About the Job

Army General Service Officers are allocated to specific roles shortly before graduation from the Royal Military College - Duntroon. The allocation of roles is based on performance during training. To apply for this role visit the Army Officer page.

As a General Service Officer in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps (RAAMC) you will be charged with a broad range of responsibilities. Not only will you command and administer soldiers, you will also be trained and employed in coordinating the collection, evacuation, treatment and rehabilitation of sick and injured personnel. You will also perform health administration and be involved in general logistic support. The RAAMC General Service Officer has a wide variety of employment opportunities ranging from field deployed and static hospital environments through to service in Joint and Army Headquarters.

 


Key Information

Preparing for Your Recruitment Process

This document provides information that will assist applicants for roles in the Navy, Army and Air Force, including details about the recruitment process, how to prepare yourself for assessment, and what to expect if you are successful in joining the Australian Defence Force.

National Qualifications

Aspects of your training may result in the award of civil qualifications - something you can check with your Instructional Staff when you conduct your Initial Employment Training.

Salary & Allowances

Most Reservists join the Australian Defence Force for the exciting work, the friendships and the lifestyle. But there are many other benefits too, including financial ones.

The pay you receive in the Army Reserve goes straight into your pocket with no deductions for tax, and it increases as you gain seniority and experience.


For more details download our Salary Scales.


Locations

RAAMC units are configured to provide support to the Army, Navy and Air Force on the battlefield and in the area behind the battlefield known as the Australian Support Area. The Corps has about 250 officers (including the Army Officer noted above) and 900 other ranks. Major units of the RAAMC include:

  • 1st Close Health Battalion which is geographically dispersed with elements in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Townsville and Darwin
  • 2nd General Health Battalion located at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane
  • Army Malaria Research Unit, located at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane

Army Officers within RAAMC can expect to serve in a range of these units.

Health Officers are widely employable across Army. Postings to most units and locations and normally includes a balance between regimental, training and staff appointments. The rationale for this broad employment is that varied experience contributes to the development of attributes, which will enhance the officer’s effectiveness as a commander or senior staff officer.

 


Requirements

Age

Applicants must have reached 17 years of age on entry.

Applicants will not normally be allowed to enter the ADF until they achieve a minimum of 17 years of age, however they may be able to initiate the application process from 16 years and six months of age.

The Compulsory Retirement Age (CRA) for Reserve Service is 65 years. Candidates applying for Reserve Service must be under the age of 61 years, which is open for all employment categories. Candidates who wish to enlist into the Army Reserve beyond the age of 61 years will need to be further assessed to ensure that they would be feasibly able to complete all obligatory pre-requisite training in their chosen area of employment prior to reaching CRA.

Education & Experience

An applicant must pass English and three other Year 12 subjects that meet Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) requirements. Or you may be in your final year and expect to reach these levels. (South Australian officer applicants may achieve a pass at Year 11 English and a pass in a language rich subject at Year 12 and three other subjects).

A tertiary qualification is not required to be an effective junior officer, however officers without degrees will be encouraged to complete a degree later in their career.

Note: If you already have a degree, please provide copies of your transcripts as well as Year 12.

Medical & Fitness

To be enlisted or appointed, you must be medically and physically fit for entry to your chosen occupation. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.

You will also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness test before appointment.

For further details on medical and physical fitness standards refer to Physical Fitness Standards for Entry into the ADF and Medical Process for Entry into the ADF.

Period of Service

All candidates who are appointed or enlisted into the Army Reserve may undertake volunteer service until the age of 65 (Compulsory Retiring Age) subject to the requirements of the Army and suitability for further service. Members may transfer out of the active Army Reserve at any time.

Aptitude

The Job Opportunities Assessment (JOA) is completed as part of the application process to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Some jobs may also require you to complete a further evaluation at a later date.

The JOA is used by Defence to establish suitability for ADF entry, and then identify jobs that best match your abilities.

Further information about the JOA can be found in the Guide to the Job Opportunities Assessment for the ADF.

To get a feel for the types of questions that are used in the Job Opportunities Assessment and how they will look on your screen some examples can be found in the Job Opportunities Assessment Example Questions.

Citizenship

To serve in the ADF you must be an Australian Citizen.

If you are a permanent resident of Australia, the ADF may consider a temporary deferral of the citizenship requirement if the position for which you are applying cannot be filled by an applicant who meets all the citizenship requirements, and then only in exceptional circumstances. You will be required to obtain Australian Citizenship as early as possible following enlistment or appointment.

Find out more in our Citizenship page or ask your local ADF Careers Centre.

Security Requirements

The Department of Defence requires ADF employees to have a security clearance appropriate to their employment.

A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and if required, interviews, enables the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a security clearance.

The minimum security clearance level required is Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1), and current policy requires applicants to have a checkable background for the previous 10 years.

This means applicants must provide credible referees (non-family members) who are able to provide information about the applicant covering an extended period of time. Required information for an NV1 includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Residence
  • Employment
  • Education
  • Financial information
  • Travel

Some ADF jobs may require a higher level of security clearance such as Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) or Positive Vetting (PV). Your individual circumstances will determine the number and complexity of the questions and the supporting documents required for these levels.

Australian Citizenship is a requirement for a security clearance and a clearance will only be granted to a non-citizen in exceptional circumstances.

The security clearance is critical to an applicant's successful progression through the recruiting process. It is strongly recommended that all applicants action the Security Clearance Package (ePack) and provide the required documentation without delay to provide the best opportunity to commence training and be employed in their preferred employment category.

For more detailed information on the security vetting process and specific clearance level requirements set by AGSVA, please refer to the AGSVA website.

Support will be provided by DFR during the initial application process.

Training

Military Training

Recruit Training

As an Officer Entry recruit, you’ll be required to complete the Army Reserve General Service Officer – First Appointment Course.

General Service Officer - First Appointment Course
Duration: Approximately 16 weeks (conducted in 5 separate training blocks).
Location: Various locations in NSW and ACT.

Training is conducted through varied methods including the University Regiments. But is centrally coordinated by the Royal Military College. You will learn:

  • How to lead a team of up to 30 soldiers
  • How to critically assess problems in a dynamic environment in the field or in tactical simulation
  • How to guide a team in the field conducting military operations
  • Operate and maintain military weapon systems
  • How to plan military operations and logistics
  • How to administer an organisation both in the field and in the barracks

You are likely to complete the course within 18 months - 2 years of joining and are expected to complete it within a maximum of 3 years.

Training Block 1 – Military Foundation Skills
Duration: Approximately 5 weeks.
Location: 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Kapooka, NSW.

During training, you will take part in physical training, weapon handling and shooting, first aid, drill and field craft. You'll be challenged both mentally and physically.

Upon completion of Training Block 1, you will be posted to a University Regiment within your state to begin your training as an Officer. You are not required to relocate and will have ongoing training and parade night requirements at your local unit.

Your training will be centrally coordinated by the Sydney University Regiment and you will need to travel to Holsworthy Barracks, NSW to complete Training Blocks 2, 3 and 4.

These training blocks do not need to be completed consecutively and we will work with you to ensure they fit around your personal commitments.

Training Block 2 – Small Military Team Leader Theory
Duration: Approximately 2 weeks.
Location: Holsworthy Barracks, NSW.

During this block, you will build on the skills introduced in Training Block 1 and learn the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required to operate as part of a section (8 soldiers).

Training Block 3 – Small Military Team Leader
Duration: Approximately 2 weeks.
Location: Holsworthy Barracks, NSW.

You will take your first step along the way to learning the leadership and management skills that you will need to successfully command soldiers in the Australian Army.

Training Block 4 – Command, Leadership and Management
Duration: Approximately 3 weeks.
Location: Holsworthy Barracks, NSW.

During this training block, you will be provided with the theoretical knowledge required to command at platoon level (up to 30 soldiers) and conduct platoon level operations.

Training Block 5 – All Corps Army Reserve Platoon Commander
Duration: Approximately 3 weeks.
Location: External Training Wing, Royal Military College – Duntroon (RMC), Majura, ACT.

You will learn the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to command at platoon level. This course will also confirm you have all attributes, skills and values to become an Officer in the Australian Army.

Towards the end of this training block, you will be assigned to one of the Army’s specialised branches, known as Corps.

On the successful completion of Training Block 5, you will be commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Australian Army Reserve and posted to an Army Reserve unit. You will then undertake the relevant training for your allocated corps.

Training in your Unit

In between residential training blocks, you will undertake training and assessment and consolidate your skills in your University Regiment. You will be expected to attend parade nights and weekends organised by your parent Army Reserve Regiment. The training staff will help you prepare for the residential training blocks, revise the skills you learn as well as provide instruction and assessment on military skills like fieldcraft, drill, training, military justice and written and oral communication.

For more information, visit Army Reserve Training.

Employment Training

Logistic Officer Basic Course: 4 Weeks

You will attend the Logistic Officer Basic course at the Army Logistic Training Centre in Wodonga, Victoria.

Further specialist courses will follow depending on the type of unit you are posted to.

Further RAAMC and logistic training is required as you are promoted.