If you are successful in meeting the enlistment standards and accept your offer of service, you will be required to undertake recruit training and employment training. This includes:

• Army Recruit Training (80 days);
• Infantry Initial Employment Training (12 Weeks); and
• Advanced Infantry Training Program (8 Weeks).

Army Recruit Training:

You will be required to complete the standard basic recruit course at the Army Recruit Training Centre, Kapooka, Wagga Wagga, NSW. You will complete this training with a platoon of other candidates who are part of the Special Forces direct recruitment scheme. This is your basic military training and all personnel who enlist in the Australian Army are required to successfully complete it. This training will develop in you the necessary skills and qualities to become an Australian Army soldier. It will also provide you with the knowledge and skills you require in order to be able to undertake your initial employment training.

For further details on recruit training, refer to the Joining instructions. These instructions will provide you and your family with enough information to arrange your personal affairs before enlistment in the Army, and to give you an idea of what you will be doing on the recruit course.

Further information is also available at the Army Recruit Training Centre website.

On the successful completion of your Recruit training, and before commencing your Infantry initial employment training, you will be required to commit to fulfilling your four year initial minimum period of service (this is discussed further below). However, before being required to accept your four year initial minimum period of service, you will be interviewed by a Special Forces Interview Board. This board will consist of representatives from Special Forces and a psychologist. They will confirm that you meet the required selection requirements and have the potential for service in Special Forces. The board will determine if you are:

• suitable to continue with the scheme;
• temporarily unsuitable to continue with the scheme, however you are eligible to re-apply within a designated time; or
• unsuitable to continue with the scheme.

If you are assessed as unsuitable to continue, or are temporarily unsuitable, you 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. If you accept either of these options, you will be given another offer. Alternatively, you may elect to 'discharge at own request'.

If you do accept an offer to serve in a critical support trade in Special Forces or the general Army, you can apply again for Commando (ECN 079) selection and training after you have completed 12 months of general Army service. Once you have elected to complete your initial minimum period of service, you will undertake your Infantry Initial Employment Training.

All Commando Reserve Entry recruits are required to complete the Recruit Course.

Total Duration: 80 days.

Location: Kapooka, Wagga Wagga, NSW.

When you have completed basic recruit training you will have reached the standard of a basic soldier. You will have developed the qualities and acquired the knowledge, skills and attitudes which are necessary to progress further in the Army.

Further information is available at the Army Recruit Training Centre website.

During Military (Initial Recruit) Training and (Initial) Employment Training, members may be required to pay a contribution towards meals, accommodation and utilities.