Air Force
Full Time

Fire Fighter

Full Time
In-service title: Fire Fighter
As a Fire Fighter, you’ll be employed on duties within Air Force's emergency services (Force Protection) structure. You’ll be part of highly skilled and motivated teams, protecting both life and property from various situations. A minimum crew of 4 members provide Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) or Structural Rescue and Fire Fighting (SRFF) support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week therefore members of the Fire Fighter role are rostered on rotating shifts.
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A Fire Fighter tends to a blaze.

What you'll do

You'll be trained in advanced first aid and given the skills to respond quickly and decisively to aircraft crashes, motor vehicle accidents, wildfires and chemical contamination. Your critical mission will be to minimise casualties and the destruction of infrastructure and environment, while ensuring the safety of aircraft and defence assets to help maintain Air Force capability. You may also provide aid to the civil community when required.

Your duties may include:

  • Structural Rescue and Fire Fighting (SRFF) - extinguishing fires in buildings or other structures
  • Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) response
  • Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) response
  • wildfire response
  • operator-level maintenance and functional testing of fire vehicles and ancillary equipment mounted on fire vehicles
  • maintaining high levels of readiness through on-the-job training
  • providing aid to the civil community when required
  • decontamination of personnel and/or equipment as a result of agents/chemicals accidentally discharged during peacetime, and/or following deliberate chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks
  • continuation training of military and/or civilian personnel employed on Air Force bases.

Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career. As you progress, the Air Force will provide you with development opportunities to assist you with your increasing leadership responsibility, as well as further education and specialised training within your chosen role. This world-class training will strengthen your skillset and help you to lead teams of aviators in future.

Following training, you could be posted to Air Force bases at Tindal, NT, Amberley, Qld, Williamtown, NSW and Richmond, NSW.

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

Requirements and training

About entry methods
No experience required
General Entry: Non-technical
Requirements
Citizenship

You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.

Age
You can apply for a role in the ADF from 16.5 years of age and must be at least 17 to join. The maximum age to join is 56 years.
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
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. 
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

You’ll be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 4 years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.

You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation.

Additional requirements
Reach Requirements:

Applicants must be able to access all parts of a fire vehicle without the assistance of stationary or mechanical devices and reach a height of 210cm (in flat-soled footwear).

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: ADF Fire Fighter Basic Course 
Duration: 25 weeks
Location: RAAF Base Amberley, Qld

Initial Employment Training (IET) is divided into 2 phases. The first phase is conducted at RAAF Base Amberley, Qld and consists of a 2-week driving course which provides instruction in driving and operating medium and rigid 4-wheel drive vehicles (not specialised fire vehicles).

The second phase is the 23-week ADF Fire Fighter Basic Course conducted at the RAAF Security and Fire School. The aim of this course is to qualify personnel capable of performing the duties of an ADF Fire Fighter, by day or by night, in all weather conditions.

Training includes:

  • Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF)
  • Structural Rescue and Fire Fighting (SRFF)
  • wildfire operations
  • emergency medical care (First Aid)
  • rescue operations including motor vehicle rescue
  • Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
  • pumps
  • driving and operation of specialist ARFF/SRFF/Wildfire vehicles
  • Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence (CBRND) operations
  • communications systems and equipment
  • automatic fire safety systems
  • operator level maintenance / testing of specialist equipment.
Further training

Fire Fighters are also required to complete postgraduate and trade-specific courses as part of career progression, including pre-requisites for promotion and regrading.