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A student receiving benefits from the Australian Government as a full-time student will have these benefits withdrawn from the date Air Force sponsorship begins.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 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 into the RAAFSR 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 financial bonus to compensate for additional obligations and commitment, as well as an annual allowance to help maintain the health and fitness required for short notice service.

Qualified legal practitioners can enter the Air Force as legal officers directly with the rank of either Flying Officer or Flight Lieutenant dependant on experience. Structured career progression then follows.

Law Students can enter the Air Force as undergraduates with the rank of Officer Cadet. Career progression follows graduation and admission as a legal practitioner to a Superior Court.

Qualified legal practitioners can also enter the Air Force Specialist Reserve. These reservists are expected to complete a minimum of seven days of service each financial year.