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.

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.

Although there are no formal musical qualifications required to enter the Australian Army Band Corps (AABC), you must be able to read music fluently and perform your instrument to a high standard. You’ll also need to sit an audition with an AABC Employment Category Testing Officer.

If you haven’t yet achieved the appropriate passes for this role, an education assessment can be conducted to determine your eligibility. Employment history and other qualifications will be considered.

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.

There are 4 levels of entry into the Australian Army Band Corps (AABC) Reserve (part-time) as a member in a Reserve Band:

• Musician Trainee – equivalent to Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) Grade 7
• Musician Grade 1 – equivalent to AMEB Grade 8
• Musician Grade 2 – equivalent to AMEB Associate in Music, Australia Diploma (AMusA)
• Musician Grade 3 – equivalent to AMEB Licentiate in Music, Australia Diploma (LMusA).

Musician Grade 1 is the minimum job standard if you’re working part-time. If you’re a Musician Trainee, you’ll have 24 months from enlistment to qualify as a Musician Grade 1. These standards apply to:

• Australian Army Band (AAB) Regional Reserve Bands located in Newcastle, Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin
• AAB Reserve positions in full-time bands located in Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Kapooka
• Unit or Regimental Reserve Bands located in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Audition Requirements

You’ll be assessed at an audition with an Australian Army Band Corps (AABC) Employment Category Testing Officer to ensure you meet the minimum standard required for entry to AABC Bands. You can choose to be assessed against either a classical or a contemporary stream. 

The audition process has the following stages:

• an interview with the Music Director of your local band
• an individual performance recital, where you’ll be required to sight read, perform a recital and common band excerpts
• an ensemble rehearsal audition, where you’ll rehearse with smaller groups within the band, including your instrumental section or group, jazz group of varying sizes or rock band.

Please contact 13 19 01 or your Careers Coach for further information regarding audition and enlistment requirements.

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.

Following your Initial Military Training (IMT), you’ll complete Initial Employment Training (IET) for Reserve Band Musicians.

Course: Curriculum for Musicians
Duration: 18 months
Location: Distance learning modules

In this course you’ll learn specific skills required of military musicians, including:

• identification of band signals
• marching band performance
• familiarity of ceremonial music
• introduction to the history and mission of the Australian Army Band Corps
• general theory
• musicianship skills.

You’ll graduate from recruit training with the rank of Musician (Private) and your pay will increase following completion of IET. Promotion to Lance Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant and Warrant Officer is based on performance, time in rank and vacancies, and will require the successful completion of courses in advanced music studies. These promotion courses are mostly conducted utilising distance learning and residential phases of training.

Corporals are referred to as Non-Commissioned Officers, or NCOs, while Sergeants are called Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs). Warrant Officer Class 1 is the most senior soldier rank. A Corporal will normally have leadership responsibility for a section of instruments and this progressively increases on promotion to Sergeant. A Warrant Officer normally has a substantial personnel management role. 

You’ll be required to complete an Instrument Skills Assessment Grade 1 and will complete employment training curriculum for Musicians as distance learning over 24 months.