Combat Support Operator
As a part-time Combat Support Operator, you’ll support Regional Force Surveillance Units (RFSU) providing the basic requirements of administration, supply, catering and transport support. You’ll employ night fighting equipment, communications systems, navigation skills, field craft and battle craft techniques.
What you'll do
There are 4 core functions of the role:
- Administrative Assistant Specialist – assist with unit personnel administration and management of unit documents within the administration office of a RFSU
- Supply Assistant Specialist – provide supply functions and assist in the daily running of the main Quartermaster Store within a RFSU
- Driver Light Vehicle GS – operate light Military vehicles with a trailer on public thoroughfares and over difficult terrain by day and night within the RFSU area of responsibility
- Catering Assistant Specialist – provide a limited field catering capability to the RFSU.
Your duties may include:
- assisting with unit administration
- interpreting and using ADF documentation
- workplace health and safety
- applying navigational skills when employed as a co-driver of a military B vehicle
- operator maintenance and servicing requirements
- applying hygiene and safe food handling practices within a field kitchen environment.
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.
Specialist courses include:
- Administrative Assistant Specialist Course
- Supply Assistant Specialist Course
- Driver Light Vehicle GS Course (Licence Code C2)
- Catering Assistant Specialist Course.
Completion of a specialist course will enable you to provide a specific Combat Service Support (CSS) function to RFSU to facilitate Patrolman reconnaissance and surveillance patrols within the limit of your skill grade. You’ll need to attend one as a minimum but you're welcome to attend more.
Following training, you’ll attend what’s called a parade night at your local Reserve unit, where you’ll refine your specific employment skills, plan for exercises and maintain your military training. Depending on your role, you may be given opportunities to travel interstate and overseas to take part in exercises, deployments and disaster relief activities.
There are Army Reserve depots located all around Australia, and with this role being critical, it’s possible that positions will be created outside of the listed locations below. This will be reviewed and determined on a case-by-case basis.
NT
- Groote Eylandt Depot, Groote, NT
- Jabiru Depot, Jabiru, NT
- Larrakeyah Barracks, Larrakeyah, NT
- NORFORCE, Katherine, NT
- NORFORCE, Alice Springs, NT
- NORFORCE, Tennant Creek, NT
- NORFORCE, Nhulunbuy, NT
- NORFORCE, Borroloola, NT
- NORFORCE, Nguiu, NT.
Qld
- 51 FNQR, Aurukun, Qld
- 51 FNQR, Bamaga, Qld
- Atherton Depot, Atherton, Qld
- Calendar Park, Innisfail, Qld
- Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, Qld
- Lockhart River Depot, Lockhart River, Qld
- Mt Isa Depot, Mt Isa, Qld
- Pormpuraaw Depot, Cairns, Qld
- Porton Barracks, Cairns, Qld
- Thursday Island Depot, Thursday Island, Qld
- Weipa Depot, Weipa, Qld
- Yorke Island Depot, Yorke Island, Qld.
WA
- Broome Depot, Broome, WA
- Carnarvon Training Depot, Carnarvon, WA
- Exmouth Depot, Exmouth, WA
- Geraldton Training Barracks, Geraldton, WA
- Newman Depot, Newman, WA
- NORFORCE, Broome, WA
- NORFORCE, Derby, WA
- NORFORCE, Kununurra, Kununurra, WA
- Port Hedland Depot, Port Hedland, WA
- Taylor Barracks, Karratha, WA
- Tom Price Depot, Tom Price, WA.
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. If you haven't completed Year 10 but are interested in joining, the ADF may be able to support your application.
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.
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.
Regional Force Surveillance Units (RFSU) Commanding Officers are able to waiver certain entry standards or grant provisional entry for Regional Force Surveillance List personnel in accordance with the Personnel and Training Policy. There must be a clearly demonstrated advantage to the RFSU before a waiver and/or provisional enlistment will be granted. This will be explained to you further during the enlistment process and should you require further clarification you should seek guidance from the RFSU at the point of entry.
Course: Regional Force Surveillance Unit Induction Course (RFSUIC)
Duration: 16 days
Location: RFSU centres in Darwin (NORFORCE), NT, Karratha (Pilbara Regiment), WA Cairns (51 FNQR), Qld
During the course, you’ll be instructed by Australian Regular Army (ARA) Cadre staff, CSS Subject Matter Experts (SME) and RFSU Army Reserve instructors. Your training will develop those foundation skills, knowledge and attitudes required to support RFSU patrols in the field and prepare you for employment as a Combat Support Operator (CSO) specialist.
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.
After completing your Initial Military Training, you’ll complete the following course. Sessions are offered throughout the year, and you can enrol into them around your other commitments at a time that works for you.
Course: RFSU CSO Basic Course
Duration: 16 days
Location: At RFSU centres in Cairns, Qld, Darwin, NT or Karratha, WA
This course will give you the understanding and the generalist skills required for you to provide a basic administrative capability to the RFSU, under supervision. These basic skills will enable you to attend subsequent training designed to allow you to gain a specialist qualification as an Administration Assistant, Operator Supply, Driver and/or a Catering Assistant. All the following courses are conducted at RFSU centres in Cairns, Qld, Darwin, NT or Karratha, WA and completed throughout the year. You can enrol into them around your other commitments at a time that works for you.
As a Catering Assistant:
Course: RFSU CSO Catering Assistant Specialist Course
Duration: 14 days
As a Supply Assistant:
Course: RFSU CSO Supply Assistant Specialist Course
Duration: 16 days
As an Administrative Assistant:
Course: RFSU CSO Administrative Assistant Specialist Course
Duration: 16 days
As a Driver Light Vehicle Specialist, you’ll attend one of the following courses:
Course: Driver Light Vehicle (C2) Course
Duration: 16 days
Course: G-Wagon Course
Duration: 15 days
Course: Driver Medium Rigid CL (MR1) Course
Duration: 10 days
Course: Driver Medium Rigid GS (MR2) Course
Duration: 16 days