Air Force
Full Time

Aviation Support Technician - ADF Gap Year

Full Time
In-service title: Aviation Support Technician Gap Year

As an Aviation Support Technician, you’ll get a ‘try before you buy’ experience of working towards a trade in the Air Force without any obligation to serve beyond the end of the program. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the service and try your hand at one of the technical roles essential to keeping the Air Force operational. You'll provide aircraft flight line and ground support services at airfields operating ADF aircraft.

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A female, uniformed technician in a high-visibility vest inspects the landing gear of an Air Force aircraft on the tarmac.

What you'll do

You'll work with skilled tradespeople gaining a unique insight into one of the technical roles on offer in the Air Force. You'll typically work as part of flight line technical team, which means you’ll be on the tarmac assisting Air Force technical trades in performing servicing, ground handling and support duties. You’ll undertake a range of technical and trade related tasks while supporting one of the following roles:

  • Aircraft Structural Technician
  • Aircraft Armament Technician
  • Aircraft Technician
  • Avionics Technician
  • Aviation Survival Equipment Technician.

Your duties may include:

  • performing flight line servicing and flight line support duties
  • conducting aircraft ground handling operations, including support to aircraft towing
  • operating ground support equipment
  • replenishing aircraft systems
  • towing and operating specific aircraft ground support equipment (GSE)
  • marshalling aircraft
  • assisting with washing aircraft
  • launching and recovering aircraft
  • participating in cabin configuration changes
  • compiling and completing aircraft documentation
  • fly away kit maintenance
  • operating firefighting equipment as a fireguard.

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 could be posted to any Air Force base or Defence Establishment. This includes the major Air Force operational air bases, including:

  • RAAF Base Amberley, Qld
  • RAAF Base Darwin or Tindal, NT
  • RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA
  • RAAF Base Richmond or Williamtown, NSW.

Discover where the Air Force operates across Australia on our base locations map.

Requirements and training

About entry methods
12-month Gap Year
ADF Gap Year
Requirements
Citizenship

You need to be an Australian citizen to be eligible for the ADF Gap Year program.

Age
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 completion of your Initial Military Training.
Licences
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.
Security requirements

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.

Education and experience
You must have completed Year 10. Additionally, you must have Year 10 passes in English, Maths and Science (with a Physics component).
Health and fitness

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.

Period of service
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.
Additional requirements
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.
Training
Military training

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.

Employment training

Course: Aerospace Technical Trades Core Skills course
Duration: 10 weeks
Location: RAAF School of Technical Training (RAAFSTT), RAAF Base Wagga, NSW

After completing Initial Military Training, you’ll undertake this course at RAAFSTT. This course covers the following topics:

  • aircraft flight servicing
  • aircraft marshalling
  • aviation maintenance work activities and standards
  • basic hand skills
  • environmental management
  • explosive ordinance awareness
  • Manuals/documentation
  • work health and safety (WHS).
Further training
Upon successful completion of Initial Employment Training, you’ll undertake aircraft maintenance and repair duties in the Aviation Support Technician role for approximately 7 months at any of the major operational air bases to consolidate your training.