Command and Discipline

ADF personnel are subject to military law, with its own judicial arrangements (Courts) and punishments, in addition to normal civilian law. Defence personnel are legally bound to follow all lawful commands which may be given at any time and which could involve considerable risk to life. Such orders could require personnel to live, work and fight anywhere in Australia or overseas at short notice.

Unrestricted service

ADF personnel may be required to work long hours, shift work and/or irregular hours. When they carry out such work, there are no penalty rates or overtime paid. However the Service Allowance is intended to compensate the majority of ADF members for these special demands of Service life, like the requirement to be on call at all times and the need to work long and irregular hours as required. While most commanders will endeavour to recompense overtime worked, there is no guarantee that this will occur automatically.

Military and trade skills

Throughout their career, members of the ADF are expected to acquire and maintain not only military skills, but also trade skills and professional qualifications applicable to their employment. Military skills include competency with weapons, combat proficiencies and drill and ceremonial procedures.

Tattoos and body piercing

The ADF has a strict policy on tattoo and body piercing. All tattoos/body piercings will be assessed on a case by case basis by Defence Force Recruiting. If you are considering getting a tattoo or body piercing please contact Defence Force Recruiting for guidance as this may affect your application.

Operational service

As the role of the ADF is the defence of Australia, all personnel face the possibility of deploying to, or near, war zones should major hostilities occur. While the degree of exposure to combat situations would depend on a number of factors, in many situations, a member of the ADF will be called upon to engage in direct action against enemy forces. Additionally, in peacetime, elements of the ADF may be required to deploy to unstable areas where the risk of violence is high. In these cases, personnel may be required to engage in offensive or defensive action for the protection of themselves and others.

ADF personnel may also be required to participate in other forms of operational activities where a degree of personal risk still exists. Such duties could include major exercises, search and rescue missions and natural disaster relief.

The only possible exception to this requirement is in reference to minors.

Sea service

All Navy personnel serve at sea as required.

Postings and deployments

ADF posting policy reflects the need to fill current vacancies as well as the need to rotate personnel through operational, staff and training appointments to develop the skills and experience level of Defence Force members. Such rotations are not always possible within the same geographic area. Accordingly, ADF personnel, and their families, will normally experience a number of moves, between different localities, during their career. Such moves can often have a disruptive effect on family life, particularly in regard to children's education and the employment prospects for spouses/partners. Deployments of ADF personnel within Australia and overseas occur on a regular basis in response to events such as peacekeeping missions, planned exercises and natural disasters. In many cases, members are required to move at short notice to areas providing only basic amenities. Such deployments will result in separation of members from their families for the period concerned.

Length of service

When you join the Defence Force as an Officer your initial period of appointment will vary from 3 to 14.5 years depending on your prior qualifications and the job you will be undertaking. If you enlist as General Entry you will serve an initial period of 3 to 6 years depending on the length of your ADF employment training. If during Basic Training you decide that the Defence Force is not for you, you may apply to leave. (The stage of Basic Training when you can apply to leave varies between the Services. A Defence Force recruiter can advise you of these details.) After  your initial period of service, extra periods of service may be offered to you depending on Defence Force requirements.

Dress and grooming standards

Teamwork and esprit de corps are among the qualities essential to the proper functioning of any Armed Service. To foster these attributes and to allow for identification of its members, the three Services have set out various dress and grooming regulations. By wearing the uniform of their parent Service and by having the same general style of appearance, members of the ADF are given a sense of belonging and being part of an organisation with long standing and proud traditions. Additionally, well groomed members of the ADF help to promote a sense of confidence and pride in the military among the Australian community. Normally military dress and grooming regulations will reflect, in a general manner, community trends. However, not all fashions in clothing, accoutrements and appearance will be permissible for ADF personnel when on duty or in uniform. Equally, specific rules may be introduced for certain groups or in special areas to allow for operational, hygiene and safety requirements.

Discrimination and harassment

The ADF is committed to providing an environment free from harassment and discrimination. Additionally, there are circumstances when fraternisation between members may be contrary to the inherent requirements of ADF Service. Any behaviour which constitutes harassment, discrimination or unacceptable sexual behaviour is not tolerated in the ADF. Incidents will normally warrant disciplinary and/or administrative action.

Security

A security assessment, conducted by ASIO, will be obtained to determine your suitability for access to national security information and/or a secure area. Personal information provided by you in this application, will be treated in strict confidence and will only be used for the purpose outlined in this paragraph. Return of Service Obligation (ROSO) Avenues of entry offered by the Australian Defence Force which involve a lengthy course of study or training, such as the Undergraduate Scheme or the Australian Defence Force Academy, attract a ROSO. A serving member who has completed or partially completed such a course will normally be required to serve for a stipulated period prior to being permitted to leave the Defence Force. This period is normally one year for each completed year of training plus one additional year.

Training failure

If you fail to complete any module of your initial training your appointment or enlistment may be terminated. In certain situations, you may be offered alternative training.

Adverse assessment

A criminal record and/or an adverse or qualified assessment are just two factors taken into account when assessing a person's suitability for entry into the Australian Defence Force. If rejection of your application is being considered because of a criminal record, then you will be given the opportunity to fully discuss the matter and make any representations before any final decision is made.

Regulation of lifestyle

Because the community expects the members of its armed forces to be of the highest calibre, both physically and ethically, the ADF has in place a number of regulations which impact on the lifestyle of military personnel. These rules relate to areas such as the non-medical use of drugs, consumption of alcohol, unacceptable sexual behaviour and debt accumulation. Many of the practices banned by military regulations are sometimes permissible under civil law and, in many cases, seen by some in the community as an acceptable lifestyle.

Drugs

Drugs or solvent misuse are not tolerated and attract disciplinary and administrative action, including dismissal from the ADF.

Compulsory drug testing

At certain times you may be required to provide a urine specimen as part of the Prohibited Substance Testing Program. A positive test result or refusal to provide a proper specimen may constitute grounds for dismissal. Applicants are also to be advised that they may be drug tested before appointment or enlistment.

Alcohol

Drunkenness and alcohol abuse is taken very seriously and is an offence under the Defence Force Discipline Act.

Medical and physical fitness

Medical fitness is a fundamental requirement for entry to, and retention in, the ADF, since all members may be called upon to perform operational service, often at short notice. To be able to fulfil these duties, personnel are required to undertake, to varying degrees, intense training, both during Initial Entry courses and throughout their career. For such activities, the highest level of medical fitness is required. Those who cannot meet these standards may jeopardise the safety of others or unfairly cause their duties to be performed by others. Any injury or illness permanently affecting a member's fitness for duty may ultimately result in discharge from the ADF.

Equally, high standards of physical fitness are necessary for ADF members to effectively carry out operational tasks to which they have been assigned. All ADF personnel must be capable of achieving and maintaining a prescribed level of physical fitness as a function of operational preparedness. Personnel are required to undergo regular physical assessments to ensure they are maintaining the required level of physical fitness. Personnel who cannot meet these standards after remedial training will normally face discharge form the ADF.

Pre-entry medical examination

During the selection process your medical fitness will be assessed and you will be required to meet Australian Defence Force medical standards before an offer of appointment or enlistment will be made. The Australian Defence Force uses the National Health and Medical Research Council endorsed Body Mass Index (BMI) approach to determine an acceptable weight for height range for the population.

Any offer is subject to you maintaining your medical fitness and passing a final medical examination on the day you are appointed or enlisted.

HIV (AIDS) and other viral testing

If you are successful in gaining entry into the Australian Defence Force, your offer of enlistment will be subject to you being tested before enlistment for HIV (the AIDS virus) and other viral infections, including Hepatitis B and C. If you have personal objections to HIV or Hepatitis testing, you have the right to withdraw your application at any time prior to being appointed or enlisted.

Australian Defence Force personnel must maintain medical and dental fitness. After entry into the Australian Defence Force, all Service personnel are required to undergo regular dental treatment, inoculation, HIV and Hepatitis testing, re-vaccination and any urgent surgical treatment that may be required as determined by competent medical authorities.

Age restriction

The ADF observes a minimum voluntary recruitment age of 17 years. The exception to this rule is entrants to military schools, apprentices and members of Service cadet schemes. The recruitment of all minors must be voluntary.

As evidence of proof of age, all persons wishing to join the ADF must present an original or certified copy of their full birth certificate to their Defence Recruiter, and all minors (under 18 years of age) must have the written consent of their parent or their guardian to join the Service, prior to enlistment or appointment. The ADF will take all feasible measures to ensure that minors do not participate in hostilities; however there will be times when this will not be possible.

Gender restriction

The following positions are currently not available to females.

Navy

• Clearance Diver

Army

• All Royal Australian Infantry Corps
• All Royal Australian Armoured Corps
• Royal Australian Artillery Corps Field Artillery units (may serve within Operator Artillery Meteorology and Survey, Operator Weapon Locating Radar or related officer employments).
• Combat Engineer (Posting opportunities for female Combat Engineers are limited to Construction Squadrons and Topographical Units).

Air Force

• Ground Defence Officer
• Airfield Defence Guard