Military Training
Australian Defence Force Academy
Defence Academy Engineering Midshipmen complete a New Entry Officer Course (NEOC) at the Royal Australian Naval College, HMAS CRESWELL at Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast immediately following entry to the Navy in February.
This 22 week course covers drill and ceremonial, physical training, officer development, oral and written communications, naval message writing, management and leadership, officer of the day duties, Navy organisation, Defence studies, character guidance, Navy history, swim test, first aid, small arms training, adventure training, and a training cruise.
For further details on the NEOC, refer to the Joining instructions.
Training for the remainder of the year will include periods at sea posted to their respective engineering departments and time ashore with the emphasis being on broadening your understanding of the roles and functions of engineers in the RAN. Our aim is to let you experience how exciting and rewarding life as a Naval Engineer Officer can be and allow you to decide if that is what really motivates you. There will also be scope for you to gain an insight into the different engineering sub-specialisations you may wish to pursue including Marine, Weapons Electronic, Aerospace, and Weapons Electronic Aerospace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will I do be doing in my first year?
You will undertake NEOC with your cohort of Seaman and Supply officers - the people you will work with closely for the rest of your naval career.
The whole purpose of the program after NEOC is to give you an insight into what an Engineer Officer does at sea, in the Navy and in the wider Defence organisation. It will be a series of attachments, not unlike industry practice, to show you the scope of the enterprise you are joining, each being designed to give you a high quality, motivating experience.
Feedback from officers who joined in 2000 and took this path is highly positive, they found the Navy year one highly enjoyable and motivating. Officers who joined pre-1999 and who missed out on this scheme are highly envious.
From 2007, a one month maths refresher program is being added at the end of this first year for engineering students, to help them prepare for the first year of their engineering degree.
What if I don't like the sea time?
You will be able to discuss what other options are available to you with your supervising officer. This may include a service transfer which would depend on available positions and service requirements.
What is the benefit of all that extra training before my studies?
The program has shown that this opportunity to complete naval officer training both motivates people to becoming a professional Naval Officer and also means you can focus better on your studies at ADFA, with a clear vision of the purpose and context of your learning.
The academic staff at UNSW-ADFA have reported that the young officers who have come through this scheme are much more motivated towards their studies and are doing well.
Won't that early sea time learning be lost?
No, the evidence from the young officers who have followed this program so far is that it is highly motivating. The lessons they learnt at sea are well cemented, and they have said it is a great, first experience of life at sea. The evidence is people retain this knowledge as the guiding context for their studies at ADFA and beyond.
Will this help my engineering studies?
Yes! Our experience is that personnel who gain engineering experience prior to their academic studies invariably perform better in those studies. They tend to be more highly motivated to learn more about engineering and can better understand the theoretical aspects of the degree studies because they can relate that theory to their practical experiences.
During Military (ADFA and NEOC) Training and Employment Training, members may be required to pay a contribution towards meals, accommodation and utilities.
Graduate
Initial Entry Officer training for all graduate and non-graduate Officers is conducted at the Royal Australian Naval College (RANC), HMAS CRESWELL at Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast.
The New Entry Officer Course (NEOC) is 22 weeks in duration and is designed to equip officers with general Service skills common to all employment qualifications and develop the necessary attributes for the efficient management of Naval personnel and assets. This course covers drill and ceremonial, physical training, officer development, oral and written communications, naval message writing, management and leadership, officer of the day duties, Navy organisation, Defence studies, character guidance, Navy history, swim test*, first aid, small arms training, adventure training, and a training cruise.
For further details on the NEOC, refer to the Joining instructions. These instructions will provide you and your family with enough information to arrange your personal affairs before appointment in the Navy and will give you an idea of what you will be doing during your training.
On completion of the NEOC, graduates proceed to Application Courses (see 'Employment Training') for training in their specialist areas before returning to CRESWELL for completion of the five week Junior Officers Leadership Course. This course covers leadership and management, and aims to prepare the new Officers for their roles as Divisional Officers.
During Military (NEOC) Training and Employment Training (Application Courses), members may be required to pay a contribution towards meals, accommodation and utilities.
*Please note that the swim test is conducted in the first week of the New Entry Officer Course and requires trainees to tread water for 15 minutes and swim underwater for 10 metres.
Undergraduate
As an Undergraduate Officer, you will undertake the Undergraduate Orientation Course at HMAS CRESWELL at Jervis Bay, NSW as soon as possible after joining the Navy. This two week program is based on the need to familiarise you with the Naval environment in which you will eventually be employed. Subjects include Defence Force rank structure, officer development, Officers' Mess etiquette, and general navy knowledge.
In addition, Undergraduate Officers are required to attend a minimum of two weeks training per year with courses including service development and motivational training. While two weeks is the minimum, every effort is made to achieve more than this.
On completion of university studies, Undergraduates undertake the New Entry Officer Course (NEOC), conducted at the Royal Australian Naval College (RANC), HMAS CRESWELL at Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast.
The NEOC is 22 weeks in duration and is designed to equip officers with general Service skills common to all employment qualifications and develop the necessary attributes for the efficient management of Naval personnel and assets. This course covers drill and ceremonial, physical training, officer development, oral and written communications, naval message writing, management and leadership, officer of the day duties, Navy organisation, Defence studies, character guidance, Navy history, swim test*, first aid, small arms training, adventure training, and a training cruise.
For further details on the NEOC, refer to the Joining instructions.
NEOC graduates then proceed to a relevant Application Course (see 'Employment Training') for training in their specialist areas before returning to CRESWELL for completion of the six week Junior Officers Leadership Course. This course covers leadership and management, and aims to prepare the new Officers for their roles as Divisional Officers.
During Military (NEOC) Training and Employment Training (Application Courses), members may be required to pay a contribution towards meals, accommodation and utilities.
*The swim test is conducted in the first week of the New Entry Officer Course and requires trainees to tread water for 15 minutes and swim underwater for 10 metres.
