Army
Full Time

Transport Officer

Full Time
In-service title: Transport Officer

As a Transport Officer, you’ll control and operate Army-owned surface and riverine transport vehicles, and provide movement control, terminal, postal services and Army aspects of air logistics support. You’ll also be responsible for delivering the Army's petrol, oils, food, equipment and ammunition.

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.

Apply Now

What you'll do

You’ll lead teams in one of the following areas: 

  • Road Transport – command a troop with up to 50 people and 30 vehicles ranging from G-Wagons and rigid 4 tonne trucks to triple road train semi-trailers.
  • Water Transport – command a troop with up to 40 people and up to 4 watercraft that are either LCM8 or LARC V, which operate independently for extended periods of time. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to be employed as a Beach Master of an Amphibious Beach Team in support of the landing and sustainment of an Amphibious force.
  • Cargo Specialist (or Terminal Support) – command a troop with up to 40 people and 20 vehicles ranging from on pavement forklifts to 80 tonne cranes and various wheeled vehicles. Each troop is responsible for operating terminal and transhipment points conducted via port, road, air and rail, cargo receipt, storage and on forwarding.
  • Air Dispatch – command a troop with up to 45 people responsible for packing parachutes, storing parachute equipment and rigging loads for air drop operations, and may involve becoming parachute qualified. The trade actively supports airborne, airmobile and airland operations providing aerial logistic resupply and force insertion.
  • Movements – command a troop of up to 20 people, developing plans and coordinating and controlling the operational deployment, sustainment and redeployment of up to 10,000 people within Australia and overseas.

Your duties may include:

  • demonstrating high standards of leadership and command
  • possessing a thorough knowledge of transport operations, logistics and tactics
  • quickly analysing complex and changing situations
  • having detailed knowledge of transport officers' vehicles and equipment, including how they are best employed.

As your career progresses, you can expect the following types of employment:

  • Lieutenant – Troop Commander and one other appointment
  • Captain – sub-unit Operations Officer, Second in Command of a sub-unit, Adjutant, Instructor, Movements Officer, UN Observer, Staff Captain, long term schooling for a transport or business-related post graduate diploma or degree

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 postings outside of your specialisation during your career. These include instructor or training positions and staff officer positions. This experience helps you broaden your skill set and prepare for more senior roles.

Following training, you could be posted to Transport Officer units located throughout Australia.

Main Units and locations:

  • 1st Transport Squadron and 12th Transport Squadron, 1st Combat Service Support Battalion, Darwin, NT
  • 2nd Transport Squadron, 5th Transport Squadron and 7th Combat Service Support Battalion, Enoggera, Qld
  • 6th Transport Squadron, 9th Transport Squadron and 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion, Townsville, Qld.

17th Combat Service Support Brigade Units.

  • Headquarters 17th Combat Service Support Brigade, Randwick, Sydney, NSW
  • Headquarters 9th Force Support Battalion, Amberley, Qld
  • Headquarters 10th Force Support Battalion, Townsville, Qld
  • 26 Transport Squadron, Amberley, Qld
  • 30 Terminal Squadron, Townsville, Qld
  • 35 Water Transport Squadron, Townsville, Qld
  • 36 Water Transport Troop, Darwin, NT
  • 176 Air Dispatch Squadron, Richmond, NSW
  • Ships Army Element HMAS Adelaide, Sydney, NSW
  • Ships Army Element HMAS Canberra, Sydney, NSW
  • Ships Army Element HMAS Choules, Sydney, NSW.

Headquarters Forces Command Units:

  • Air Movements Training and Development Unit, Richmond, NSW
  • Army School of Transport, ALTC, Puckapunyal, Vic
  • Maritime Wing, ALTC, Townsville, Qld.

1st Joint Movements Group Units:

  • Brisbane, Qld
  • Bungendore, ACT (Headquarters)
  • Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, Qld
  • Keswick Barracks, Adelaide, SA
  • Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, Qld
  • Perth, WA
  • Randwick Barracks, Sydney, NSW
  • Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT
  • Simpson Barracks, Melbourne, Vic.

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.

Assumed Knowledge Requirements

Assumed Knowledge is the level of subject knowledge that a lecturer or a tutor of a first year UNSW at ADFA course could reasonably expect of students enrolled in that course.

Assumed Knowledge is fundamental to the assessment of whether or not an applicant is likely to succeed and is taken into account by the ADF (during the recruiting process) and by UNSW at ADFA when assessing the application.

While all UNSW degrees require Year 12 English as Assumed Knowledge, applicants wishing to enter the Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Technology programs (or study Maths or Physics as part of a Bachelor of Science degree) also require current Year 12 Maths and Year 12 Physics as Assumed Knowledge.

In states where Year 12 English may be replaced by a Humanities subject for the purposes of meeting Year 12 certificate requirements, the Assumed Knowledge is Year 11 English plus a Year 12 Humanities subject.

Further information regarding Assumed Subject Knowledge, including state-by-state specific Year 12 subjects, can be found on the UNSW website.

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.

Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You may tender your resignation at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS or ROSO 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

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:  Transport Officer Basic Course
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: Army School of Transport (AST), Puckapunyal, Vic

This course prepares you for your role as a Junior Transport Officer with the foundation skills and knowledge to plan and command a transport force element in both the barracks and field environment.

 

Course:  Logistic Officer Basic Course
Duration: 8 weeks
Location: Army Logistic Training Centre (ALTC), Bandiana, Vic

This course prepares you for your role as a Logistics Officer and teaches you the skills and knowledge of specialist Corps and integrated Combat Services Support in order to fulfil a range of command and logistic appointments at the rank of LT in a foundation war fighting environment.

 

Course: Logistic Officer Intermediate Course
Duration: 8 weeks
Location: Army Logistic Training Centre (ALTC), Bandiana, Vic

 

Course: Logistic Officer Advanced Course
Duration: 5 weeks
Location: Army Logistic Training Centre (ALTC), Bandiana, Vic

These courses will expand on the fundamentals of logistics and Transport Officer operations to meet your needs employed in demanding appointments and succeeding ranks.

Further training

You’ll conduct further specialist courses depending on which unit you're posted to and you’ll also complete non-specialist career development courses designed for all Army officers.

Course: Marine and Terminal Officers Course (MTOC)
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Maritime Wing – Army School of Transport (MW), Townsville, Qld

This course will qualify and prepare you to perform the duties of an Amphibious Logistics Officer, when employed in a unit or command that operates watercraft, Material Handling Equipment (MHE) and its operations are primarily marine orientated.

 

Course: Movement Officers Course (MOVO)
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: Army School of Transport (AST), Puckapunyal, Vic

This course will qualify you to perform movement duties within the 1st Joint Movements Group.

 

Course: Air Logistic Officers Course
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Air Movements Training and Development Unit, Richmond, NSW

This course will introduce you to air logistics operations and enable you to perform the duties of a Commander in an air logistic or equivalent unit.