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On graduating from Initial Employment Training, you may be posted to: 
<ul>
 <li>
 Australian Signals Directorate, ACT
 </li>
 <li>
 No. 460SQN, Canberra ACT
 </li>
 <li>
 No. 87SQN Headquarters, RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA
 </li>
 <li>
 No. 87SQN Tactical Intelligence Flights located at:
 </li>
 <li>
 RAAF Base Edinburgh SA
 </li>
 <li>
 RAAF Base Amberly, QLD
 </li>
 <li>
 RAAF Base Williamtown, NSW
 </li>
 <li>
 RAAF Base Richmond, NSW
 </li>
 <li>
 No. 462SQN, RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA
 </li>
 <li>
 HQ Air Command - Air and Space Operations Centre, Bungendore, NSW
 </li>
 <li>
 HQ Joint Operations Command, Bungendore, NSW
 </li>
</ul>
In time, opportunities may also be available to post to:
<ul>
 <li>Defence Intelligence Organisation, ACT </li>
 <li>Defence Force School of Signals - Electronic Warfare Wing at Cabarlah, QLD. (Instructor) </li>
 <li>Air Intelligence Training Unit, RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA (Instructor) </li>
</ul>
You may also be required to participate in exercises and deployments, including supporting allied forces and Australian Army
and Royal Australian Navy operations, both in the Australia and overseas. 
<div class="h4">Frequently Asked Questions </div>
<dl>
 <dt>
 
 Will I be a linguist when I finish my initial training? 
 
 </dt>
 <dd>
 No. After your initial training and consolidation you will be
 employed as an all-source intelligence analyst. Opportunities exist, as per Air Force requirements, for AIA (OPINT)s
 to undertake further training in languages. After these further studies and as long as the required standard is attained,
 you will remain a fully qualified linguist with a Diploma in Applied Language. This is a civilian recognised accreditation.
 </dd>
 <dt> 
 
 Can I do further AIA (OPINT) post-graduate training? There are a wide variety of courses that you may undergo as an AIA. These include: 
 
 </dt>
 <dd>
 <ul>
 <li>Advanced language or additional language courses</li>
 <li>Instructor Assessor Courses</li>
 <li>Ground Intelligence Course</li>
 <li>Training development</li>
 <li>Counter-Intelligence </li>
 <li>Many other system, sensor and intelligence related courses. </li>
 </ul>
 </dd>
</dl>

You will 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 get paid a good salary from day one regardless of your age, experience or qualifications; and your pay increases as you progress through training. In addition to your salary you'll receive a variety of allowances, extra pay for relevant qualifications – plus 16.4% superannuation, a far higher rate than you're likely to find in the civilian world.

General Entry: Non-Technical

<div class="p" >Further Training</div>
For promotion from the rank of Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman to Warrant Officer you will need to complete specialist courses (some of which are listed below) and achieve specific proficiencies, competencies and qualifications. As you progress through your career you will be given the opportunity to take a wide variety of courses such as:
<ul>
 <li>
 Advanced Language and/or Additional Language (up to Diploma in Applied Language level) 
 </li>
 <li>
 Instructor Assessor (Certificate IV Workplace Training and Assessment level)
 </li>
 <li>
 Ground Intelligence
 </li>
 <li>
 Training Development
 </li>
 <li>
 Counterintelligence and
 </li>
 <li>
 Various system, sensor and intelligence related courses. 
 </li>
</ul>
Some courses may be provided through universities and other civilian institutions.
<div class="p" >Foreign Language courses: 5 - 48 weeks (Language dependent)</div>
If you are required to undertake language training to meet Air Force intelligence capability requirements, it will take place at the Defence Force School of Languages at RAAF Base Williams at Laverton, VIC. Upon successful completion of certain language training, you may receive a Diploma in Applied Language, which is a civilian recognised accreditation. This training is a post Initial Employment Training requirement; however, it may be conducted whilst you are in a General Duty's unit awaiting your PV security clearance.
<div class="p" >ADF Collection Operators course: 19 weeks</div>
Having completed the Military Communications Skills language course, you may undertake further training at the Defence Force School of Signals - Electronic Warfare Wing at Cabarlah, QLD. This is a Joint Service School where you will train alongside Navy and Army personnel, learning about:
<ul>
 <li>
 Security procedures 
 </li>
 <li>
 Radio communications principles (such as radiotelephony and logging procedures)
 </li>
 <li>
 Radio theory (learning about radio receivers/transmitters, antenna types, radio propagation, etc.) and
 </li>
 <li>
 Apply your intelligence skills utilising specialist equipment and procedures. 
 </li>
</ul>
You will be expected to be able to touch-type at 40 words per minute prior to attending this course. Typing tutorials may be undertaken whilst in a General Duties unit and awaiting your PV security clearance; however, it is advisable to have typing skills to this standard prior to enlistment.
<div class="p" >Counterintelligence Initial Course: 12 weeks</div>
Counterintelligence Initial Team training is the foundation course for Air Intelligence Analysts selected for employment as counterintelligence (CI) operators. The course is conducted post Initial Employment Training, is modular, and consists of:
<ul>
 <li>
 CI policy and doctrine
 </li>
 <li>
 CI briefs and reports
 </li>
 <li>
 Intelligence collection threat TTPs
 </li>
 <li>
 Intelligence preparation and monitoring of the battle space support to CI 
 </li>
 <li>
 CI support to AVRM 
 </li>
 <li>
 Advanced driver and vehicle surveillance training
 </li>
 <li>
 Debriefing, interviewing and body systems analysis training and
 </li>
 <li>
 Specialist communications and photographic equipment training. 
 </li>
</ul>
<div class="p" >Ground Intelligence Initial Course: 10 weeks</div>
This course is conducted post Initial Employment Training and provides Intelligence Analyst Operations with the skills and knowledge to be employed in an Air Force Ground Intelligence environment. It is designed to provide a basic understanding of GI support to Air Force operations.
You will be provided with a theoretical grounding in the application of threat forces tactics, blue force tactics, ISR collection planning and the roles and responsibilities of an Air Intelligence cell supporting Air Force operations. You will also be introduced to weapon systems relevant to ground operations.

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Intelligence Analyst Operations (Air Intelligence Analyst (AIA) - Operational Intelligence (OPINT)) personnel are employed in the sensitive and highly challenging fields of operational and signals intelligence. They contribute directly to the Air Force mission in a wide range of Information Warfare related roles. 
This is an exciting and highly-secretive role that demands absolute discretion, flexibility, objectivity, problem-solving skills, a cool head and good attention to detail. Your comprehensive training will arm you with everything else you need, including the ability to: 
<ul>
 <li>Operate the sophisticated surveillance equipment used to intercept signals and collect information </li>
 <li>Analyse intelligence from a variety of sources</li>
 <li>Conduct counterintelligence activities</li>
 <li>Prepare intelligence reports</li>
 <li>Carry out battle space visualisation</li>
 <li>Organise image capture and analysis </li>
 <li>Prepare mission support packs for air, ground, space and cyber operations. </li>
</ul>
Most of your work will take place in modern, air-conditioned offices, though you will need to be prepared to deploy to remote locations in Australia and overseas in support of exercises and operations. When supporting missions you will work in security-accredited cabins or tents, and your working hours may be far from regular. 
As you grow and develop in the Air Force you will be given plenty of opportunities for career progression and diversification. In time you may apply to learn specialist techniques in areas such as: 
<ul>
 <li>The translation, speaking reading and interpretation of foreign language material from various sources, involving you in everything from highly sensitive missions to disaster-relief operations overseas </li>
 <li>Counterintelligence activities involving, surveillance detection, secondary human screening activities, threat identification and exploitation activities </li>
 <li>The provision of tactical ground intelligence in support of combat protection elements in both fixed and expeditionary environments. </li>
</ul>
In a world that increasingly relies on intelligence to counter threats from both beyond and within our shores, this role is critical and offers a rewarding, diverse and worthwhile career to ambitious young people.

Work in a highly-classified environment using sophisticated technology to collect, disseminate and exploit intelligence that supports Air Force and wider ADF operations.

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Intelligence Analyst (Operations)

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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