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. For Reserve service, the maximum age to apply is 60 years, with a Compulsory Retirement Age (CRA) of 65. Candidates who wish to enlist into the Reserves beyond the age of 61 years will need further assessment to ensure they can complete all pre-requisite training in their chosen field prior to reaching CRA.

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.

To qualify for entry into the Specialist Reserve Dentist specialisation, you need to:

• be eligible for specialist registration as a Dentist with the Dental Board of Australia
• have a registration with no restrictions allowing you to practice in the Defence environment.

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.

There is no minimum number of years required in the ADF Reserve as service is voluntary. You can volunteer until the Defence retirement age of 65, subject to the requirements and your suitability for further service.

Reserve service is flexible and can fit around your family, life and work responsibilities. You choose your level of commitment ranging from a minimum of 20 days and up to 150 days per year, with the potential to extend to 200 days. In your first year, this includes both Initial Employment and Military Training. On training completion, you can serve from as little as a couple of days a week, one weekend a month or in consecutive weeks - in a way that suits your lifestyle.

Course: Specialist Reserve Officer Induction Course
Duration: 5 days
Location: RAAF Base East Sale, Vic

This course will provide you with general service knowledge, including:

• Air Force customs
• mess etiquette
• air power studies
• organisation of the ADF
• basic practical instruction in drill movements.

Course: Operational Health Support Course
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: Health Operational Conversion Unit (HOCU), RAAF Base Amberley, Qld

This course includes a 4-day field phase and will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to deploy an operational health support facility. Subjects include:

• Operational Health Support
• instruction on the various levels of health support available
• personal and collective preparation for deployment
• logistics and administrative considerations
• establishing and running a deployed health facility.

Course: Dental Officer Initial Course (DOIC)
Duration: 14 days
Location: ADF Dental School (ADFDS), HMAS Cerberus, Vic

The DOIC inducts newly appointed ADF Dental Officers. This course is designed to build on existing dental knowledge but also provides a number of additional skills required by a Dental Officer in the ADF. In this course you’ll learn:

• advanced life support
• manage relative analgesia
• maxillofacial trauma and eyelet wiring
• tri and single service briefs
• Junior Dental Officer administrative and documentation requirements
• infection control and bench top sterilising.

Course: Aviation Dental Officer (AVDO)
Duration: 4 days
Location: Institute of Aviation Medicine (IAM), RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA

This course will provide you with the skills to be an Aviation Dental Officer (AVDO). You’ll become capable of assessing and managing the health of ADF aircrew, provide advice on aviation medicine topics, and health support to ADF flying operations.

You’ll be offered further employment training to conduct your role as required. This training may include both military and civilian training courses.