Job Details

Officer

An Air Force Ground Defence Officer's primary duty is to defend Air Force airfields, assets and personnel from ground attack. Training will reflect both your peace and wartime role in security operations. Your major operational role within an Airfield Defence Squadron will be on deployed operations. The major focus for GRDEF members posted outside of the operational environment is the effective training of Air Force personnel in core military skills.

Due to the physically demanding nature of the duties carried out by Ground Defence Officers (GRDEFOs) there is a requirement for the maintenance of a very high physical fitness standard. You will frequently be absent from your home base and family for at least several months of the year and will have to endure austere conditions while living in the field. On the other hand, you may see parts of Australia very quickly.

On graduation from training, an Air Force Ground Defence Officer will normally command a Rifle Flight in an Airfield Defence Squadron at Amberley in QLD. He will be responsible for commanding and leading the 30 men in the Rifle Flight who are specialists in the ground defence of airfields and other security tasks.

After his first posting, a Ground Defence Officer's duties will change from leading a Rifle Flight in the field to training and organising. Postings may include:

A Base Ground Defence Officer who may be responsible for:

• Planning the conduct of operations and training exercises in conjunction with unit executives;
• advising base commanders on ground defence policy;
• training base personnel to defend Air Force assets in accordance with ground defence policy and the Base Defence Plan;
• ground defence continuation training, i.e. ensuring that all Base personnel qualify in the use of small arms annually, construction of field defences, static guard duties and field training exercises;
• combat survival continuation training;
• nuclear, biological and chemical defence training;
• the administration and control of base fire services;
• land search and rescue teams;
• the conduct of weapons competitions;
• the control of the base Armoury and small arms range; and
• Base security (on some bases).

An Instructor with:

• the RAAF Security and Fire School at RAAF Base Amberley, QLD which is responsible for the initial and post-graduate training of Airfield Defence Guards, initial GRDEF training for Security Police/Military Working Dogs Handlers and post-graduate specialist training for selected airmen and officers as Unit Defence Officers;
• the Combat Survival Training School at RAAF Base Townsville, North QLD who is responsible for the provision of training to ADF and international aircrew and selected ground personnel in personal survival skills in a combat situation; or
• the Officer Training School, RAAF Base East Sale, VIC, who is responsible for the conduct of core military skills training to all officer trainees; or No. 1 Recruit Training Unit, RAAF Base Wagga, NSW, who is responsible for the conduct of specialist training (Ground Defence, Fire Training, Medical and Physical Fitness) aspects during initial training of all airmen/airwomen recruits.

For further information on the role and history of the Ground Defence Officer, refer to the Airfield Defence Guard website.

Officer (Reserve)

Ground Defence officers (Reserve) develop and maintain a capability to protect facilities, equipment and personnel that are critical to air operations from the effects of ground attack, and to permit the projection and sustainment of air operations without disruption by enemy ground forces. They are responsible for promoting and sustaining the maintenance of a deployable specialist ground defence combat force, and the development and maintenance of a ground defence capability within Air Force. Ground Defence officers also provide specialist advice on active and passive defence; nuclear, biological and chemical defence, material acquisition, combat training development and the ground defence role in Air Power.

Ground Defence officers are responsible for the management of the Reserve squadron's force protection element, which is designed to provide rear area security for Air Force bases and their vital air assets. Also, they are concerned with the provision of ground defence and combat training to reservists and Permanent Air Force personnel when required. Ground Defence officers are posted to a Reserve squadron where training staff organise their training with Army and Air Force training units.

For further information on the role and history of the Ground Defence Officer, refer to the Airfield Defence Guard website.