Navy
Full Time

Maritime Warfare Officer Submariner

Full Time
In-service title: Maritime Warfare Officer Submariner

As a Maritime Warfare Officer Submariner, you’ll be responsible for one of Australia’s most valuable strategic assets – a Navy submarine. You’ll play an integral role as a member of the sub’s command team and assume responsibility for the control, navigation, systems and safety of your submarine at sea and in harbour. You’ll report to your command team and directly to your Commanding Officer, as a leader to all personnel onboard.

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Maritime Warfare Officer Submariner

What you'll do

Working in the unique environment of a Navy submarine at sea and ashore, you’ll perform a range of duties that call on your leadership abilities and training. Your day-to-day duties will include everything from leading teams of sailors to safely navigating the submarine and overseeing the use of weapons systems. On shore, you’ll participate in operational planning and gain experience across a range of different areas, including instructing, project management and career management.

Your duties may include:

  • maintaining the safety of the submarine and crew
  • managing and leading the crew, their activities and wellbeing
  • maintaining the safe navigation of the submarine
  • contributing to submarine operations, warfare activities and tactics
  • controlling the vessel through surfaced, dived and harbour watchkeeping
  • overseeing sensors, combat and weapon systems.

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 an officer. As you progress, the Navy 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 Navy allowing you to face any challenge, either at sea or ashore. There are also a wide variety of shore-based positions for periods when you're not posted to a submarine, including instructing (officer, mariner and submariner positions), Navy liaison positions (internationally based), operational planning, project management, career management and general managerial roles. Once trained, you’ll usually progress to a new position every 18-24 months.

As an officer in the Navy, 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.

Initial and employment training occurs at HMAS Creswell, Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), HMAS Watson, NSW and various HMA ships. Following training, you'll be based out of HMAS Stirling, WA. There are a number of shore positions available at various locations around Australia, and a limited number of international positions. International training occurs for members selected to undertake nuclear-powered submariner training.

Discover where the Navy 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 and obtained an entrance rank high enough to qualify for entry to the relevant degree program.

Note: As well as applying to the Navy 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 Navy 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.

Navy Midshipmen can leave ADFA at any time within their first year. 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.

Maritime Warfare Officer Submariners require a strong level of mental arithmetic. You are strongly encouraged to study 2 Unit Maths during Year 11 and 12.

Health and fitness

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.

The Navy swim test

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.

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.

For ADFA officers in the Navy who undertake Navy training in their first year of appointment, you may resign up until the graduation day of your first year of study (which generally equates with having completed by then 2 years of Navy 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 any outstanding IMPS obligation and provide a minimum of 3 months’ notice.

Additional requirements

For this role, you’ll require a Negative Vetting 2 (NV2) Security Clearance.

Training
Military training

Course: New Entry Officers' Course (NEOC)
Duration: 18 weeks
Location: HMAS Creswell, Jervis Bay, NSW

You’ll begin your career by completing NEOC immediately upon entry into the Navy. NEOC is conducted in January and July each year at the Royal Australian Naval College. This is designed to teach the knowledge, skills and attributes required to be an effective junior naval officer.

NEOC course

  • Physical fitness: General fitness, adventure training and the Navy swim test.
  • Military life: Discipline, mannerisms, uniform procedures and Defence studies.
  • Specialty skills: Small arms weapons training, first aid and survival at sea.
  • Navy skills: Drill and ceremonial procedures, officer of the day duties, rank structure and Naval history.
  • Leadership skills: High Functioning Teams Training and Military Resilience Training.
  • Personal development: Leadership and management (including practical exercises), effective oral and written communication methods.

On completion of your NEOC course, you’ll proceed to your respective employment training.


 

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

Navy SST furthers your skills, knowledge and attributes gained in your first year in the Navy, and provides you the opportunity to undertake work experience and training in your chosen specialisation.

  • Degree related work experience.
  • Navy culture and traditions.
  • Professional development work experience and outplacements.
  • Seamanship and mariner skills.
  • Teamwork and leadership.
Employment training

Maritime Warfare Officer Submariners are recruited as a MWOSM. Surface Warfare Officers may transfer to become a MWOSM at any point in their career.

Immediately following completion of the New Entry Officer Course, ADFA Maritime Warfare Officer Submariners Midshipmen complete Stages 1 and 2 of the Maritime Warfare Officer Course prior to their academic studies at ADFA.

Following graduation, ADFA Entry Maritime Warfare Officer Submariners continue on to Stages 3 and 4 of MWOC. Maritime Warfare Officer Submariners commence submarine specific training at HMAS Stirling during Stage 4 of MWOC and receive the Bridge Warfare Certificate Submarine (BWC-SM) on completion of their Initial Employment Training.

Course: Maritime Warfare Officer Course
Duration: 2 years
Location: HMAS Watson, Sydney, NSW and HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, WA

The course includes, but is not limited to:

  • simulation training
  • navigation principles
  • mariner skills
  • bridge work
  • seamanship training
  • boat work
  • risk management
  • engineering module
  • watchkeeping
  • warfare theory
  • Officer of the Watch (OOW) duties.

Maritime Warfare Officer Submariners commence submarine specific training at HMAS Stirling, WA during Stage 4 of MWOC and receive the Bridge Warfare Certificate Submarine (BWC-SM) on completion of their Initial Employment Training.

On attainment of your BWC-SM, you’ll continue your submarine training.


 

Submarine Training and Qualification

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. This course can be conducted as part of Maritime Warfare Officer Course.

 

Course: Submarine Officer Training Course
Duration: 6-9 months
Location: Submarine Training and Systems Centre, HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, WA

This course is designed to provide you with the operational knowledge, skills and technical expertise to carry out your future duties as a Maritime Warfare Officer Submariner and to earn your dolphins badge when you first post to a boat. During this course you’ll learn about submarine systems and safety, escape and rescue, submarine stability, supervision of console watchkeepers at sea, and safe submarine navigation and operations.

 

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.