Army
Full Time

Infantry Officer

Full Time
In-service title: Infantry Officer

As an Infantry Officer, you’ll fulfil an incredibly demanding role that requires high standards of mental and physical resilience and will lead a highly trained team of soldiers. In a career like no other, you’ll develop strong tactical acumen to plan and execute tasks in any environment across the full spectrum of conflict.

This meaningful role is part of the Army Officer – Command career pathway, where you’ll learn the fundamentals of being a leader to a team of soldiers, including mentorship, influence, problem solving, decision making and much more. No leadership experience is required, and you’ll be allocated to your specific role before you graduate from training.

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What you'll do

During your first posting as an Infantry Officer, you’ll likely command a rifle platoon in an Infantry Battalion. You’ll train in both conventional infantry tactics and as part of a Combat Team working closely with soldiers from other Army roles, like Artillery and Armoured. You may also be selected to:

  • command a specialist platoon such as the heavy weapons platoon, reconnaissance and sniper platoon, mortar platoon, or signals platoon
  • command a trainee platoon at the School of Infantry, Singleton, NSW or the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Kapooka, NSW.

Your duties may include:

  • close combat and application of lethal and non-lethal force
  • offensive and defensive operations
  • locating enemy forces by gathering information through patrol and surveillance
  • seizing and holding ground from enemy forces
  • providing security for Army units and vital assets
  • humanitarian assistance missions
  • international training, advise and assist missions.

Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career as an officer. As you progress, the Army will provide you with leadership, management, and specialist skills training to develop your ability to effectively manage your teams. You’ll also be provided with training opportunities to further develop your role-related expertise. This world-class training will strengthen your skillset and enable you to become an influential leader in the Army.

As an officer in the Army, you may also undertake a posting to an Any Officer role during your career, such as instructor/training roles and staff officer roles. This experience helps you broaden your skill set and prepare for more senior roles.

Following training, you’ll likely be posted to one of the 6 battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR). These are:

  • 1 RAR, 2 RAR and 3 RAR, Townsville, Qld
  • 5/7 RAR, Darwin, NT
  • 6 RAR and 8/9 RAR, Brisbane, Qld.

Infantry Officers can also serve in infantry specific or non-trade instructional postings. As you progress in your career you could also expect to serve as full-time staff in one of the 13 Army Reserve Infantry Battalions located in most states and territories or in Regional Force Surveillance Group (RFSG) and Special Forces (SF) units.

The RFSU operate in the north of Australia, with headquarters and out stations spread from Karratha in the Pilbara Region of WA, through the top end of the NT and across to Cairns and the Cape York Peninsula.

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

Requirements and training

Select an entry method
Salary, requirements and training information will change depending on the entry method selected.
About entry methods
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 to join ADFA from 16 years of age and must be at least 17 on the day of entry. The maximum age to join is 51 years.

Licences

You don’t need a driver’s licence for this role but if you have one, it can’t be suspended or cancelled.

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

To be eligible for admission to the University of New South Wales (UNSW) at ADFA, you’ll need to have completed Year 12 with passes in English and 3 other Board of Secondary School Studies registered (or state equivalent) subjects and obtained an entrance rank high enough to qualify for entry into the relevant degree program.

Note: As well as applying to the Army for entry, you’ll also need to apply to the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for entry to the University of New South Wales (UNSW). For more information, visit the UAC website or our ADFA page. 

While at ADFA, you won’t incur a HECS-HELP debt as the Army will cover the cost of your course up to the Commonwealth Supported Place amount. This includes the higher costs associated with ADFA studies and may also cover any necessary equipment and education materials.

Officer Cadets can leave ADFA at any time within their first 2 years. Please note, if you choose to leave university, you'll be expected to reimburse the ADF for the academic training provided to date (i.e. you are not liable for the full cost if you leave before completion of the course). However, if you leave university but continue your career in the ADF by transferring to a Direct Entry role, you will not be expected to reimburse the ADF in this case.

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): 45
  • Push-ups: 8
  • Shuttle Run Score: 7.5.

Male

  • Sit-ups (feet held): 45
  • Push-ups: 15
  • Shuttle Run Score: 7.5.

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 appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 9 years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. There is a 2-year grace period from appointment where you may resign, without any obligation. 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 any outstanding IMPS obligation and provide a minimum of 3 months’ notice.

Training
Military training

You'll attend ADFA to complete your university studies over 3 years. You'll also complete the following military training around your study commitments.

Course: Year One Familiarisation Training (YOFT)
Duration: 5 weeks
Location: Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), ACT

YOFT is Initial Military Training to prepare you for life in the ADF. It's made up of the fundamental basic lessons and requirements to allow you to thrive and succeed in your new career.

Training includes:

  • leadership
  • ceremonial
  • field training
  • physical training
  • adventurous training
  • weapon training.

Course: Joint Military Education and Training (JMET)
Duration: 10 hours per week
Location: Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), ACT

ADFA's JMET program establishes foundational military knowledge for Trainee Officers (TOs) in the profession of arms.

JMET has 5 core modules:

Foundational Military Skills

  • National Security Policy and Strategy
  • Character Leadership and Ethics
  • Technology and Capability
  • Joint Warfare.

JMET integrates the professional military education of TOs with the academic program to establish foundational skills and historical, philosophical and technical literacy. The ADFA program of JMET and academic studies encourages curiosity and critical thinking so that TOs understand their role as leaders within the ADF, and their service's contribution to the Joint Force.

JMET training:

  • character, leadership and ethics
  • drill and ceremonial
  • field craft
  • joint warfare
  • national security, policy and strategy
  • physical training
  • technology and capability
  • weapons training.

Course: Single Service Training (SST)
Duration: During academic semester breaks
Location: Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), ACT

Army SST gives you the opportunity to experience life in the Army and gain core Army leadership, technical and field skills.

  • Combat fitness.
  • Field craft.
  • Leadership training.
  • Radio communications.
  • Work experience.
  • Weapon handling.

After graduating from ADFA you'll join your direct-entry peers at the Royal Military College - Duntroon to complete the Officer Commissioning Program (OCP).

Having already completed the equivalent of the first semester of the OCP at ADFA, you'll join your direct entry peers for the final 2 semesters, each 6 months in duration.

Course: Officer Commissioning Program
Duration: 12 months
Location: Royal Military College - Duntroon, Canberra, ACT

While attending RMC-D, you'll be appointed as a Staff Cadet, organised into a Battalion known as the Corps of Staff Cadets. As a Staff Cadet, you'll be immersed in military life and culture. You'll already have completed the equivalent of the first semester of the OCP during ADFA, therefore, you'll only need to complete the final 2 semesters of the OCP, each approximately 6 months in duration.

The training program for the final 2 semesters includes:

  • Foundation Leadership - will prepare you for your first appointment through exposure to military leadership and applied leadership
  • Foundation Warfighting - develop knowledge of foundation warfighting in the contemporary operating environment through platoon-level tactical actions
  • Foundation Military Planning - learn about critical thinking and planning in an operational context and command experience in a 'simulated' environment
  • Foundation Command - gain the necessary skills and knowledge to support training and administrative processes in a unit environment using your ethical framework.
After graduating as a Lieutenant, you'll be assigned to one of the Army's specialised branches, known as Corps, where you'll put what you've learned into practice. Initially, you'll be required to complete in-service Corps training and familiarisation. Then you may find yourself taking troops on deployment, through field exercises, physical training drills, or managing any number of vital Army functions.

During RMC Military Training, you may be required to pay a contribution towards your meals, accommodation and utilities.

Employment training

Course: Royal Australian Infantry Regimental Officer Basic Course (ROBC)
Duration: 7 weeks
Location: School of Infantry, Lone Pine Barracks, Singleton, NSW

You’ll gain the skills and requirements to serve as a Rifle Platoon Commander.

 

Course: Australian Defence Force Range Qualification Course
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: School of Infantry, Lone Pine Barracks, Singleton, NSW

During this course you'll gain the skills and requirements to conduct complex, safe live-fire ranges.

Further training

If you're selected to command a specialist platoon, you'll complete the additional courses associated with your specialisation. This includes the Basic and Advanced qualification in one of the following:

  • direct fire support weapons (anti-armour and machine gun)
  • mortars
  • reconnaissance
  • signals.