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 Army Reserve 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.

You’ll need post-secondary qualifications or employment experience which satisfy one or more of the following:

• current-serving deck officers or pilots in seagoing maritime industry employment
• experienced mariners and others employed in shore-based or port aspects of the maritime or ports industries, e.g. port corporations and services, harbour masters, shipping agents, marine surveyors, naval architects, stevedores, ship charterers or brokers with priority given to those who also have seagoing experience
• employment in a maritime-related state or federal government agency concerned with maritime regulation, for example the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), state shipping regulatory authorities or the Australian Border Force
• former permanent Navy warfare officers with recent operational, headquarters or commercial maritime experience.

To join the Navy, it's important that you meet the necessary medical and physical requirements. Regular exercise prior to joining will set you up for success as it is an important part of training and service life.

Once you join, Navy will support your physical conditioning to ensure you're prepared to serve. You'll also have access to chef-made meals, gyms, sports and fitness sessions run by physical training instructors. Throughout your Navy career, you’ll be expected to conduct an annual fitness test which includes a plank as well as either a beep test or run/walk or swim.

During the application process you’ll be assessed through a questionnaire about your medical history and a physical examination.

During Navy Military Training, whether heading to the New Entry Sailor Course (Recruit School) or the New Entry Officer Course, you'll need to pass a swim test wearing your uniform to graduate. This includes:

• safety jump off a 3m tower
• 10m underwater swim
• 50m swim using survival strokes
• treading water or floating for 15 minutes.

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 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. You choose your level of commitment ranging from a minimum of 20 days and up to 150 days per year, with the potential to extend to 200 days. In your first year, this includes both Initial Employment and Military Training. On training completion, you can serve from as little as a couple of days a week, one weekend a month or in consecutive weeks - in a way that suits your lifestyle.

Course: Reserve Entry Officers' Course (REOC)
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Royal Australian Naval College, HMAS Creswell, NSW

This course will provide you with an introduction to the Navy and a sound understanding of what it means to serve as a Navy Officer. It can be split into 2 blocks, both 2 weeks in length, to accommodate the shorter-term availability of Navy Reserve officers. Completion of training in one 4 week block is preferred.

The first 2 weeks include:

• leadership and management
• marching and parade training
• swim test
• fitness test
• practical team training
• introduction to Navy and compliance training
• issue of Uniforms and Navy ID.

The remaining 2 weeks of this phase consists of maritime/sea specific training covering the following areas:

• tour of a Navy warship
• survival at sea
• first aid
• 2-day sailing course
• military law
• maritime doctrine and operations.

ADF Weapons Training

This phase is conducted over a 2-week period in which you’ll learn how to safely handle and operate the ADF's in-service rifle – the Enhanced F88 Austeyr. Dates for this course will be provided to you by staff at the Royal Australian Naval College once you have completed your initial REOC training.

On completion of the Reserve Entry Officer Course (REOC), you’ll commence the Initial Entry Training Program (MIETP). This training is a blended learning program of residential coursework and distance education over a 6-month period. On successful completion of both the REOC and MIETP, you’ll be considered for operational and exercise tasking.

As you progress in your Naval Mastery journey in Maritime Trade Operations Team 1, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake ADF and Navy professional development courses in planning, logistics and warfare. The pinnacle training course for Maritime Trade Operations Officer (MTO) is the Maritime Advance Program (MAP) which is MTO’s Advanced Mastery Qualification.