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Eligibility Checklist

Before you apply, make sure you meet the basic role requirements. You'll find detailed information on the <a href="?tab=ways-to-join">Ways to join</a> tab.

Join without qualifications
There are many excellent career options in the ADF that generally don&rsquo;t require experience or qualifications. You&rsquo;ll receive all the training you need and be paid while you train.
Who it&rsquo;s for:&nbsp;Those seeking general roles and career opportunities.

You'll be paid while you train, and on completion of your Initial Military Training and Employment Training, you’ll earn at least:

Training

Your starting salary

Trained

Your salary once trained

In the Air Force you'll be paid a good salary from day one regardless of your age, experience or qualifications.

General Entry: Non-technical

You’ll normally progress to the rank of Leading Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman after 12 months, subject to completing your required competencies from the Air Surveillance Operator (ASOP) Career Journal (Competency Log). 

After this you may be promoted to Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) rank, which is determined by your ability and performance. To help you prepare, the Air Force provides courses and instruction relevant to all NCOs, such as supervision, human resource management, law, discipline, service writing, and stores procedure. 

Specific trade courses are also provided and include subjects such as advanced system operation and management, reporting procedures using standard formats and other essential skills that you’ll need in your role as an ASOP NCO. 

Further promotion through the NCO ranks is competitive and subject to vacancies. You’ll need to demonstrate sound trade skills and a positive attitude, and you’ll also need to have successfully completed any qualifying trade tests and/or promotion examinations. From the NCO ranks there’s an opportunity for promotion to the rank of Warrant Officer.

Key Information

Still have questions? Check out our FAQs.

Interested? Complete an Expression of Interest and we'll be in touch.

Hear first-hand about what working in the ADF is really like. 

Explore what training in the Air Force will look like.

Discover upcoming events and experiences. 

As an Air Force Air Surveillance Operator, you’ll use sophisticated electronic equipment to detect, identify and track aircraft, surface vessels and space objects within specified areas of operations. 

Day to day, you’ll help protect ADF assets and Australia’s national interests by assessing illegal and irregular incursions into Australian airspace. On exercise or operation, you’ll establish and maintain a complete picture of air, space and surface activities using a network of radars and intelligence systems.

You’ll be trained to use sophisticated surveillance technology and advanced communications to detect, classify and identify all satellites, missiles, aircraft and vessels in specific areas of operation. You’ll be a critical member of a team defending our airspace and supporting our national security interests at home and abroad, providing time-sensitive intelligence that supports tactical air battle management, missile warning and operational decision-making.

Acquire and disseminate information from a high-tech network of radar and intelligence systems, to help detect incursions or threats to Australia’s security. 

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Air Surveillance Operator

Find out what it’s like

Benefits you won't see anywhere else

You’ll enjoy the following:

Great salary from day one, which increases with experience

Generous superannuation of 16.4% – a huge 4.9% over the Australian standard

Help to buy a home, a subsidised home loan or rent allowance

Free medical and dental for you, and subsidised healthcare for you and your family

Fully paid training

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