Air Force
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Full Time

Security Forces Officer

featured
Full Time
In-service title: Security Forces Officer

As a Security Forces Officer, you’ll lead the Security Forces teams that protect Air Force bases and assets both across Australia and overseas. You’ll deploy rapid security responses and provide advice and recommendations to commanders at all levels on security risk management and mitigation strategies.

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A Security Forces Officer stands in front of tents.

What you'll do

In this role, you will lead and command personnel to establish and maintain a secure environment for the projection of air power. You may also have the opportunity to become a policing specialist, leading and managing military law enforcement operations within the Joint Military Policing Unit (JMPU).

Your duties may include:

  • commanding, leading and managing the workforce that provides physical security and security governance for Defence installations and advanced capabilities both domestically and abroad
  • advising command on protective security measures and security risk management, including active and passive defences
  • developing security risk assessments, vulnerability assessments and security risk mitigation strategies
  • designing and executing airbase security operations and security first response
  • providing emergency responses for major incidents, such as aircraft crashes
  • planning the conduct of Base Security Operations and training exercises in conjunction with unit and base executives
  • delivering force protection continuation training
  • delivering nuclear, biological and chemical defence training
  • controlling the base armoury and small arms range

Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career as an officer. As you progress, the Air Force will provide you with leadership, management and communications training to develop your ability to effectively manage your teams. You’ll also be provided with training opportunities to further develop your role-related skills. This world-class training will strengthen your skillset and enable you to become an influential leader in the Air Force.

As an officer in the Air Force, you may also undertake a posting to an Any Officer role during your career, such as instructor/training roles and staff officer roles. This experience helps you broaden your skill set and prepare for more senior roles. 

Following training, you could be posted to most Air Force bases and other Defence Establishments within Australia, as well as limited overseas opportunities.

Discover where the Air Force operates across Australia on our base locations map.

Requirements and training

Select an entry method
Salary, requirements and training information will change depending on the entry method selected.
About entry methods
Requirements
Citizenship

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.

Age

You can apply to join ADFA from 16 years of age and must be at least 17 on the day of entry. The maximum age to join is 53 years.

Licences

You don’t need a driver’s licence for entry to ADFA, but this role requires you to attain your driver's licence while at ADFA, in your own time and at your own expense. If you already have an Australian state or territory full, provisional or probationary C Class licence, it can't be suspended or cancelled. If your licence is suspended or cancelled, you won’t be eligible until that suspension or cancellation has been lifted or has expired.

Security requirements

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.

Education and experience

To be eligible for admission to the University of New South Wales (UNSW) at ADFA, you’ll need to have completed Year 12 with passes in English and 3 other Board of Secondary School Studies registered (or state equivalent) subjects and obtained an entrance rank high enough to qualify for entry into the relevant degree program.

Note: As well as applying to the Air Force for entry, you’ll also need to apply to the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for entry to the University of New South Wales (UNSW). For more information, visit the UAC website or our ADFA page.

While at ADFA, you won’t incur a HECS-HELP debt as the Air Force will cover the cost of your course up to the Commonwealth Supported Place amount. This includes the higher costs associated with ADFA studies and may also cover any necessary equipment and education materials.

Officer Cadets can leave ADFA at any time within their first 2 years. Please note, if you choose to leave university, you'll be expected to reimburse the ADF for the academic training provided to date (i.e. you are not liable for the full cost if you leave before completion of the course). However, if you leave university but continue your career in the ADF by transferring to a Direct Entry role, you will not be expected to reimburse the ADF in this case.

You can choose to study any degree offered at ADFA by the UNSW, except for a 4-year engineering degree.

Health and fitness

Your medical fitness will be assessed by a doctor prior to appointment. To appoint as a Security Forces Officer (SECFORO) candidate, you must be medically and physically fit for entry. This assessment will require you to complete an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history followed by a comprehensive physical examination. It is to your advantage that you have a good standard of medical and dental health when you attend that examination.

You will also be required to pass a Pre-Entry Fitness Assessment (PFA) before appointment. Due to the demanding physical nature of the SECFORO role, this PFA requires you to achieve a higher standard than the officer entry level for the Air Force. You’ll be required to achieve the PFA standard below before appointment.

  • Push-ups: 10
  • Sit-ups: 20
  • Shuttle Run Score: 6.5.

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.

Period of service

You’ll be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 7 years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. There is a 2-year grace period from appointment where you may resign, without any obligation. 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 any outstanding IMPS obligation and provide a minimum of 3 months’ notice.

Training
Military training

You’ll attend ADFA to complete your university studies over 3 years. You’ll also complete the following military training around your study commitments.

Course: Year One Familiarisation Training (YOFT)
Duration: 5 weeks
Location: Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), ACT

YOFT is Initial Military Training to prepare you for life in the ADF. It’s made up of the fundamental basic lessons and requirements to allow you to thrive and succeed in your new career.

Training includes:

  • leadership
  • ceremonial
  • field training
  • physical training
  • adventurous training
  • weapon training

Course: Joint Military Education and Training (JMET)
Duration: 10 hours per week
Location: Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), ACT

ADFA’s JMET program establishes foundational military knowledge for Trainee Officers (TOs) in the profession of arms.

JMET has 5 core modules:

  • Foundational Military Skills
  • National Security Policy and Strategy
  • Character Leadership and Ethics
  • Technology and Capability
  • Joint Warfare

JMET integrates the professional military education of TOs with the academic program to establish foundational skills and historical, philosophical and technical literacy. The ADFA program of JMET and academic studies encourages curiosity and critical thinking so that TOs understand their role as leaders within the ADF, and their service’s contribution to the Joint Force.

JMET training:

  • character, leadership and ethics
  • drill and ceremonial
  • field craft
  • joint warfare
  • national security, policy and strategy
  • physical training
  • technology and capability
  • weapons training

Course: Single Service Training (SST)
Duration: During academic semester breaks
Location: Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), ACT

As a Security Forces Officer, you will conduct SST with the Army instead of the Air Force. This provides you with the foundational leadership, technical and field skills ahead of attending the Royal Military College - Duntroon to complete the Officer Commissioning Program (OCP).

  • Combat fitness
  • Field craft
  • Leadership training
  • Radio communications
  • Work experience
  • Weapon handling

After graduating from ADFA you’ll join your direct-entry peers at the Royal Military College - Duntroon to complete OCP. Having already completed the equivalent of the first semester of the OCP at ADFA, you’ll join your direct entry peers for the final 2 semesters, each 4 months in duration.

Course: Officer Commissioning Program
Duration: 8 months
Location: Royal Military College – Duntroon (RMC-D), Canberra, ACT

While attending RMC-D, you’ll be appointed as a Staff Cadet, organised into a Battalion known as the Corps of Staff Cadets. As a Staff Cadet, you’ll be immersed in military life and culture. You’ll already have completed the equivalent of the first semester of the OCP during ADFA, therefore, you’ll only need to complete the final 2 semesters of the OCP, each approximately 4 months in duration.

The training program for the final 2 semesters includes:

  • Foundation Leadership – will prepare you for your first appointment through exposure to military leadership and applied leadership
  • Foundation Warfighting – develop knowledge of foundation warfighting in the contemporary operating environment through platoon-level tactical actions
  • Foundation Military Planning – learn about critical thinking and planning in an operational context and command experience in a ‘simulated’ environment
  • Foundation Command – gain the necessary skills and knowledge to support training and administrative processes in a unit environment using your ethical framework
Employment training

Course: Security Forces Officer Airbase Security Operations Course
Duration: 3 Weeks
Location: RAAF Security and Fire School (RAAFSFS), RAAF Base Amberley, QLD

On completion of initial military training at RMC-D, you’ll post into your gaining unit and complete the Security Forces Officer Airbase Security Operations Course at the soonest available opportunity. This course takes the skills and knowledge learnt through the Army Officer Commissioning Program and teaches personnel how to apply it in an Air Force context.

Further training

Close Combat Specialist:

Course: Royal Australian Infantry Regimental Officer Basic Course (ROBC)
Duration: 7 weeks
Location: School of Infantry, Lone Pine Barracks, Singleton, NSW

You’ll gain the skills and requirements to serve as a Rifle Platoon Commander.

Course: Australian Defence Force Range Qualification Course
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: School of Infantry, Lone Pine Barracks, Singleton, NSW

During this course, you'll gain the skills and requirements to conduct complex, safe live-fire ranges.

Military Police Specialist:

Course: Military Police Officer Basic Course
Duration: 72 days
Location: Defence Force School of Policing, Holsworthy, NSW

The Defence Force School of Policing will provide you with your service police training and education.