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The role of the ADF is the defence of Australia, so in the event of major hostilities, all personnel face the possibility of deploying to, or near, a war zone. 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.
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, during 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 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.
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 their skills and experience to the level of other 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.
All Navy personnel serve at sea as required.
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 2 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.
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.
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.
ADF personnel may be required to work long hours, shift work, irregular hours and be on call at all times. 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. While most commanders will endeavour to recompense overtime worked, there is no guarantee that this will occur automatically.