Recovery Mechanic
As a part-time Recovery Mechanic, you’ll provide critical recovery support on exercises and operations to recover bogged, damaged or disabled vehicles. You don’t need any experience as you’ll be trained by Army experts, but you’ll be confident, able to think on your feet and enjoy being hands-on. Your skills and capabilities will be highly valued and you’ll play an important role in Army exercises and operations.
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
Working with a team of highly trained Army technicians, you’ll operate state-of-the-art medium and heavy recovery vehicles to support Army missions. You’ll use winches, cranes and gas cutting equipment to salvage, recover and tow damaged or disabled military vehicles and equipment whenever they become bogged, damaged, disabled or break down. When you meet with your unit, you can expect to refine your recovery skills, plan upcoming exercises and keep up your soldier training.
You’ll get to experience the unique adventures and challenges that come with providing recovery support to Army vehicles in a range of situations and environments.
Your duties may include:
- operating specialist recovery vehicles
- operating cranes, winches and gas cutting equipment
- general soldiering duties, such as manning defensive positions, patrolling, traffic control, camouflaging of vehicles and field equipment, and navigation.
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, however you must be at least 18 at the commencement of your IET. 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.
For this role, you’ll need an Australian state or territory full, provisional or probationary C Class licence. If your licence is suspended or cancelled, you won’t be eligible until that suspension or cancellation has been lifted or has expired.
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. 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.
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.
Once you have finished your Initial Military Training (IMT), you’ll complete the driver's training and the following courses to become fully qualified. These courses are offered throughout the year and can be completed around your other commitments.
Course: Recovery Technician Course – Module 1
Duration: 16 days
Location: Army Logistics Training Centre, Bandiana, Vic
Course: Recovery Technician Course – Module 2
Duration: 16 days
Location: Army Logistics Training Centre, Bandiana, Vic
These modules are conducted in conjunction with approximately 12 months On-the-Job Training (OJT). On completion of the OJT, you’ll be qualified to operate the Army's Medium and Heavy wheeled Recovery Vehicles.
On completion of your IET and OJT, you’ll be awarded the following qualifications:
- High Risk Work Licence – Dogman
- High Risk Work Licence – C6 (Slewing mobile crane up to 60 Tonnes).
Other aspects of your training may result in the awarding of civil qualifications such as Heavy Combination (HC) driver’s licence.
You may also be required to attend additional courses in the operation of Armoured Recovery Vehicles.