Employment Training

Officer, Australian Defence Force Academy

Following completion of the relevant initial Officer training, Supply Officer specific training commences with the Supply Officer Application Course (SOAC), and is completed in two phases:

SOAC Phase I is a residential course held at HMAS CERBERUS and is approximately 4 months. The course focuses on the core Supply functions of the Supply Sailor at sea; an introduction to support organisations focusing on support ashore for Major Fleet Units (MFUs); and the role of the Supply Officer at sea. The course includes a roadshow at the end of the course to solidify learning with an opportunity to meet the agencies who provide ashore support to MFUs.

Subjects studied during the residential phase of the Supply Officer's training include Service Funds, Accounts, Pay, Personnel, Finance, Foreign Currency, Catering, Stores, Configuration Management, Logistic Planning, Conduct of Operations, Departmental and Whole Ship Management, Mess Deck Management, Deployment Plans, Operational Cycles, Medical Management, Customs and Quarantine.

The Assistant Supply Officer (ASO) Posting is approximately 12 months to a MFU on completion of SOAC Phase 1. You will undertake the role of the ASO while progressing your Professional Skills Journal which you will have been issued during Phase I. The ASO will assume responsibility for service funds, finance and logistic administration. The ASO has standardised responsibilities across all platforms and will also develop foundation knowledge in departmental and materiel management in preparation for their Supply Primary Qualification board. It is on successful completion of the board that the trainee Supply Officer is awarded the SU (Supply) qualification.

Later in their careers (approximately 1-2 years), Supply Officers return to HMAS CERBERUS to undertake the 7 week Deputy Supply Officer (DSO) Designate Course. The knowledge acquired during this course forms the basis for their next 18 – 24 months at sea as a Deputy Supply Officer of a Major Fleet Unit. This posting prepares the officer to sit the Supply Charge Board, which will assess their capacity to accept a position of Supply Charge; that is, whether the candidate has the ability to assume the role of Head of Department on a Major Fleet Unit.

After passing the Supply Charge Board, the Supply Officer will complete shore postings that will consolidate knowledge and skills prior to returning to sea as the Charge Supply Officer. The Supply Officer Designate Course at HMAS CERBERUS is a prerequisite for this posting, and this 3 week course will provide a formal review of all areas of supply activity with a focus on management and legislative issues.