Military Training

Graduate

Initial Officer Course - 17 Weeks

Immediately upon joining the Air Force, direct entry officers will normally undertake the Initial Officer Course of 17 weeks duration. This is a live-in course completed at RAAF Base East Sale, located 220 kilometres east of Melbourne (VIC).

The major elements of the course involve introduction to military life, Air Force Values and attitudes, Ground Defence and Weapons training, Leadership and Personal Development, Communication Skills and Air Force Operations studies.

Further details on officer training are available on the Officers Training School website or refer to the Joining Instructions. The information on the website and in the Joining Instructions will provide you and your family with enough information to arrange your personal affairs before appointment in the Air Force and give you an overview of the structure and requirements of the Initial Officer Course.

During Military (Initial Officer) Training and (Initial) Employment Training (if applicable), members may be required to pay a contribution towards meals, accommodation and utilities.

Undergraduate

Familiarisation Course: 1 Week

Initial Officer Course: 17 Weeks

During your first year of sponsorship, you will attend a one week Familiarisation Course at Officers’ Training School (OTS), RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria. The purpose of the course is to introduce undergraduates to basic military protocols, including rank recognition, saluting, mess decorum and elementary drill.

Following completion of your tertiary studies, you will return to OTS for the 17 week live-in Initial Officer Training. The major elements of the course involve a transition to the military way of life, the learning and understanding of Air Force values, ethos and attitudes, ground defence and weapons training, leadership and personal development, communication skills and an introduction to Air Force operations.

For further details on officer training refer to the Joining Instructions. The information in the Joining Instructions will provide you and your family with enough information to arrange your personal affairs before appointment in the Air Force and give you an overview of the structure and requirements of the Initial Officer Course.

During Military (OTS) Training and any subsequent (Initial) Employment Training, members may be required to pay a contribution towards meals, accommodation and utilities.

Graduate (Reserve)

Applicants entering the Air Force Active Reserve through the officer stream are required to complete the Initial Officer Course (IOC). You may complete the full-time, residential IOC of 17 weeks, the same as your Permanent Air Force colleagues or the modularised IOC (Air Force AR) training which must be completed within a two year period.

Currently all five phases of the IOC (Air Force AR) require residential attendance at the Officers Training School (OTS), East Sale, Victoria. The phases and their duration are as follows:

• Phase 1 - Induction/Orientation phase (6 weeks);
• Phase 2 - Academic Consolidation Phase (3 weeks);
• Phase 3 - Leadership Preparatory and Ground Defence Preparatory Phase (3 weeks);
• Phase 4 - Ground Defence Assessment Phase (2 weeks); and
• Phase 5 - Leadership Assessment Phase (2 weeks). 

The aim of the IOC is to develop in newly commissioned Air Force and Air Force AR officers and officer cadets the core military skills, knowledge and attitudes required for effective performance as junior officers.

Specialist Reserve

As an Air Force SR officer you are given as much General Service training and induction training as practicable, consistent with the limited time available and the need to employ you in your specialist field.

Applicants entering the Air Force SR through the officer stream are required to undergo officer training in the form of a Specialist Reserve Officer Familiarisation course which must be completed within two years of appointment. This course is currently of six days duration undertaken at Officers’ Training School, East Sale in Eastern Victoria.