Employment as an Officer in the Royal Australian Corps of Transport offers you a diverse and dynamic career path with opportunities to specialise in all forms of Army transport and logistical operations. This includes amphibious operations, bulk road transport or aerial dispatch and delivery operations. Get paid to be trained in these highly sought after and competitive skill sets.
Job Details
Australian Defence Force Academy, Royal Military College Duntroon
The role of the Royal Australian Corps of Transport (RACT) is to control and operate Army owned surface transport, other than unit transport, and to provide movement control, terminal, postal and Army aspects of air logistics support. The RACT has about 280 officers and 1840 other ranks (about 8 percent of the Regular Army).
The RACT delivers the Army's petrol, oils, food, equipment and ammunition. The Corps is also responsible for the Army's movement systems, which coordinates the use of land, sea and air transport to meet the Army's and Defence's requirements. The Corps consists of several trades, which you could expect to be streamed in at least one, but probably two of the following trades:
- Road Transport: command a Troop with up to 50 people and 30 vehicles ranging from Landrovers and rigid four tonne trucks to triple road train semi trailers.
- Water Transport: command a Troop with up to 40 people and six watercraft that are either LCM8 or LARC V which operate independently for extended periods of time.
- Cargo Specialist (or Terminal Support): command a Troop with up to 40 people and 20 vehicles ranging from 2.5-20 tonne rough terrain forklifts, 20 tonne cranes and various wheeled vehicles. A Troop is responsible for Logistics over the shore, port, road, air and rail cargo receipt, storage and on forwarding.
- Air Dispatch: command a Troop with up to 45 people and involves becoming a parchutist. The trade actively supports The Infantry Battalion Parachute Group providing aerial logistic resupply.
- Movements: Plan and coordinate, together with your staff, the operational deployment of forces within Australia and overseas.
All RACT officers are expected to demonstrate high standards of leadership and command, possess a thorough knowledge of logistics, tactics, an ability to quickly analyse complex and changing situations, and a detailed knowledge of RACT vehicles and equipment, including how they are best employed. .
The RACT has a need for officers with degrees. This requirement comes from an increasing involvement by the Corps in the fields of system management, computing, fleet management, and civilian business (transport) practices.
Officers could expect the following types of employment as their career progresses:
Lieutenant -Troop Commander and one other appointment.
Captain - Troop Commander of a larger Troop (90 personnel and 50 vehicles), Operations Officer, Second in Command of a sub unit, Adjutant, Instructor, Movements Officer, UN Observer, Staff Captain, long term schooling for a transport or business related post graduate diploma or degree.
Major - Squadron Commander, Senior Instructor, Transport and Movements Staff Officer, staff officer, UN Observer, overseas training or exchange appointments, student at Command and Staff College.
Officer (Reserve)
The RACT delivers the Army's petrol, oils, food, equipment and ammunition. The Corps is also responsible for the Army's movement systems, which coordinates the use of land, sea and air transport to meet the Army's and Defence's requirements.
- Road Transport: commanding a Troop with up to 50 people and 30 vehicles ranging from Landrovers and rigid four tonne trucks to triple road train semi trailers;
- Water Transport: command a Troop with up to 40 people and six watercraft that are either LCM8 or LARC V which operate independently for extended periods of time;
- Cargo Specialist (or Terminal Support): command a Troop with up to 40 people and 20 vehicles ranging from 2.5-20 tonne rough terrain forklifts, 20tonne cranes and various wheeled vehicles. A Troop is responsible for Logistics over the shore, port, road, air and rail cargo receipt, storage and on forwarding;
- Air Dispatch: command a Troop with up to 45 people and involves becoming a parachutist. The trade actively supports The Infantry Battalion Parachute Group providing aerial logistic resupply; and
- Movements: Plan and coordinate, together with your staff, the operational deployment of forces within Australia and overseas.
The RACT has a need for officers with degrees. This requirement comes from an increasing involvement by the Corps in the fields of system management, computing, fleet management, and civilian business (transport) practices.
Officers could expect the following types of employment as their career progresses:
Lieutenant -Troop Commander and one other appointment.
Captain - Troop Commander of a larger Troop (90 personnel and 50 vehicles), Operations Officer, Second in Command of a sub unit, Adjutant, Instructor, Movements Officer or a Staff Captain.
Major - Squadron Commander, Senior Instructor, Transport and Movements Staff Officer, General Staff Officer and as a student at Command and Staff College.
In more recent time many Part-time RACT Officers have served on operational tours of duty overseas in places such as Bougainville and East Timor.