Air Force
Full Time

Motor Mechanic

Full Time
In-service title: Ground Support Equipment

As a Motor Mechanic, you’ll play a crucial role supporting the Air Force’s operational effectiveness and capability. Working on a wide range of equipment, from Air Force fire vehicles to aircraft arrestor systems that bring fast jets to a safe stop on runways, you’ll perform a range of mechanical tasks in situations you won’t encounter in civilian life.

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Two uniformed mechanics, one female and one male, are seen working at the front of a vehicle in a workshop.

What you'll do

You’ll be responsible for the maintenance, modification and repair of a wide range of motor vehicles, ground aviation systems and fuel installations. You'll exercise your critical thinking and sound judgement while carrying out your duties in the workshop or on the runway. It's a rewarding role that offers opportunities for travel, including deployments overseas.

Your duties may include:

  • diagnosis, service and repair of heavy vehicles, air conditioning and refrigeration systems, electrical systems and components, aircraft arrestor systems, aviation ground support equipment and defence plants
  • modifying selected ground and aviation support systems
  • safe operation of the ground and aviation fuel installations
  • maintaining aviation fuel quality on Defence sites
  • safe operation of the aircraft arrestor system on ADF airfields and sites.

Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career. As you progress, the Air Force will provide you with development opportunities to assist you with your increasing leadership responsibility, as well as further education and specialised training within your chosen role. This world-class training will strengthen your skillset and help you to lead teams of aviators in future.

Technician Progression

A number of career options provide for employment beyond Motor Mechanic. However, in every instance, advancement is competitive and strictly according to Service requirements. You'll become eligible for regrade to Ground Support Equipment Technician (GSETECH) following the successful completion of the following GSETECH suite of courses:

  • Restricted Electrical Work
  • Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration training
  • GSE Technician course.

During your career you can apply for non-technical roles within areas such as personnel management, workforce planning, Military Skills Instructing and the Australian Federation Guard, and you might further consider applying for Promotion to Officer Rank within selected categories.

Following training, you could be posted to one of the many Air Force bases or 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 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 56 years.

Licences

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.

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

You must hold at least one of these trade qualifications:

  • Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology
  • Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
  • Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology
  • Certificate III in Engineering - Electronic Trade
  • Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
  • equivalent qualification delivered by a recognised training institution.

In addition, you’ll need to provide evidence of high school results detailing successful completion at a Year 10 level with passes in English, Maths and Science (incorporating a physics component). Consumer and Modified Maths subjects do not count towards this prerequisite.

Note: If you're unable to provide evidence of educational attainment, education equivalency assessments are available to ascertain your ability at the required education level for this role.

Important Note: You must provide certified true copies of original trade certificates, academic transcripts and a current resume to your Careers Coach. The Air Force will review your evidence and determine if any recognition of prior learning may be offered.

Health and fitness

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.

Period of service

You’ll be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 4 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.

Additional requirements

Desirable qualities include:

  • possessing well-developed hand-skills and hand-eye coordination
  • demonstrating attention to detail
  • prepared to sustain periods of heavy lifting
  • prepared to work under pressure
  • comfortable working in confined spaces
  • demonstrating ability to analyse, problem-solve, and trouble-shoot simple to complex systems or the potential to develop this.
Training
Military training

Course: Air Force Recruit Training
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.

Employment training

Course: Additional employment training
Duration: Based on skill level
Location: Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (ASEME), Bonegilla, Vic

On completion of Initial Military Training at RAAF Wagga, you’ll be posted to ASEME where you’ll undertake additional employment training to gain skills and system specific knowledge. The length of training will depend on your specific skill level and Air Force can identify the level of gap-training required before you join.

If you join with one of the following Certificates, you’ll only be required to complete limited Units of Competence and service specific training requirements based on a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Assessment against the Army Technical Trade Vehicle Technician Course:

  • Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology
  • Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
  • Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology.

If you join with one of the following Certificates, you may be required to complete most, if not all, of the Units of Competence and service specific training requirements based on a RPL Assessment against the Army Technical Trade Vehicle Technician Course:

  • Certificate III in Engineering - Electronic Trade
  • Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
  • equivalent qualification delivered by a recognised training institution.

Following the successful completion of your training at ASEME, you’ll be posted to an operational Air Force unit to complete a skills consolidation (on-the-job) period (if required). You’ll receive a contextualised overview of what your role is and your required responsibilities in the workplace, together with instruction on general and technical administration procedures.

Further training

As you progress through your career, there may be opportunities to undertake additional technical training which is usually equipment specific.