Employment Training

Other Ranks (Non Technical)

Infantry Initial Employment Training: 72 days

Those of you who successfully complete recruit training will attend the standard 72 day RAInf (ECN343) Rifleman Infantry Operations - Basic Course at the School of Infantry, Singleton NSW. Again, you will complete this training as a single platoon of potential candidates for service in Special Forces. At the School of Infantry you will be trained and qualified in basic infantry tactics and a range of specialist infantry weapons and equipment.

Candidates who are unable to successfully complete their Infantry training will not be permitted to continue with the scheme. In this case you will be encouraged to undertake training for one of the critical support trades within the Special Forces or in the general Army. You can apply again for Commando (ECN 079) selection and training after you have completed 12 months of general Army service.

Special Forces Accelerated Infantry Training Program: 10 Weeks

As a successful RAInf graduate, you will complete ten weeks of Special Forces preparation training, known as the Special Forces Accelerated Infantry Training Program, conducted at the Special Forces Training Centre, Singleton, NSW. The Special Forces Accelerated Infantry Training Program is designed to prepare you for the Special Forces Entry Test and subsequent Commando Selection and Training Course. This accelerated training will enhance your physiological and psychological conditioning as well as provide you with some essential competencies.

The Accelerated Infantry Training program provides an opportunity for you to apply the knowledge and skills developed during recruit and IET. It will provide you with further training in navigation, communications, first aid, and field-craft. It also provides additional knowledge and skills, such as instinctive weapon handling - which is the ability to engage targets without aiming. During this training we also aim to develop your tactical awareness.

The Accelerated Infantry Training program also compresses the 13 week Special Forces Physical Training Package undertaken by Special Forces recruits already serving in the ADF.

Put simply, we aim to provide you with more knowledge and skills, make you battle fit and mentally tougher. This training will increase your chance of success during Commando training. Most importantly, we aim to build your sense of commitment and motivation to becoming a Commando.

How will you know if you have successfully achieved the requirements of this training? You will be tested on the Special Forces Screen Test.

Special Forces Training

Before commencing the Commando Selection and Training Course you will be required to show that you are committed, motivated and capable of withstanding the severe physical and environmental stresses associated with the reinforcement training and service in a Commando unit. These will be assessed during the Special Forces Screen Test.

The Special Forces Screen Test

The Special Forces Screen Test is conducted over approximately a 7 hour period and includes a range of physical assessments. It is designed to determine your suitability to attend a Special Forces Selection Course.

To be assessed as suitable, you must complete a fitness assessment requiring a minimum of:

• Push ups (cadence);
• Chin ups (cadence) ;
• Vertec (vertical leap);
• Flexibility Test;
• Sit up Test;
• Beep Test;
• Agility Test;
• Yo Yo Intermittent Recovery Test;
• Pack March (5km carrying 40kg) ; and
• Swim Test (2min tread water before swimming 400m in DPCU) ;

At the conclusion of a Special Forces Screen Test, a Selection Advisory Committee will be convened to determine whether you have the potential for service in Special Forces and whether you are suitable to attend the Commando Selection and Training Course. Their determination will be made on your performance at recruit training, infantry training, and the Accelerated Infantry Training program, and on your results from the Special Forces Screen Test.

If you successfully complete your Commando reinforcement training you will be eligible to apply to attend a Special Air Service - Selection Course after you have served for a period of two years as a Commando. Personnel who do this are far more likely to be successful.

Candidates who do not pass the Special Forces Screen Test and are not recommended by the Selection Advisory Committee will be encouraged to undertake training for critical support trades within Special Forces (or within the general Army).

In summary, this phase of your training will get you to a point where you are assessed as suitable to commence the Commando Selection and Training Course. It will take you at least 27 weeks to reach this point, depending on the length of your recruit training.

Commando Selection and Training Course: 6 weeks

Once you have successfully completed your Special Forces Screen Test and have been recommended for the Commando Selection and Training Course, you will commence this 6 week course.

Having mastered basic Infantry skills during the Infantry Initial Employment Training and Accelerated Infantry Training, the Commando Selection and Training Course is designed as both a selection and training course. This is a very challenging and arduous course that is conducted over 6 weeks and includes the conduct of a Special Forces Weapons Course component.

A large part of this course is focussed on the employment of Commando individual weapon systems in the field operational environment. Therefore, much of the course is conducted in the field. The course also requires Commando reinforcements to participate in live-fire, field firing activities, conducted by night and day, using live ammunition, and a range of supporting weapons.

At the completion of this training, you should be proficient with the range of Commando weapon systems as well as the basic Commando tactics at the section and platoon level, by day and by night, in the field operational environment.

Once you have been deemed successful on the Commando Selection and Training Course you will attend the subsequent Commando Re-inforcement Training Cycle. Throughout this training you will be assessed at the same standard as the other lateral in-service members wishing to serve as a Commando.

Special Forces Weapons Course: 1 Week

The Special Forces weapons course provides you with additional weapons qualifications. This seven day course trains and qualifies Commando reinforcements in the operation of individual weapon systems, integral to the Commando unit. The weapons qualifications obtained on this course are in addition to the standard Infantry weapons taught on the Infantry IET.

During this course, you will also be taught to use a range of aiming devices including those that can be used at night.

On successful completion of the Commando Selection and Training Course and Special Forces Weapons Course you will be qualified as a Commando Grade One. You then undertake further reinforcement training.

Commando Reinforcement Training Cycle

Commando reinforcement training cycle is the training conducted to qualify you to achieve other Commando Grades. All of the courses below are required to be employed as a Commando:

• Advanced Close Quarter Battle Course (4 Weeks);
• Commando Urban Operations Course (3 Weeks);
• Close Quarter Fighting Course (1 week);
• Special Forces Basic Parachute Course (including water insertion training) (4 Weeks);
• Commando Amphibious Operations Course (3 Weeks);
• Commando Demolitions User Course (1 Week);
• SF Forces Heavy Weapons Course (2 Weeks);
• Commando Vehicle Operators Course (4 weeks);
• Special Forces Military Roping Course (2 Weeks); and
• Combat First Aider (3 Weeks); or
• Commando Signaller (3 Weeks); or
• Demolition Specialist Course (2 Weeks).

Commando Advanced Close Quarter Battle: 4 Weeks

The Commando Advanced Close Quarter Battle Course is primarily designed to qualify potential commando’s in specialist recovery operations (including hostage recovery). This course is conducted in body armour and gas mask, utilising the suite of Commando weapon systems. It is a physically arduous course which is conducted using advanced live fire training facilities.

Urban Operations: 3 Weeks

The Urban Operations Course is designed around urban operations but also includes tactics, techniques and procedures utilised in Precision Strike and Direct Action missions. This course is focussed on operational missions conducted by Commando’s overseas.

Close Quarter Fighting Course: 1 Week

The Close Quarter Fighting Course is conducted with and without the use of your primary weapon systems. It is based on mixed martial arts techniques and requires levels of physical robustness to qualify.

The Special Forces Parachute Course: 4 Weeks

The Special Forces parachute course is a four week course that is designed to qualify you as a paratrooper. It consists of two components. The first component is the standard basic parachute course that trains you to conduct parachute descents onto land, by day or night, carrying combat equipment.

The second component trains and qualifies you to conduct parachute descents into water, by day or night, again carrying combat equipment, as part of a special operations amphibious activity.

This is why you are asked if you are a volunteer for parachuting. If you enjoy this course, there are advanced parachute courses that involve jumping from higher altitudes and using advanced parachutes. These are available to you later in your career as a commando.

Commando Amphibious Operations Course: 4 Weeks

The Commando amphibious operations course is designed to train and qualify Commando personnel in the tactics, techniques and procedures required for the conduct of amphibious operations. As Commando amphibious operations require the individuals to operate in the ocean, sometimes over deep water, a considerable distance from the shore in small boats, and in some cases, in the surf zone, proficiency at amphibious operations is essential for all Commandos.

Therefore, this four week course focuses on developing your survivability in the amphibious environment by training you in maritime safety and the operation of all marine safety equipment. It also teaches you assault swimming techniques, which is swimming with weapons and equipment. In addition, you will be trained in amphibious insertion and extraction methods, coastal navigation, and the operation and maintenance of the F470 Zodiac, which is a small inflatable boat.

Commando amphibious operations are one of the key reasons that it is essential that you are a proficient swimmer.

Commando Vehicle Operators Course: 4 Weeks

The Commando Vehicle Operators Course is designed to train and qualify Commando personnel in the tactics, techniques and procedures required for the conduct of vehicle operations. As Commando vehicle operations require the individuals to operate in harsh land environments, proficiency at vehicle operations is another essential skill set for all commandos.

The course teaches individuals on the current in-service fleet of military 4x4 vehicles.

Commando Demolition User Course: 1 Week

One week of the Commando reinforcement training is allocated to training you in basic demolitions. This course will qualify you in the preparation, carriage, placement and initiation of demolition charges.

Special Forces Heavy Weapons Course – 2 Weeks

The Commando Heavy Weapons Course is designed to train and qualify Commando Re-inforcements in a suite of large calibre tripod and vehicle-mounted heavy machine guns that are integral weapon systems to the Commando Unit.

The Special Forces Military Roping Course: 2 Weeks

As a Commando, you will be required to operate in a range of environments. This includes the requirement to operate in the vertical environment. This is true in both the field environment, such as cliffs, and in the urban environment including high-rise buildings. Therefore, the two week Special Forces roping course trains you in the tactics, techniques and procedures for negotiating vertical obstacles, both ascending and descending, in the field and urban operational environments. It also trains you in the tactics, techniques and procedures for equipment haulage, and self and other person rescue.

This course can also include training in airborne roping techniques depending on the availability of rotary wing aircraft, or this can be completed separately. Therefore, if you are thinking of applying for Commando, be sure that you are not scared of heights.

Basic Specialist Courses

In addition to the courses already detailed, one basic Specialist Skill is required. You will be allocated to one of these courses depending on unit needs. However, if you have a preference it will certainly be considered.

Commando Signaller Course: 3 Weeks

Communications are essential to Commando operations. Therefore, this three week Commando signaller course is designed to train you to operate secure tactical and operational radio-telephone communications equipment, integral to Special Forces.

Combat First Aid Course: 3 Weeks

The Combat First Aid Course will train you in advanced first aid. Over a three week period, the Combat first aid course teaches advanced resuscitation and casualty management skills, casualty evacuation procedures and preventive medicine principles.

Demolitions Specialist Course: 2 Weeks

The Demolition specialist course will train and qualify Commandos in the tactics, techniques and procedures of advanced SF demolition techniques.

Summary

This training is only the start. On the successful completion of your reinforcement training and earning your Green Beret, you will be expected to undertake a range of further Commando specialist courses. This involves completing training in advanced weapon skills and close-quarter fighting techniques and tactics. Other courses that you may be exposed to during subsequent Commando training are:

• Protective Security Details (PSD);
• Advanced Driving skills;
• Advanced Methods of Breaching;
• Mortar Operator;
• Special Forces Sniper;
• Cold weather / Mountaineering operator;
• Combat Survival; and
• Languages.