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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.

Challenge yourself with a one-year commitment
Develop your skills and take time to think about your future career direction by spending a memorable year in the ADF.
Who it&rsquo;s for: 17-24 year olds wanting a 12-month taste of life in the ADF.

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

Trained

Your salary once trained

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

ADF Gap Year

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 Navy will look like.

Discover upcoming events and experiences. 

The Mechanical Engineer (ADF Gap Year) role offers a unique opportunity to work alongside qualified Mechanical Engineers and get a taste of life as a Navy officer without needing any prior qualifications. You’ll shadow the Navy’s engineering experts while getting paid to travel, both at sea and to different Navy bases around Australia.

You’ll gain a range of transferable life skills in your 12-month gap year experience. Along the way, you’ll benefit from incredible support and training, make lifelong friends and get a unique insight into life in the Navy.

You'll be immersed in the world of Navy innovation and engineering, exposed to a full range of engineering systems, including diesel engines, gas turbines, ventilation, power generation and hydraulics. Working alongside experienced Navy engineers, you’ll learn to manage the operation, maintenance and repair of the engineering system critical to the ship's mission. The sailors you’ll work with have dealt with engineering challenges both at sea and ashore and have a wealth of knowledge to pass on over your 12-month gap year experience.

Your Gap Year will be broken up into different stages. This will give you the opportunity to receive basic training and to tour Navy's shore establishments. You’ll experience life at sea, as well as what it’s like to be employed ashore. As a Navy Gap Year officer, you’ll be provided with the opportunity to contribute to the operation of the ship or unit.

Discover what it’s like to be a Navy officer by shadowing the crew who maintain the ship’s mechanical and propulsion systems in a unique and rewarding gap year experience.

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Mechanical Engineer (ADF Gap Year)

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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