Electronic Warfare Submariner
As an Electronic Warfare Submariner, you'll operate sophisticated surveillance systems onboard Collins Class submarines that seek out, identify and track potential threats by intercepting and analysing electromagnetic emissions. You'll be trained to exploit, intercept, identify emissions, including radio and radar. Your number one goal is to keep Australia’s strategic asset, the Submarine, and its crew safe from detection.
What you'll do
You’ll perform a range of surveillance activities, often in time-sensitive environments. Drawing on your training, skills and adaptability, you’ll react quickly to developing situations and potential threats and provide sound, actionable advice to Command. Your work will contribute to operational success and help keep the submarine and its crew safe.
Your duties may include:
- intercepting and identifying radar emissions
- using electromagnetic energy to track and identify threats
- operating pyrotechnics and countermeasures
- providing recommendations to Command
- implementing effective anti-submarine tactics.
As a submariner, you'll also perform additional general duties that support the whole submarine, including:
- emergency response (damage control)
- submarine security, firefighting and replenishment at sea
- boarding party, first aid, flood repair and flight deck
- assisting with medical, ammunitioning or ceremonial duties
- shift work, or on-call duties as required
Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career. As you progress, the Navy 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 will set you up to run a highly skilled team of sailors in a variety of tasks, both at sea and ashore.
Following training, you’ll spend the majority of your career based out of HMAS Stirling, WA. There are a number of other shore postings available at various locations around Australia, including:
- Canberra, ACT (Fleet, Intelligence or Submarine support)
- HMAS Cerberus, Western Port, Vic (Small Arms or Recruit School Instructor)
- HMAS Kuttabul, Sydney, NSW (Fleet and Intelligence support)
- HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, WA (EW Instructor, Fleet, Intelligence or Submarine support)
- HMAS Watson, Sydney, NSW (EW Instructor)
- RAAF base Edinburgh, SA (Fleet and Submarine support).
Discover where the Navy operates across Australia on our base locations map.
Requirements and training
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 58 years.
You don’t need a driver’s licence for this role but if you have one, it can’t be suspended or cancelled.
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.
Completion of Year 10 (or equivalent) education required with passes in English, Maths and Science (Physics component desirable). If you haven't completed Year 10 but are interested in joining, the ADF may be able to support your application.
Note: For Electronic Warfare Submariners, the selection procedure is designed to determine people who can quickly grasp technical concepts. Usually, the people who perform well as Electronic Warfare Submariners have a sound background in science and mathematics. If you want to become an Electronic Warfare Submariner, you should be comfortable with the fundamentals of physics.
To join the Navy, it's important that you meet the necessary medical and physical requirements. Regular exercise prior to joining will set you up for success as it is an important part of training and service life.
Once you join, Navy will support your physical conditioning to ensure you're prepared to serve. You'll also have access to chef-made meals, gyms, sports and fitness sessions run by physical training instructors. Throughout your Navy career, you’ll be expected to conduct an annual fitness test which includes a plank as well as either a beep test or run/walk or swim.
During the application process you’ll be assessed through a questionnaire about your medical history and a physical examination.
During Navy Military Training, whether heading to the New Entry Sailor Course (Recruit School) or the New Entry Officer Course, you'll need to pass a swim test wearing your uniform to graduate. This includes:
- safety jump off a 3m tower
- 10m underwater swim
- 50m swim using survival strokes
- treading water or floating for 15 minutes.
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 2 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.
Course: New Entry Sailor Course (NESC)
Duration: 10 weeks
Location: Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus, Vic
You’ll conduct your initial sailor training at the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Recruit School prior to commencing specific category training. The NESC course is designed to prepare you to conduct basic duties as a sailor.
NESC Course
- Physical fitness: General fitness and the Navy swim test.
- Military life: General service knowledge including drill and ceremonial procedures.
- Military skills: Weapons training, workplace safety, first aid and sailing.
- Navy skills: Seamanship, survival at sea and fire and flood control.
After successfully completing all components of the course, you’ll participate in a Graduation Parade to mark the occasion. You’ll have the opportunity to invite family and friends to view the parade.
On completion of your NESC course, you’ll proceed to your respective employment training.
Course: Basic Seamanship Lite Course
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: HMAS Cerberus, Vic
This course is completed by all Seaman Branch Sailors and covers all aspects of basic seamanship, including:
- boatwork - crew, maintenance and navigation of power boats
- rigging - working all types of cordage and wire ropes, understanding splicing, maintenance of all forms of rigging, blocks, slips and shackles
- helmsmanship - steering the ship
- ships husbandry - cleanliness and maintenance of all parts of a ship (except machinery spaces) and
- general - a working knowledge of ship organisation, routines, survival at sea and 'Rule of the Road' for the prevention of collision at sea.
Course: Submariner Weapons User Course
Duration: 6 weeks
Location: HMAS Cerberus, Vic
This course will train you to become proficient in the use of force and the operation and maintenance of weapons employed by Submariners. These include the F88 Austeyr rifle, F89 Minimi Light Support Weapon, Mark 3 9mm Self-Loading Pistol and the in-service Tactical Baton.
Course: Electronic Warfare Initial Employment Training
Duration: 17 weeks
Location: School of Maritime Warfare at HMAS Watson, NSW or HMAS Stirling, WA
In this phase of training, you will undergo basic Electronic Warfare training and emission analysis technique training. On completion of this phase of training you will post to the Submarine Training and Systems Centre, HMAS Stirling, WA to undergo submarine specific and equipment application training.
Course: Initial Collins Class Course (ICCC)
Duration: 5 weeks
Location: HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, WA
You’ll complete a series of computer-based and instructor-based modules that introduce you to the systems and construction of the submarines and undertake Submarine Firefighting and Submarine Escape courses.
Course: Submariner Sea Experience
Duration: 3-6 months
Location: HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, WA
You’ll be posted to an available training billet onboard a submarine to undertake the Submarine Sea Qualification (SMSQ) task book. The task book will consolidate all your knowledge to earn the submarine sea qualification and be awarded the Dolphins badge you can proudly wear on your uniform.
Course: Submarine Electronic Support Course
Duration: 6 weeks
Location: HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, WA
This phase of training will introduce you to the Electronic Warfare systems fitted to the Collins Class submarine and the roles and responsibilities of the Electronic Warfare Operator onboard.