Combat Photographer
As a Combat Photographer in the Army Reserve, you’ll put your photography training and expertise to use capturing inspiring stills and video of the ADF in action. You’ll travel, taste adventure and make lifelong mates in this creative and flexible part-time role.
If you’re looking to experience adventure and excitement outside the everyday, earn tax-free pay and work as part of a close-knit team, this is an exciting opportunity that can work around your lifestyle.
What you'll do
You’ll play an important role in telling compelling stories about the ADF. When you meet with your unit, you’ll refine your skills, plan upcoming shoots and keep up your soldier training. When you’re on exercises or deployed with the Army, your job will be to capture newsworthy images and video that support the Army’s communications objectives. It’s a great opportunity to broaden your skills and experience in a rewarding role.
Your duties may include:
- taking professional quality photos and videos of ADF operations, training exercises, international engagement and other activities
- quickly processing and uploading your imagery so it can be supplied to meet news media deadlines
- editing short and engaging videos for social media platforms
- providing ADF members and military personnel from other countries with photography and videography training
- providing advice to Public Affairs Officers and commanders about opportunities and requirements for capturing newsworthy imagery.
Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career. As you progress, the Army will provide you with development opportunities to assist you with your increasing leadership responsibility, as well as further education and specialised training to strengthen your skillset. This will help you to command and run a highly skilled team of soldiers and the employment of their equipment.
The Army Reserve has units located all across Australia and offers you the flexibility to serve where you live. There are training locations in cities, small towns and regional areas. Even if there isn’t a unit close to you there may be other ways to serve. You’ll have a Careers Coach who you can ask about your options.
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. For Reserve service, the maximum age to apply is 60 years, with a Compulsory Retirement Age (CRA) of 65. Candidates who wish to enlist into the Reserves beyond the age of 61 years will need further assessment to ensure they can complete all pre-requisite training in their chosen field prior to reaching CRA.
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.
CERT IV in Digital Photography (or equivalent/higher) and demonstrate sufficient digital photographic competency through the submission of a digital portfolio demonstrating the breadth of your experience over a wide range of subjects.
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): 20
- Push-ups: 4
- Shuttle Run Score: 6.1.
Male
- Sit-ups (feet held): 20
- Push-ups: 8
- Shuttle Run Score: 6.1.
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.
There is no minimum number of years required in the ADF Reserve as service is voluntary. You can volunteer until the Defence Reserve retirement age of 65, subject to the requirements and your suitability for further service.
Reserve service is flexible and can fit around your family, life and work responsibilities. In your first year, you can choose to serve between a minimum of 20 and up to 150 days, which includes Initial Employment and Military Training. After that, you can choose to serve 20 to 150 days each year, with the potential to extend to 200 days. On training completion, you can serve from as little as one night a week, one weekend a month, or in consecutive weeks - in a way that suits your lifestyle.
Course: Army Reserve Recruit Course
Duration: 3 weeks
Location: Kapooka, Wagga Wagga, NSW
During training, you’ll take part in physical training, weapon handling and shooting, first aid, drill and field craft. You'll be challenged both mentally and physically.
Although it can be demanding, most recruits gain a sense of achievement, purpose and confidence during basic training, and on completion of the course feel justifiably proud of what they have achieved. The priority of our instructors is to help you succeed.
You’ll need to complete this course within 6 months of enlisting.
Course: ADF Joint Imagery Specialist Course (JISC)
Duration: Approximately 6 months (self-paced)
Location: Online
The training covers:
- how to work as an Imagery Specialist with Army, Navy and Air Force
- how to do your job as an Imagery Specialist safely while working around weapons, military vehicles and potentially hazardous equipment or situations
- how to work as part of an ADF Public Affairs team
- the ADF’s imagery policies and procedures
- further training on taking and editing still photos
- training on taking and editing basic videos.
Further video and also leadership and management courses are available as you progress in your career. These include the Intermediate Video Course (4 weeks) and the Senior Imagery Specialist Course (3 weeks).