Must be aged between 17 and 55 years inclusive on day of entry.

Applicants will not be allowed to enter the ADF until they achieve a minimum of 17 years of age, however they may be able to initiate the application process from 16 years and six months of age, depending upon the capacity of their local recruiting centre.

Must be aged between 17 to 24 inclusive on date of entry to the Gap Year program.

Applicants must be aged between 17 and 60 years of age inclusive on entry.

Applicants will not normally be allowed to enter the ADF until they achieve a minimum of 17 years of age, however they may be able to initiate the application process from 16 years and six months of age, depending upon the capacity of their local recruiting centre.

Citizenship requirements will be met, for Full-time and Part-time applicants, if any of the following apply:

• You are an Australian citizen;
• You are a permanent resident who can provide a Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) receipt to prove you have applied for Australian citizenship. (A permanent resident is generally eligible to apply for citizenship after two years. A permanent resident married to an Australian can apply immediately); or
• You are a permanent resident who is not eligible to apply for Australian citizenship but are prepared to sign an undertaking to apply after completing at least 3 months service in the ADF or at least 6 months part-time service in the ADF Reserve. (Permanent residents become eligible to apply for citizenship on completion of 3 months service in the ADF or 6 months part-time service in the ADF Reserve).

A permanent resident who enters the ADF will have their service terminated if they subsequently:

• Fail to apply for citizenship when eligible to do so;
• Are not offered citizenship; or
• Fail to accept citizenship when it is offered.

Citizenship requirements will be met for Full-time and Part-time applicants, if any of the following apply:

• You are an Australian citizen;
• You are a permanent resident who can provide a Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) receipt to prove you have applied for Australian citizenship. (A permanent resident is generally eligible to apply for citizenship after two years. A permanent resident married to an Australian can apply immediately); or
• You are a permanent resident who is not eligible to apply for Australian citizenship but are prepared to sign an undertaking to apply after completing at least 3 months service in the ADF or at least 6 months part-time service in the ADF Reserve. (Permanent residents become eligible to apply for citizenship on completion of 3 months service in the ADF or 6 months part-time service in the ADF Reserve).

A permanent resident who enters the ADF will have their service terminated if they subsequently:

• fail to apply for citizenship when eligible to do so;
• are not offered citizenship; or
• fail to accept citizenship when it is offered.

The Department of Defence requires ADF entrants to attain a security clearance appropriate to their avenue of entry.

A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and, as required, interviews enables the Regional Security Office to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a security clearance

Current policy requires applicants for this particular avenue of entry to have lived in Australia for the preceding 5 years, or have a checkable background for this period.

The Department of Defence requires ADF entrants to attain a security clearance appropriate to their avenue of entry.

A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and, as required, interviews enables the Regional Security Office to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a security clearance.

Current policy requires applicants for this particular avenue of entry to have lived in Australia for the preceding 5 years, or have a checkable background for this period.

Aptitude testing is undertaken to assess your ability to cope with the training and intellectual demands placed on you whilst serving in the ADF. The standards are sound and realistic in expectation, with psychology support staff explaining what is involved with each test.

Consistent with an exemption provided for Defence under the Commonwealth Anti-Discrimination Act, women may not be employed in direct combat roles.

The Direct Combat exclusion applies to all Armour, Artillery, Infantry and Combat Engineer Squadrons and precludes women from being employed in direct combat roles within these units. However, female personnel are capable of serving within Direct Combat Units (except Combat Engineer Squadrons) in combat support positions.