Aviation Logistics Specialist - ADF Gap Year
As an Aviation Logistics Specialist during your Gap Year, you’ll work as part of a team to provide critical air movement services to support a range of ADF activities, such as humanitarian and disaster relief missions, conflict operations, and multinational exercises.
What you'll do
No two days will be the same in this dynamic role, as you undertake a range of aviation logistics tasks. You’ll provide specialist logistics support through the provision of air terminal services, road movements, aircraft refuelling services and joint movement operations and planning.
Your duties may include:
- preparing, weighing and restraining cargo (including vehicles, explosives, and other dangerous goods) to ensure they’re safe for transport
- completing aircraft load documentation such as making calculations to ensure cargo is sufficiently restrained
- operating ADF vehicles and specialist material handling equipment including forklifts, aircraft loaders and other machinery
- configuring and loading/unloading military and commercial-type aircraft
- liaising with, processing and coordinating passengers
- providing airfield ramp services including coordinating airfield parking, marshalling aircraft and providing ground power.
You may also get the opportunity to travel (as part of a team) to undertake aviation logistics tasks in other locations within Australia.
After finishing your Gap Year program, you can choose to continue your full-time career in the Air Force or change to a part-time role in the Air Force Reserve.
There is no obligation to serve in the ADF beyond the 12-month Gap Year program period. You can take your new skills and experiences to gain an edge in future careers outside the ADF.
You may be posted to any Air Force base or Defence establishment. This includes the major Air Force operational air bases including RAAF Bases Amberley or Townsville in Qld, RAAF Bases Darwin or Tindal in NT, RAAF Bases Williamtown or Richmond in NSW, RAAF Base Edinburgh in SA or RAAF Base Pearce in WA.
Discover where the Air Force operates across Australia on our base locations map.
Requirements and training
You need to be an Australian citizen to be eligible for the ADF Gap Year program.
You must be aged between 17 and 24 years of age at the time of your enlistment or appointment. For Air Force, you must be 18 years of age by the graduation date of your Initial Military Training.
For this role, you’ll need an Australian state or territory full, provisional or probationary C Class licence. If your licence is suspended or cancelled, you won’t be eligible until that suspension or cancellation has been lifted or has expired.
All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.
For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.
Completion of Year 10 (or equivalent) education required with passes in English and Maths. If you haven't completed Year 10 but are interested in joining, the ADF may be able to support your application.
To join the ADF, you must be healthy and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.
You’ll also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment.
Female
- Sit-ups (feet held): 20
- Shuttle Run Score: 5.1.
Male
- Sit-ups (feet held): 20
- Shuttle Run Score: 6.1.
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.
Your Gap Year experience will commence at the start of the year and will conclude 12 months later. Subsequent periods of service in the Regular or Reserve ADF may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You may request discharge at any time by providing 21 days’ notice.
If you are currently or have previously served in the ADF or foreign service, you’re not eligible for Gap Year. You must be an Australian Citizen to be eligible for the Gap Year Program.
Course: Air Force Recruit Course
Duration: 11 weeks
Location: RAAF Base Wagga, NSW
During this training, you'll transition from civilian to Service life, acquiring the basic knowledge, skills and physical fitness required for your role and learning to become an effective and productive member of the Air Force.
The major elements of the course include:
- personal development and teamwork
- parade drill
- weapon handling and firing
- airfield defence
- fire fighting
- physical fitness
- Air Force history, customs and traditions
- military law.
After graduation, you'll undertake Initial Employment Training (IET) in your trade or category.
Course: Movements Initial Vehicle Licensing (MIVL)
Duration: 7 weeks
Location: RAAF School of Administration and Logistics Training (RAAFSALT), RAAF Base Wagga, NSW
You’ll learn to operate (and gain the required licences for) a range of equipment including:
- medium rigid trucks
- aircraft cargo loaders
- tow motors and forklifts.
Additionally, you'll learn to work safely at heights, to package and accept Dangerous Goods for transport by air and to undertake basic non-technical duty crew tasks (such as aircraft marshalling).
Course: Movements Air Terminal Basic (MATB)
Duration: 8 weeks
Location: RAAF School of Administration and Logistics Training (RAAFSALT), Air Movements Training Flight, RAAF Base Richmond, NSW
This course will provide you with the basic air movements knowledge and skills to enable you to function as part of an Air Load Team. You'll learn how to:
- compile passenger and cargo documentation
- conduct a range of load and restraint-related calculations
- prepare and load/unload a range of loose, palletised, and wheeled cargo.
This course also includes an introduction to explosive ordnance.
You may have the opportunity to undertake further training, including additional aircraft-specific Ground Crew courses (such as for the C-17 Globemaster or C-27J Spartan), or additional vehicle/equipment operator qualifications.