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About the Job
Keep your ship connected and secure through systems administration, maintenance, and operation of advanced ICT networks.
Whether you have recently finished school, currently studying, already in the workforce or you have no experience at all, you'll be paid from day one. You'll gain all the skills needed with extensive on-the-job training.
As a Networks Operator (known in the Navy as Information Systems Specialist), you’ll be part of the cyberspace workforce operating and monitoring network systems to ensure the lines of communication remain uninterrupted, at sea and ashore. You’ll make sure the ship stays connected and has ongoing communication to stakeholders ashore, while making sure your shipmates can keep in touch with their families and friends back home.
Your typical day will see you managing, operating and maintaining the performance of networks and running diagnosis to problem solve issues to ensure the continued availability of networks. You’ll also assess the vulnerability of networks and establish favourable cyberspace environments for operations and missions.
Your duties could include, but aren’t limited to:
- Managing, operating and maintaining advanced ICT networks between stakeholders, government agencies, submarines and ships.
- Network diagnosis, disaster recovery and restoral
- Assessing the vulnerability of networks and establishing favorable cyberspace environment for operations
- Cyber security
- Providing specialist networks and security advice to Command and crew
- Operating and managing cryptographic equipment to secure highly classified ICT networks
- Tactical use of deployable ICT networks during operations and missions
- Coordinating basic and intermediate help desk support to deployed ICT networks
As a sailor, you’ll learn additional skills and duties to become highly trained and efficient in supporting the whole ship. This may include ship security, firefighting team, flood repair, flight deck duties, replenishment at sea, ammunitioning, first aid or line handling.
You’ll enjoy a competitive salary package, career stability, opportunities for continuous progression and an adventurous lifestyle, all while making a difference to Australia.
To succeed with the Navy tomorrow, apply today.
Other Ranks - Non Technical
Join the ADF with appropriate high school passes
Key Information
Preparing for Your Recruitment Process
This document provides information that will assist applicants for roles in the Navy, Army and Air Force, including details about the recruitment process, how to prepare yourself for assessment, and what to expect if you are successful in joining the Australian Defence Force.
Salary & Allowances
In the Navy you'll get paid a good salary from day one regardless of your age, experience or qualifications; and your pay increases as you progress through training.
In addition to your salary you'll receive a variety of allowances, extra pay for relevant qualifications – plus 16.4% superannuation, a far higher rate than you're likely to find in the civilian world.
For more details download our
Salary Scales.
Locations
All sailors will serve in fleet units and shore establishments on a rotational basis.
Requirements
Age
Applicants must be at least 17 years of age and able to complete the Initial Minimum Period of Service before reaching Compulsory Retirement Age (60).
Applicants will not be allowed to enter the ADF until they achieve a minimum of 17 years of age, however they may be able to initiate the application process from 16 years and six months of age, depending upon the capacity of their local recruiting centre.
Education & Experience
The minimum educational standard is successful completion of Year 10 level, which must include passes in English and Mathematics.
Medical & Fitness
To be appointed, you must be medically and physically fit for entry into the ADF. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination. You will also be required to pass a physical fitness test before appointment.
You must also pass the swim test and physical fitness test to graduate from your Navy Training and to proceed to the Safety of Life at Sea Training that is a requirement for Recruit School.
You will be required to pass a Pre-entry Fitness Assessment (PFA) before enlistment. The PFA requires you to complete a specified number of sit-ups and a timed cardio component. Fitness standards differ for selected age groups. Please refer to the Navy - Health and Fitness page for further details.
The RANST is conducted to ensure the Navy's duty of care to all serving personnel, with respect to rudimentary swimming skills. The purpose of the RANST is to ensure fundamental water survival skills as a prerequisite to training such as survival at sea training. Individual components of the RANST are fundamentally related to the survival at sea scenario.
Competency in the RANST is achieved through completion of each component:
- A safety jump off a 3m tower in overalls
- A 10m underwater swim in overalls
- A 50m swim using three safety strokes
- The ability to tread water or float for 15 mins in overalls
All personnel will undertake the RANST upon entry and competency is to be achieved before the end of your initial military training.
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 will be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of two years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. Your Careers Coach can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation.
Aptitude
The Job Opportunities Assessment (JOA) is completed as part of the application process to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Some jobs may also require you to complete a further evaluation at a later date.
The JOA is used by Defence to establish suitability for ADF entry, and then identify jobs that best match your abilities.
Further information about the JOA can be found in the Guide to the Job Opportunities Assessment for the ADF.
To get a feel for the types of questions that are used in the Job Opportunities Assessment and how they will look on your screen some examples can be found in the Job Opportunities Assessment Example Questions.
Citizenship
Only Australian Citizens are permitted to serve in the ADF. If you are a permanent resident of Australia, the ADF may consider a temporary waiver of the citizenship requirement if the position for which you are applying cannot be filled by an applicant who meets all the citizenship requirements, and then only in exceptional circumstances. You will be required to obtain Australian Citizenship as early as possible following enlistment or appointment.
Find out more in our Citizenship page or ask your local ADF Careers Centre.
Security Requirements
The Department of Defence requires ADF employees to have a security clearance appropriate to their employment.
A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and if required, interviews, enables the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a security clearance.
The minimum security clearance level required is Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1), and current policy requires applicants to have a checkable background for the previous 10 years.
This means applicants must provide credible referees (non-family members) who are able to provide information about the applicant covering an extended period of time. Required information for an NV1 includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Residence
- Employment
- Education
- Financial information
- Travel
Some ADF jobs may require a higher level of security clearance such as Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) or Positive Vetting (PV). Your individual circumstances will determine the number and complexity of the questions and the supporting documents required for these levels.
Australian Citizenship is a requirement for a security clearance and a clearance will only be granted to a non-citizen in exceptional circumstances.
The security clearance is critical to an applicant's successful progression through the recruiting process. It is strongly recommended that all applicants action the Security Clearance Package (ePack) and provide the required documentation without delay to provide the best opportunity to commence training and be employed in their preferred employment category.
For more detailed information on the security vetting process and specific clearance level requirements set by AGSVA, please refer to the AGSVA website.
Support will be provided by DFR during the initial application process.
Training
Military Training
Duration: 10 weeks
Location: Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus, Victoria
All sailors who join the Navy will conduct their initial sailor training at the RAN Recruit School prior to commencing specific category training. The NESC course is designed to prepare you to conduct basic duties as a sailor. Some of the key components of the NESC course are:
- 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,
Recruits who successfully complete all components of the course will participate in a Graduation Parade to mark the occasion and have the opportunity to invite family and friends to attend.
On completion of NESC course, all sailors will proceed on to their respective employment training specific to their category. For further information, please see the RAN Recruit School joining instructions Navy recruit school website.
Employment Training
Course: Information Systems Initial Employment Training (Networks Operator Stream)
Duration: 21 weeks
Location: HMAS Cerberus, Crib Point, VIC
The aim of the Information Systems Initial Employment Training program is to provide sailors from the Information Systems stream with the foundation knowledge and skills they require to operate and administer associated systems at sea and ashore.
The Information Systems Initial Employment Training program includes the following subject areas:
- Mariner Development Program
- Security principles
- Introduction to Information Warfare
- Basic cryptographic equipment
- Radiation hazard awareness
- Processing military messages, including accountability and security
- Fundamentals of commercial and military satellite system communications
- Network administration
- Network security and cryptography
- Role based access control and multi-factor authentication
- Device and network troubleshooting
- End user support
- Network architecture
- Application and software support
- System Configuration
- Management of cyber security risks and threats
- Database fundamentals
On completion of this course, you will be employed at sea or ashore to further consolidate your training.