Intelligence Analyst – Linguist
As an Intelligence Analyst – Linguist, you’ll use your new language and problem-solving skills to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities, at sea and ashore.
What you'll do
Enter the world of classified intelligence using state-of-the-art equipment to intercept and analyse foreign language material. You’ll be responsible for handling, distributing, and safeguarding classified information and foreign language material from incoming radio transmissions. Intelligence Analysts – Linguists are generally the first operators on the ship to identify adversarial activity.
Your duties may include:
- learning a language other than English
- analysing radio transmissions, communications, terminology and patterns
- interpreting and analysing foreign language materials
- operating recording and processing equipment
- research and analysis
- analytical and methodical problem-solving
- working with classified information
- information security procedures and safe handling of information.
You'll also perform additional general duties that support the whole ship, including:
- ship 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.
All linguists receive formal language training but don’t normally perform the role of an interpreter.
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.
You’ll receive competency-based training that is nationally recognised and accredited in line with the National Training Syllabus and access to intermediate and advanced courses.
Following completion of your specialised training, you’ll consolidate your skills at shore-based facilities before posting to sea. You could be based at one of the many Navy facilities located around the country. You’ll serve in fleet units and shore establishments on a rotational basis.
You can expect to be posted to ships at sea or any intelligence related role ashore for further training and consolidation.
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 and Maths. You will also need an aptitude to learn another language, which will be tested prior to acceptance.
If you haven't completed Year 10 but are interested in joining, the ADF may be able to support your application.
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 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.
For this role, you’ll require a Positive Vetting (PV) Security Clearance and to pass an Australian Signals Directorate Organisational Suitability Assessment.
Foreign Language Aptitude
You’ll be tested for your aptitude for learning languages. This is done to identify your capabilities to understand and take in different language structures. You are not expected to know a second or subsequent language at this stage.
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.
- Specialty skills: Weapons training, workplace safety, first aid and sailing.
- Navy skills: Seamanship, corrosion control, 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 covers all aspects of basic seamanship, including:
- boat work – 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
- anchor work – maintenance of ships and boats anchors and cables, and acting as a member of a ship's cable party
- helmsmanship – steering the ship
- ships husbandry and corrosion control – cleanliness and maintenance of all parts of a ship (except machinery spaces)
- general – working knowledge of ship organisation, routines and survival at sea.
Course: Basic Operator Skills Training
Duration: 12 weeks
Location: Maritime Intelligence and Information Warfare School, HMAS Watson, Sydney, NSW
In this course, you’ll undergo basic operator skills training so you can support the Navy’s intelligence functions at sea or ashore.
On completion of this course, you’ll be classified as an Intelligence Analyst - Linguist.
Once you’ve consolidated your operator skills training, you’ll undertake specialisation training, which will be a combination of language training in the Defence Force School of Languages in Laverton, Vic and additional training conducted at the Maritime Intelligence and Information Warfare School, HMAS Watson, Sydney, NSW.