee Paying Students

The Air Force will accept applications from full-fee paying students for undergraduate sponsorship. Full-fee paying university students will be reimbursed the equivalent amount of HECs for that degree stream. The refund will be the highest amount specified in the government-approved, student contribution range for each degree stream as displayed at www.goingtouni.gov.au.

Failure during Degree Studies

If you fail an examination and are unable to progress to the next academic year or graduate, your appointment may be terminated (recovery of costs including fees, salary and books would usually be initiated in these cases). Approval may be given for the student to repeat the year at Air Force expense, provided that the failure was not due to a lack of application on the part of the student.

Leave

Undergraduates may be granted trainee leave during semester breaks. For the remainder of the year they must be involved in formal academic studies or be employed on such duties and courses as determined by RAAF College.

The Royal Australian Air Force Active Reserve (RAAFAR) is composed of volunteer members who are highly motivated towards the Air Force and their Reserve commitment.

The function of the RAAF Reserve is to complement the work of Permanent Air Force members by providing trained Reserve personnel to support the Permanent Air Force in operational deployments or associated support activities during a Defence contingency. During times of peace the RAAF Reserve supplements the Permanent Air Force to undertake peacetime tasks and trains RAAF Reserve personnel to become effective members of the RAAF.

Employment in the Air Force Reserve is a constantly challenging, ever-evolving job that gives you the opportunity to work in a unique environment that's in complete contrast to your everyday job. You will receive many of the benefits of Air Force life and provide a real contribution to Australia's defence capability, without the full time commitment. Not only will you receive first hand experience of Air Force life, but your pay is tax free. What's more, the training you'll gain and the new skills you'll develop will help you grow personally and professionally, not only in your Air Force career but in your regular full time job as well.

The Active Reserves play a vital role in the Air Force. There are a range of part time jobs that have Permanent Air Force equivalents. While many Reservists are former members of the Air Force, opportunities exist for people with no previous military experience. Just like full time Air Force personnel, Reservists have the opportunity to travel on exercises and may even apply for operational service should the opportunity arise. Active Reserve members may be utilised in an area of war operations or in backfill positions left vacant by other Air Force personnel who have been deployed.

Attendance Commitment

RAAFAR members are required to attend for a minimum of 32 training days each financial year. This may include a continuous training period of 14 days. Approval can be granted to work up to 200 days; however, members typically average 40 training days annually.

A RAAFAR member may volunteer for a period of full-time service with the Permanent Air Force, provided the member's services are required.

Annual Activities

During RAAFAR service all members are required to complete the following activities:

• physical fitness test;
• continuation training consisting of first aid, firefighting, equity, OHS, security, weapons and ground defence; and
• Ground combat training is undertaken every two years.

Applicant Selection Process

Entry into the RAAFAR is by selection to fill available vacancies. The selection standards are the same as those for joining the Permanent Air Force (PAF).

Initial contact to join the RAAFAR is made through either the local RAAFAR squadron or an Australian Defence Force Recruiting Centre or by telephoning 13 19 01. A Careers Counsellor will speak with you on various aspects of the RAAFAR and your qualifications for the desired position will be discussed. If you meet the minimum requirement, an interview will be arranged for you with a senior member of a RAAFAR Squadron who will explain the RAAFAR in more detail. At this stage an application form will normally be issued to you.

Following receipt of your application, you will normally be called into the nearest Australian Defence Force Recruiting Centre for testing. Testing generally takes a full day and includes:

• a medical examination;
• aptitude testing;
• a psychologists interview; and
• a recruiting officer interview.

The cost of travel to and from the Australian Defence Force Recruiting Unit, as well as accommodation costs for country applicants, will be met by the RAAF.

Applicants who are assessed as suitable will be considered in competition with other suitable applicants for the positions available.

Further information on part-time ADF careers can be found by accessing the Defence Reserves website.

The Defence Reserves Support Council also promotes the benefits of Reserve service by establishing partnerships with the community and employers.

Further Opportunities

The Air Force High Readiness Reserve provides a short notice response force to complement the full-time Air Force in the event of a declared Defence emergency. The High Readiness Reserve category draws its members from the trained people already providing service in other categories of the Air Force Reserve, and consequently is not generally open to direct civilian entrants. Entry to the High Readiness Reserve is through the RAAF Active Reserve or RAAF Specialist Reserve. After completing your training in the Active Reserve or Specialist Reserve, you may then volunteer for the High Readiness Reserve. Volunteer service in the High Readiness Reserve attracts an annual bonus of $5000 to compensate for additional obligations and commitment, as well as an annual allowance of $2500 to help maintain the health and fitness required for short notice service.

The Royal Australian Air Force Specialist Reserve (RAAFSR) is comprised of volunteer members who are highly motivated towards the Air Force and their Reserve commitment. The role of the Specialist Reserve is to provide on an on-call basis, selected professional services that are not otherwise retained permanently in the RAAF.

Entry to the RAAFSR ENVH is restricted to candidates that possess both relevant education qualifications and appropriate professional experience and is by selection to fill available vacancies. Officer entry into all elements of the Air Force Reserve is by competitive selection, and is on the same basis as for entry into the PAF.

Attendance Commitment

RAAFSR members are to perform a minimum of seven days Reserve service in each financial year but may perform considerably more than this on a voluntary basis as tasks and opportunities arise.

The maximum number of days of Reserve service within a financial year for members of the RAAFSR is 200. Members may only be paid for those days that have been approved by their respective sponsoring authority.

Annual Activities

RAAFSR members are expected to maintain a minimum standard of health, fitness and military preparedness, which will be assessed on an annual basis. This will include the requirement for RAAFSR members to maintain proficiency in weapons handling.

Discipline

RAAFSR personnel are governed by exactly the same discipline code as members of the Permanent Air Force. Applicants should carefully consider their adaptability requirements such as the wearing of uniforms, saluting, drill and the requirement to display a high standard of dress and bearing.

Uniforms

Members of the RAAFSR are entitled to a free issue of uniform upon appointment. Each issued item has a life expectancy and the item may be exchanged for a new one after this time. The Chief of Air Force (CAF) has determined that during any prescribed form of service, RAAFSR members are on duty and must wear uniform.

Medical and Dental

Members of the RAAFSR are only entitled to emergency medical and dental treatment while on duty.

Further information on part-time ADF careers can be found by accessing the Defence Reserves website.

The Defence Reserves Support Council also promotes the benefits of Reserve service by establishing partnerships with the community and employers.

Further Opportunities

The Air Force High Readiness Reserve provides a short notice response force to complement the full-time Air Force in the event of a declared Defence emergency. The High Readiness Reserve is a category of the reserve that draws its members from the trained people already providing service in other categories of the Air Force Reserve, and consequently is not generally open to direct civilian entrants. Entry to the High Readiness Reserve is through the RAAF Active Reserve or RAAF Specialist Reserve. After completing your training in the Active Reserve or Specialist Reserve, you may then volunteer for the High Readiness Reserve. Volunteer service in the High Readiness Reserve attracts an annual bonus of $5000 to compensate for additional obligations and commitment, as well as an annual allowance of $2500 to help maintain the health and fitness required for short notice service.