2. Mine Counter Measures. Focuses on the location, identification, rendering safe and disposal of underwater ordinance in areas where conventional mine hunting methods are not feasible.

3. Underwater Battle Damage Repair. Diving on air equipment, both self contained and surface supplied, for the maintenance and repair of ships' underwater fittings and Naval Harbour installations and underwater ranges. This element trains in skills such as underwater welding, non-destructive testing and salvage techniques.

The Executive Officer within a CDT is responsible for the administration, training and safety of all personnel.

The Commanding Officer of a CDT is responsible for all aspects of the Clearance Diving Team.

MCDO's aspire to command Clearance Diving Teams and Coastal Mine Hunter ship (MHCs). There are also opportunities to serve with Special Forces units. MCDOs who wish may become qualified as Principle Warfare Officers and those that do may also be considered for Major Fleet Unit Command and higher operational command in the Navy and the Defence Force.

Officers wishing to undertake MCD training must be qualified ships diving officers and demolitions supervisors before commencing the MCDO course. It should be noted that a high level of fitness is necessary and expected from MCDOs due to the nature of the job and tasks they could be called upon to do. As a result, the Clearance Diving course is physically tough, demanding and should not be underestimated. Similar to Special Forces selection, thorough personal fitness preparation and a determination to succeed are essential prior to commencing the Clearance Diving section of the course. Scientifically researched / produced physical pre-training programs are available to all potential candidates.

The MCD sub specialisation is currently not open to females.

Maritime Geospatial Officers - Hydrograpy (MGO-H):

Hydrographic specialists are involved in the survey of Australia's coastline and its surrounding waters, including Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Antarctica. They serve mostly in Hydrographic Survey Ships, Survey Motor Launches and the Laser Airborne Depth Sounder aircraft and have qualified sailors to assist with the collection and compilation of data.

MGO-H collect data that is used to produce Australia’s official Nautical Charts as well as providing hydrographic Military Geospatial Information (MGI). MGI is used to maximise freedom of manoeuvre for warships and submarines, and to maximize tactical advantage during operations. It can be combined with Defence Imagery and other geospatial information to assist strategic and tactical level planning for Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations. Hydrographic MGI underpins the planning and execution of almost all tactical operations at sea.

The Navy, through the Australian Hydrographic Service (AHS) is the Commonwealth Government agency responsible for Charts, Tide Tables and other nautical publications for all ships navigating the seas and oceans around Australia.

The charting area for the ships and units of the Hydrographic Surveying Force covers one eighth of the Earth's surface, stretching as far west as Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, East to Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean, and from the Solomon Islands, to the Antarctic. A survey generally involves a Hydrographic vessel deploying to an area for 8-12 weeks.

Officers of this small, warfare officer specialisation aspire to command the Survey Motor Launches, the Hydrographic Survey Ships and the Laser Airborne Depth Sounder (LADS). All Survey ships and the LADS aircraft are based in Cairns.

Shore postings are available in Sydney, at the Australian Hydrographic Office in Wollongong and various out-of-branch postings throughout Australia and the South Pacific. A two yearly exchange posting is available in the UK and an occasional exchange with NZ.

Initial training of MGO-H (a 26 week Hydrographic Surveying (H2) Course) is undertaken at the RAN Hydrographic School at HMAS PENGUIN, Middle Head in Sydney. However, officers entering the Hydrographic Service may have the H2 Course requirement waived in circumstances where they join having completed an International Federation of Surveyors / International Hydrographic Organisation (FIG/IHO) Category 'A' or 'B' course from a recognised institution.

The H2 Course is accredited as a FIG/IHO Category 'B' Hydrographic Surveying Course with specialisations in Nautical Charting and in Military Hydrography. The course is designed to provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge required to carry out surveying tasks ashore and afloat. On successful completion of the H2 Course students will be awarded a Certificate of Completion and will be graded as a Hydrographic Surveyor Grade 2.

Prior to the award of the FIG/IHO Category B qualification all students are required to complete a Field Proficiency and Experience Competency Log and to attain a minimum of two years practical field experience. Upon completion of this, they are awarded a Graduate Certificate in Hydrographic Surveying (one level higher than a bachelor degree) and a Diploma in Spatial Information Systems.

Hydrographic specialists may be selected for advanced training on a Category 'A' level course. The Category 'A' course is currently undertaken overseas, either in the UK or USA. The qualification gained on completion of this course depends on the institution, but it is either a Graduate Diploma of Hydrographic Surveying, Masters in Hydrographic Surveying or similar. To be considered for command of a hydrographic surveying unit, officers must have completed a recognised Category 'A' level course.

MGO-H spend the majority of their early career at sea, working in small groups of mixed ranks. The career is rewarding and vital to Australia's defence and maritime needs.

The hydrographic specialisation is open to both males and females.

Further information about the Hydrographic branch is available at the website of the Australian Hydrographic Service.

Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) Officers

Meteorology and Oceanography Officers (METOCs) are responsible for the provision of weather and oceanographic support to the Australian Defence Force, and in particular the Royal Australian Navy. A METOC provides weather and ocean forecasts for the warships and aircraft involved in military operations. They also provide advice on how well the Navy’s weapons, radars and sonars would work given the forecast conditions. As such, this provides a force multiplier effect, allowing the best use of the Australian Defence Forces’ resources.

The Navy’s ships and helicopters are easily affected by the weather and the ocean. For example, a severe tropical cyclone approaching the Queensland far north coast will cause very destructive winds, very large waves and very heavy rainfall. The METOC is responsible for understanding how cyclones work and for predicting where the cyclone may travel and how bad the weather may be.

Imagine the Navy has some ships in the vicinity of a cyclone. The METOC is required to provide advice to the Maritime Commander on where it will be safe to send the ships. Small ships are unable to tolerate strong winds and large waves caused by the cyclone, so the METOC will need to find an area where these ships can move to before they are damaged by the impending elements. A Guided Missile Frigate may be dispatched to assist a yacht struggling to cope with the situation. The METOC would also provide advice to the warship to help the Commander decide on how to use a helicopter or a small boat to rescue the yacht’s crew.

When it comes to forecasting the ocean, there is much more to know than the waves or the sea surface temperature. Ocean currents can move at speeds of up to 5 km/hr, which may sound slow, but when ships only travel around the ocean doing around 30 km/hr, these currents can have a significant impact on the ship’s speed and fuel consumption. Currents also occur below the ocean’s surface affecting submarines as they travel around underwater.

The environmental conditions, such as the weather and the ocean conditions, affect the operation of the Navy’s weapons and sensors. If conditions are unsuitable, radar may not be able to detect the enemy’s incoming fighter jet or missile until it is too late. Under the water if conditions are better, the ship’s sonar system may be able to detect submarines at further distances than usual. The information on how well the weapons and sensors are expected to work is necessary to assist the Commander in making decisions when fighting the battle.

To become a METOC, it is essential that applicants have a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in mathematics, physics or a physical science such as oceanography. Alternative degrees may be considered subject to their maths and physics content. METOC training is conducted once a Naval Officer has finished and consolidated their JWAC training. Successful candidates will study in Melbourne for eight months with the Bureau of Meteorology to learn all about forecasting weather, then complete a three month Military METOC Course in Nowra to learn how meteorology and oceanography affects the Navy.

METOCs serve mostly from ashore, although there are opportunities to work on ships for short periods of time. The Navy has two weather and oceanography forecasting centres. One is located at Maritime Headquarters in Sydney, and the other at HMAS ALBATROSS, Nowra NSW.

In Sydney, METOCs are responsible for providing weather and oceanography advice to the Navy’s ships, as well as to the Maritime Commander who has overall responsibility for ships operations. Twice a day, a forecast will be issued to the ship that will tell them what the winds, weather, and ocean waves are doing for the next 12 to 24 hours. METOCs work a routine of 12-hour shifts to ensure a qualified forecaster is always present to provide advice when required. A military airfield is located at HMAS ALBATROSS to support the Navy’s helicopters. There the METOC is responsible for providing aviation forecasts to the helicopter squadrons for operations in the South-Eastern Australian region.

After a couple of years gaining forecasting experience at the weather and oceanography centres, METOCs are generally based in Sydney and work in the Operational METOC Centre. Here the officers go to sea as Mobile METOC Team (MMT) Officers for several weeks at a time. The role of the MMT is to take the information provided to them by the weather and oceanography centre, and provide tactical advice to both the ships involved and to the Commander in charge of the group of ships. When back in the office, the METOC will be required to teach other Naval personnel about meteorology and oceanography. They are also involved in project work where they are required to liaise with the other organisations, such as the Bureau of Meteorology, to help improve the tools METOCs use in their jobs.

There is also an opportunity for METOCs to gain deep specialist training through a Masters of Science degree. This course usually involves an overseas posting to Monterey, California, for 18 months. Opportunities also exist for METOCs to cross train in other sub-specialisations, such as the Principal Warfare Officers course.

Being a METOC is a fantastic job for people who are interested in science and how it affects military operations. You will have access to the latest computer technologies and play an important operation role providing weather and ocean forecasts. The MG-M specialisation is open to both sexes.