Job Details

Officer, Graduate, Australian Defence Force Academy, Officer (Reserve)

Logistics Officers (LOG) perform their duties on units and bases throughout Australia, in Headquarters posts and in overseas localities. Their duties are diverse, and involve the support of Air Force operations and activities. As a Logistics Officer, you could find yourself responsible for the acquisition, control and support of modern and valuable equipment vital to the operation of the Air Force. You will also be responsible for the management and welfare of a group of military and civilian staff.

The primary objective of the supply system is to provide the supply support necessary to mount and sustain air operations. The resources allocated for supply support also have to be utilised efficiently and economically.

The roles and functions currently undertaken by Air Force Logistics Officers range from the tactical to the strategic level across the single Service, joint and combined arenas. Logistics Officers also utilise specialist skills (provided through training in the Air Force) in areas such as supply chain management, procurement and provisioning, acquisition and sustainment logistics, project management, operational logistics, contract management, equipment accounting, warehousing and distribution, movements and transportation, including air movements, and stock control. There is also some opportunity for employment in catering.

Typically, you will progress through a combination of jobs according to rank. Your responsibilities will be well defined, and you can expect them to increase as you gain experience and progress in rank.

You may be employed in various working conditions, ranging from field operations in remote locations within Australia or overseas, to a standard office environment. However, during the conduct of some tasks or field deployments, you may be exposed to extremes of climate and some hazardous environments. The criticality of some logistics and operational support tasks may also necessitate you working for long periods of time at short notice.

You will be required to supervise and manage members of the ADF and foreign services, contractors, and civilians. Additionally, Logistics Officers frequently liaise with members of the other Services, foreign services, contractors, and civilians within the ADF.

Following is a brief outline of various activities for which you would be trained and then perform in a variety of postings. The activities are not job-specific, as many positions will require knowledge in a range of the following activities:

Inventory Management.

The inventory management function involves managing the Air Force inventory to keep weapons systems operationally ready. This ranges from the Squadron to the higher Headquarters level within the Air Force and the Systems Program Office activities within the Defence Materiel Organisation. The inventory management process includes:

• Establishing user requirements for spare parts and equipment needs;
• Determining the siting/placement of materiel;
• Managing and auditing inventory accounts;
• Establishing procedures for the receipt, storage, issue and disposal of equipment and supplies;
• Allocating materiel to satisfy customers' demands; and
• Establishing and specifying inventory levels for operating and reserve stockholdings.

Acquisition.

The acquisition function involves obtaining supplies and services from the private sector through direct purchase, purchase order, contract or lease. The required item may already be available or may need to be developed and manufactured. This includes everything from the local purchase function at Unit level to the capital procurement of new platforms. This process is used across multiple Defence organisations. The acquisition process includes:

• Preparation of requirements;
• Selection of sources;
• Solicitation of bids;
• Award of contracts;
• Funding;
• Claims processing;
• Performance monitoring; and
• Technical and management functions directly related to satisfying weapons system, facility and materiel resource requirements.

Contract Management.

The commercialisation of some logistics activities has resulted in the need to develop and manage both initial and on-going support contracts. Contract management processes are similar to those of the acquisition function but the focus is on the provision of supplies and services to Defence instead of the procurement of capital equipment. This function includes activities conducted in support of Air Force by Defence Support Group and the provision of support requirements to Air Force and ADF units in deployed locations.

Warehousing and Distribution.

The ADF and the Air Force requires a flexible and efficient distribution system to provide effective combat support. Distribution systems facilitate the location, issue and transport of materiel from industry and warehouses to the end-user, to recover items into the repair cycle and to forward equipment for disposal. The efficiency of the distribution system plays a major role in the successful deployment of combat capability and determines, to a large extent, the size of the inventory and investment needed to maintain supplies throughout the system to support the mission. This includes everything from depot level storage and distribution to Squadron Supply sections, general warehousing, and distribution. The storage and distribution function involves:

• Receiving, storing, packing and controlling inventory;
• Selecting demands; and
• Preparing and shipping materiel to satisfy customer demands.

Transportation and Movements.

The transportation and movements functions involve the process of collection, transportation and delivery of personnel and equipment. The fundamental objective of the transportation and movements function is to transport critical stores to the end user at the right time and via the most suitable means. The movement of personnel and equipment can occur by road, rail, air or sea. The mode selected is dependent on achieving optimum cost-effective use of all available transport systems and customer requirements. This includes everything from motor transport, air terminal and joint movements operations within an area of operations, to joint movements coordination functions at the higher Headquarters level. The transportation and movement function involves:

• Coordination, receipt, custody and movement of all inwards and outwards passengers and equipment for transport by air and surface modes;
• Packaging, load planning, load building and reporting;
• Acquisition of space on civil transport;
• Coordination of the use of ground support equipment;
• Loading and unloading of Service and contracted aircraft and the processing of all personnel and equipment;
• Coordination of air, sea and road transport of dangerous cargo;
• Coordinating the movement of ADF personnel and equipment with appropriate transport control agencies and operations staff; and
• Activating air load teams in support of military operations, and major joint and combined Services exercises.

Operational Logistics.

Logistics personnel are crucial to the successful deployment and subsequent support of units in the single Service, joint and combined arenas, both within Australia and offshore. The activities involved include:

• Preparing logistics deployment bids and forecasts;
• Conducting pre-deployment planning;
• Orchestrating preparatory and deployment and re-deployment activities; and
• Performing remediation activities.

Catering and Messing Services.

Unit catering personnel are responsible for the provision and management of catering and messing services at selected air bases in Australia and locations within an area of operations. Uniformed catering positions at selected air bases are retained to maintain the required expertise for deployed operations.

Summary.

The day-to-day management of the logistics operations indicated above represents the tactical to operational level of the employment group. Maintenance and corporate governance of logistics operations are essential for the success of this function. Effectively, the management of these activities provides the basis for the development of the skill sets required to support more complex and higher order (strategic) logistics support issues.

In all of the above areas you will be responsible for the management of airmen, airwomen, potentially other Service members and civilians; they are valuable to the Air Force and the ADF and will work with you to discharge your responsibilities. You will also be expected to participate in the effective management of your Unit, both in your professional role as a Logistics officer, and as a junior executive responsible to your Commanding Officer. Opportunities for sporting and social activities will continue, and your membership of the Officers Mess on your base will introduce you to other officers whose interests and activities will complement yours.

You will also be required to maintain specified fitness levels and other military skills, such as proficiency in weapons handling, as you may have the opportunity to deploy.