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.

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 54 years.

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.

You’ll need to have successfully completed Year 10 of a Year 12 board developed course (or state equivalent) with passes in Year 10 English and Maths. A strong grasp of English comprehension is highly desirable. You’ll need to perform detailed analysis of intelligence in a time-sensitive environment and produce clear and succinct reports based on your analysis.

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.

You’ll be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 6 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.

Intelligence Analysts are required to undertake a Top Secret Positive Vetting (PV) security clearance through the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) and for this role, you’ll need to undertake an Organisational Suitability Assessment (OSA). The OSA is a confidential psychological assessment which determines your individual suitability to work with highly classified information and you must obtain an OSA prior to being sent a letter of offer of employment for this role. The security clearance process is, by necessity, lengthy and intrusive.

Intelligence Analysts will complete Initial Employment Training (IET) training while their application for a security clearance is in progress. Often the clearance process will take longer than the IET so you may find yourself posted to the Air Force Intelligence Support Cell, RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA, to undertake work while you await your clearance.

Additional essential requirements

• Well-developed research and analytical skills
• Well-developed interpersonal skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Capable of working under pressure
• Technical aptitude to enable understanding of threat systems

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.

Your Initial Employment Training (IET) for Air Force Intelligence (AFINT) will focus on developing fundamental intelligence skills. The training consists of 2 phases. Phase 1 focuses on intelligence fundamentals, while Phase 2 is focused on signals intelligence.

Phase 1

Course: Introduction to Defence Intelligence Course (IDIC)
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: Defence School of Intelligence - Air (DSI-Air), RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA

You’ll learn the fundamentals of the role and complexity of intelligence capabilities and processes. You’ll come out of this course with an understanding of how intelligence is collected, processed and disseminated.

Course: Defence Intelligence Research and Analysis Course (DIRAC)
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: Defence School of Intelligence - Air (DSI-Air), RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA

You'll learn a range of techniques to collect, analyse, integrate and synthesise operationally relevant information which describes and explains trends, threats or issues in order to enable military decision making.

Course: Common Intelligence Fundamentals Course (CIFC)
Duration: 7 weeks
Location: Defence School of Intelligence – Air (DSI-Air), RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA

This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge required to work as an intelligence analyst. At the conclusion of the course, you’ll be prepared to conduct specialist domain intelligence training and be capable of applying common intelligence processes in future wars.

Course: Air Intelligence Fundamentals Course (AIFC)
Duration: 3 weeks
Location: Defence School of Intelligence - Air (DSI-Air), RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA

This course will provide you with air-specific knowledge and enable you to apply intelligence skills and processes to common and air domains, while ensuring you’re job ready.

Phase 2

Course: AIA-SIGINT Initial Employment Training Course
Duration: 9 weeks
Location: Defence School of Intelligence - Air (DSI-Air), RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA

You’ll be trained on the fundamentals of Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) theory and a brief overview of the two sub-streams of SIGINT, Electronic Intelligence and Technical Signals. Training includes:

• applying security considerations
• complying with intelligence-related legislation, classification requirements and physical security procedures during SIGINT operations
• applying SIGINT fundamentals
• processing SIGINT
• producing SIGINT products.

As you progress through your career, you’ll be able to pursue further training in a range of areas. Courses are held at the Defence Force School of Signals at Cabarlah, Qld and include but are not limited to:

• Technical ELINT Analysis and Reporting
• Tactical Data Exploitation and Analysis
• Technical Signals Analysis – Basic
• 2nd Line Technical Signals Analysis.

Further training opportunities for Intermediate and Advanced ELINT courses are run by allied partners.