Full-time officer

All Army Officers will attend the Royal Military College (RMC) Duntroon as part of their basic training. Australia's finest leadership college is located within magnificent grounds at Duntroon, Canberra. Whilst you receive the best training in leadership and military tactics, the courses are also designed to enhance mateship, character and resilience in cadets. You will graduate a smart leader, able to handle any work or social situation that you find yourself in. The duration of your training will depend on whether you have joined as a General Service Officer or a Specialist Service Officer, and whether you have graduated from the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) prior to commencing your officer training. You will graduate from RMC with an Associate Diploma in Personnel Administration, and then embark on your Army Officer career as a Lieutenant.

Lots of leave

Although the training at RMC-D is intensive, you will get leave and holidays to rest, relax and unwind. While in training cadets usually have Saturday afternoons and Sunday off. This means you could travel to Sydney to watch a football game or stay in town and socialise with your fellow cadets. Holiday periods are similar to university, so every three months you will be given leave and the opportunity to go home and visit family and friends.

The General Service Officer (GSO) First Appointment Course at RMC

This course is designed to develop your leadership potential and to teach you the skills necessary to command a platoon as a full time Army Officer. You'll learn first aid, infantry minor tactics, navigation, weapons training and other military subjects. If you have graduated from ADFA previously your officer training at RMC will be completed over a 12-month period. Alternatively if you take the fast-track option and choose to go direct to RMC, you will undertake your officer training over 18 months. General Service Officer is the perfect option for anyone up to the challenge of assuming a leadership role on the world stage.

The Specialist Service Officer (SSO) First Appointment Course at RMC

This course is for selected candidates with existing professional qualifications, who will serve in a specialist capacity within the Australian Regular Army. The SSO First Appointment Course consists of two modules (Foundation Skills and Officer Skills) and runs for two weeks.

Part-time or Reserve Officer courses

Both the General Service Officer and the Specialist Service Officer courses can be undertaken on a part-time basis. The Specialist Service Officer Course is what those intending to work in the Reserve will study, over a two week period.

The Army Reserve GSO First Appointment Course

The ARes GSO FAC is modularised to allow candidates the flexibility to complete their training around civilian employment commitments. It's a 5 module course, totalling 104 days residential training.

Each module will be conducted twice annually in a sequence that will allow a candidate to complete all modules within a minimum of 14 months. Ideally, it is expected that most candidates will complete the course within 18 months - 2 years. Candidates are expected to complete the ARes GSO FAC within a maximum of 3 years.

Fitness

A reasonable level of fitness is required to gain entry to all of our courses, but this is easy to achieve. If you're a fairly active person who spends some time exercising and playing sport every week, you should have no trouble meeting these requirements.

Fitness training will form a part of all of our programs. Army instructors will guide you through activities such as obstacle courses, circuit training and strength and endurance training, to build your confidence and fitness levels along the way. The instructors are there to see that you succeed, not fail and in many cases you'll come to regard them as mentors. Look at it as an opportunity to not only greatly improve your own personal fitness, but also to learn about health and fitness in general and gain an understanding of the capacity of the human body. You will draw on this essential knowledge when you begin to command troops.

Sponsored Undergraduate

The Army Sponsored Undergraduate Scheme sponsors undergraduate students to complete their degree at a civilian university, before joining the Army. To be eligible you must have successfully completed at least one year of your 3-4 year degree, or two years of your 5-6 year degree. Medical students may be sponsored for a maximum of four years. We will pay you up to $33,753 per year to study, cover your university fees, subsidise your accommodation and provide you with full medical and dental benefits.

The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA)

This is a great opportunity if you're interested in a military career but also keen to pursue your tertiary studies. ADFA, situated in Canberra, offers you combined military and leadership training, with a fully recognised degree of your choice from the University of New South Wales. You are paid a salary while you study and your university fees and other student expenses are taken care of. You also receive full medical and dental cover. In return you will serve in the Army for the length of your sponsored degree, plus one year.