Period of Service

Other Ranks (Non Technical)

Applicants enlisting through the Special Forces Direct Recruitment Scheme as a Commando are required to serve for an initial minimum period of service of four years. However, you are not required to accept this until you have completed your Recruit training. At this point you are required to accept an initial period of service of four years to be eligible to commence Infantry Initial Employment Training.

If you are unsuccessful in completing your recruit training, you can seek 'discharge at own request' and are not required to complete the initial minimum period of service. However, if you are unsuccessful at Infantry Initial Employment Training or any subsequent training after that, and choose to withdraw from the Scheme, or if you are found to be unsuitable for service in Special Forces, you will be required to complete your initial minimum period of service within the general Army.

In this case, you will also be given the opportunity to be employed as an infantry soldier or in another trade within the general Army. This will be negotiated on a case by case basis. This is designed to ensure the ADF recovers reasonable value from its investment in your training and development.

Applications to resign or transfer to the Reserves from personnel who have not completed their initial minimum period of service will not normally be approved unless compassionate or otherwise compelling personal reasons exist.