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. The maximum age to join is 54 years.

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 Year 10 English, Maths and Science (with a Physics component). This is the minimum standard required to facilitate understanding of the engineering principles taught on the initial training course.

Note: Consumer Maths, General Maths, Mathematics (General Mathematics) and similarly 'modified' Maths subjects are not suitable for this role.

If you haven't completed Year 10, you may be able to undertake an Air Force educational assessment to determine if you have the required education level for this role.

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
• Shuttle Run Score: 5.1.

Male

• Sit-ups (feet held): 20
• 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.

You’ll be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 6 years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.

You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation.

For entry as an Aircraft Armament Technician, you must be of good character with no criminal convictions. Some lesser convictions or infringements may also make you less competitive than other candidates.

You need to declare, in writing, if you are subject to any Weapons Prohibition Order (WPO). Entry may be declined or deferred on the basis of this information. Failure to declare the existence of a WPO may result in termination action from the Air Force at a later date.

Preferred qualities include:

• well-developed hand-skills and hand-eye coordination
• advanced analytical and problem-solving skills required to troubleshoot aircraft
• appreciation of safety requirements
• good attention to detail
• ability to work under pressure
• ability to sustain long periods of precision lifting
• comfortable working in confined spaces
• resourcefulness and common sense.

Course: Air Force Recruit Course
Duration: 11 weeks
Location: RAAF Base Wagga, NSW

During this training, you'll transition from civilian to Service life, acquiring the basic knowledge, skills and physical fitness required for your role and learning to become an effective and productive member of the Air Force.

The major elements of the course include:

• personal development and teamwork
• parade drill
• weapon handling and firing
• airfield defence
• fire fighting
• physical fitness
• Air Force history, customs and traditions
• military law.

After graduation, you'll undertake Initial Employment Training (IET) in your trade or category.

Course: Armament Technician Course
Duration: 30 weeks
Location: RAAF School of Technical Training (RAAFSTT) at RAAF Base Wagga, NSW and Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School (DEOTS) at Defence Establishment Orchard Hills, NSW

This course includes 24 weeks at the RAAFSTT and 6 weeks at the DEOTS.

The training philosophy is based on the Integrated Job Performance Training System in which students are first given broad hand skills, then trained in the operation and maintenance of complete systems before ultimately being trained in the detailed operation and diagnostic maintenance of complete system components.

Training is based on the requirements of the MEA Aeroskills Training Package and is aligned to the Competency Standards required for a Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Armament). Following completion of an Armament Technician course and attainment of the competency standards, you’ll be issued with an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level IV Certificate.

The Armament Technician course contains the following elements:

• Aerospace Technical Trade Core Skills (RAAFSTT-Wagga)
• Aerospace Avionics Fundamentals (RAAFSTT-Wagga)
• ARMTECH Initial Employment Training (IET), DEOTS Modules (DEOTS-Orchard Hills).

The course will provide you with the knowledge, skills and attitude required to:

• operate safely in the aviation environment and perform general aircraft flight servicing tasks
• remove, install, inspect/test and troubleshoot aircraft electrical hardware/components and system components as well as the use of electrical and electronic test equipment
• check, identify, handle, transport and store explosive ordnance
• under supervision, students will also take part in detonating high explosives while on a range as an initial introduction to the Explosive Ordnance (EOD) roles that Armament Technicians can elect to undertake after attaining their Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Armament).

Following completion of the Aircraft Armament Technician course and successful attainment of the competency standards, you’ll be issued with a Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Armament).

Technician Progression Options

There are a number of career options available to you beyond the role Aircraft Armament Technician. Advancement is in healthy competition with those in other technician disciplines and is according to Air Force requirements, regardless of which career path you choose.

Generally, after completing your Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) obligation, you can also apply for non-technical roles within areas such as personnel management, workforce planning, Military Skills Instructing and the Australian Federation Guard. You might also consider applying for Promotion to Officer Rank within selected categories.

Alternate career pathway to Non-Destructive Inspection Technician (NDITECH)

You'll also be provided with an opportunity to undergo competitive selection and training leading to NDITECH. Once NDI training is complete, you’ll progress from NDITECH Grade 1 to Grade 2, then progress through the ranks to Warrant Officer in competition with other NDITECH members.