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defencejobs.gov.au/airforce/jobs/AirCombatOfficer
Document generated on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 10:52:21 PM

Air Combat Officer

• Full Time Let your military aviation career soar with this exciting position as a master of
• ADFA
the most sophisticated and advanced airborne electronic systems and sensors in
Australia.

Job Details
The next 10 years will see significant changes in the Air Force as the Service transitions to a networked
force. The Air Force seeks to translate an information advantage, enabled in part by information
technology, into a competitive warfighting advantage through the robust networking of well informed
geographically dispersed forces. The networked Air Force will require highly motivated and professional
aircrew officers to make real time command and control decisions in a 3-dimensional environment,
effectively being a mission manager who will ensure the mission is successfully completed in the most
efficient, safe manner.

In order to reap the benefits of common skill sets and to enhance shared approaches to networked
warfare, the Air Force has established a new officer specialisation called Air Combat Officer (ACO). This
new officer specialisation will provide the people to operate new Air Force capabilities and comprises
personnel from the previous categories of Air Defence Officer, Navigator and Airborne Electronics Officer.

Following graduation from initial employment training, ACOs will be streamed into one of three specific
areas of employment; Air Battle Management (ABM), Air Combat or Combat Air Lift and Maritime Patrol
and Response (MPR). The specific roles undertaken by ACOs within each stream are detailed below.

Air Battle Management

ACOs selected for employment within the ABM stream will perform surveillance and control duties using
complex electronic command and control systems in both the ground and air environments. You will
operate as part of a team in the Air Defence Ground Environment (ADGE) or in the airborne environment
on board the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft. Regardless of the environment, you
will operate technically advanced systems including radar, communications, tactical data links and
electronic support measures in the accomplishment of your assigned mission. Throughout the conduct of
your mission you will operate these systems to detect, locate and identify air and surface targets and
disseminate this information using a number of different communication and information systems.

Air Combat
ACOs selected for the Air Combat stream will be employed as aircrew on the F/A-18F Super Hornet. In
the Super Hornet, teamed up with the Pilot, you will operate state of the art mission systems including
aircraft systems, electronic warfare equipment, sensors including radar and infra red targeting systems
and weapons. Roles of the Super Hornet are varied and complex in nature and include air-to-air combat,
air-to-ground and air-to-surface weapons employment. You will be at the heart of Australia's Air Combat
Capability.

Combat Air Lift

ACOs selected for the Combat Air Lift stream will fly the C-130H Hercules. In the C-130H Hercules you
will work with the crew to tactically direct and coordinate the aircraft to ensure mission success.
Operating onboard systems such as radar, sensors and communications, you will perform a variety of
roles including low level tactical transport, troop insertion, disaster relief, search and rescue and special
operations tasking.

Maritime Patrol and Response

ACOs selected for employment within the MPR stream will perform the duties of a mission commander,
otherwise known as a Tactical Coordinator (TACCO) on board the AP-3C Orion. You will operate as part
of a crew performing a variety of missions including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,
both over the land and sea. To put it simply, you're an integral part of a team with responsibility for
the defence of Australia's sea-gap. You're involved in search and rescue operations, the detection and
identification of warships, illegal maritime activity and merchant shipping. You will also conduct
anti-submarine and surface unit warfare, as well as providing critical intelligence directly to ground
forces.

The Future

In the future, ACOs will also be needed to transition emerging capabilities such as Space, Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Joint Terminal Attack Control. ACOs will continue to provide essential support
and direction to assist in transitioning capabilities that they might not be directly employed in such as the
Joint Strike Fighter. ACOs, together with Pilots, will make up an Air Force Battle-space Command and
Control personnel group who will be responsible for the direct application of air power in any theatre of
operations on a global scale.

ACOs, together with Pilots, are not only the air warriors of today, they are the future leaders of the Air
Force.

Entry
Many of the officer employment specialisations in the Air Force are available to people without a degree
qualification. Although the occupations listed under Officer do not require a degree, we find that a
significant number of applicants are degree qualified.

Officer entrants typically join the Air Force direct from Year 12 at school, university or civil employment
and proceed directly to the Officers' Training School at RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria, to undertake the
Initial Officer Course.
Following graduation from initial officer training, officers undertake specialist training before moving on
to full employment in their chosen specialisation in the Air Force.

Pay & Allowances

You will be appointed as an Officer Cadet (OFFCDT) upon joining the Air Force and receive the following
salary while undertaking Military (Initial Officer) Training and Employment Training:

Degree Qualified: $41,602 per year ($1,596 per fortnight).*

Non-degree Qualified: $36,707 per year ($1,408 per fortnight).*

While under training, you will also receive $8,742 per year ($335 per fortnight) Trainee Allowance.

Salary on completion of Military (Initial Officer) Training and Employment Training: $52,124 per year
($1,999 per fortnight).*

Uniform Allowance at a rate of $682 per year ($26 per fortnight) is paid to assist members to maintain
an approved scale of uniforms in good order and condition.

In addition to your salary, you will also receive Service Allowance of $11,662 per year ($447 per
fortnight) except while undertaking Military (Initial) or Employment training. This allowance compensates
a member for the unique requirements that service life may impose on an individual and his or her
family.

Salary will continue to increase based on rank and the number of years of service completed in that rank,
and/or on the achievement of various competencies.

Refer to the Salary Scales for further information.

* Note: These figures do not include compulsory deductions for taxation; meals, accommodation and
utilities (as applicable); or superannuation.

General Requirements

Age Requirement
Applicants must be a minimum of 17 years of age on day of entry.

Applicants will not normally be allowed to enter the ADF until they achieve a minimum of 17 years of
age, however they may be able to initiate the application process from 16 years and six months of age,
depending upon the capacity of their local recruiting centre.

Maximum age on entry is 51 years of age.

Citizenship Requirement
Only Australian citizens are permitted to serve in the ADF.

If you are a Permanent Resident of Australia, the ADF may consider a temporary waiver of the citizenship
requirement if the position for which you are applying cannot be filled by an applicant who meets all the
citizenship requirements, and then only in exceptional circumstances. You will be required to obtain
Australian citizenship as early as possible following enlistment or appointment.

More information on citizenship requirements and the citizenship waiver process is available from the
Recruitment Centre and your local Defence Force Recruiting Centre.

Security Requirement
The Department of Defence requires ADF entrants to obtain a security clearance appropriate to their
avenue of entry.

A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and, as required, interviews enables
the Regional Security Office to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a security
clearance.

Current policy requires applicants for this particular avenue of entry to have lived in Australia for the
preceding 10 years, or have a checkable background for this period.

Aptitude Requirement
The application process to join the Australian Defence Force requires you to complete a series of aptitude
tests including verbal, spatial and numerical ability and a general maths test. Some jobs may also need
additional testing at a later date.

Psychology support staff will explain what is involved with each test.

The aptitude tests provide information about your suitability for the Defence Force and for particular
jobs. Defence Force Recruiting can then help you identify jobs that match your abilities.

Further information on the aptitude testing requirements can be found here.

Education Requirements
Candidates must have completed Year 12 with passes in English (South Australian applicants may
achieve a pass at Year 11 English and a pass in a language rich subject at Year 12), Mathematics
(Tertiary Entrance Level) plus two other academic subjects. If a physical science subject is not included
in the 'two other subjects' at Year 12 level, a pass at Year 11 in a subject such as Physics, Chemistry or
multi-strand science is required.

'Mathematics in Society' or similarly modified Mathematics subjects are not acceptable

Medical & Fitness Requirements
To be enlisted or appointed, you must be medically and physically fit for entry to your chosen
occupation. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your
medical history, followed by a physical examination.

You will also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness test before enlistment.

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
Air Combat Officers will be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 8 years.
Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability
for further service.

You may tender your resignation at any time provided you do not have an outstanding Initial Minimum
Period of Service obligation and provide a minimum of three months notice.

Military Training
Initial Officer Course - 16 Weeks

Immediately upon joining the Air Force, direct entry officers will normally undertake the Initial Officer
Course of 16 weeks duration. This is a live-in course completed at RAAF Base East Sale, located 220
kilometres east of Melbourne (VIC).

The major elements of the course involve introduction to military life, Air Force Values and attitudes,
Ground Defence and Weapons training, Leadership and Personal Development, Communication Skills and
Air Force Operations studies.

Further details on officer training are available on the Officers Training School website or refer to the
Joining Instructions. The information on the website and in the Joining Instructions will provide you
and your family with enough information to arrange your personal affairs before appointment in the Air
Force and give you an overview of the structure and requirements of the Initial Officer Course.

During Military (Initial Officer) Training and (Initial) Employment Training (if applicable), members may
be required to pay a contribution towards meals, accommodation and utilities.

Employment Training
ACO employment training is conducted at the School of Air Warfare (SAW) at RAAF Base East Sale,
Gippsland, Victoria. ACO students will first undertake the ACO common course which is around 26 weeks
in length and covers training and assessment in the ground and airborne environments. In the ground
environment, students will be instructed in ground school theory subjects, and perform practical
exercises in simulators. In the air, students will receive around 22 hours of flying instruction in the Beech
Super King Air 350 aircraft.

The major components of the common course include:

Aviation Fundamentals;
Mission Systems Management;
Mission Command;
Fundamentals of Air Power;
Basic Air Campaign planning; and
Future Air and Space Operating Concepts.

Following completion of the ACO common course, students will be streamed into one of three specialist
modules. These are Air Battle Management (ABM), Maritime Patrol and Response (MPR) and Air Combat
and Combat Air Lift

Air Battle Management

ACO students streamed to ABM will relocate to the Surveillance and Control Training Unit (SACTU)
located at RAAF Williamtown, near Newcastle, NSW. At SACTU, ACO students will undertake 14 weeks of
training in the fundamentals of air surveillance and fighter control. Following graduation from specialist
training, all students will return to SAW for final graduation as an ACO, where they will be presented with
the ACO "Southern-Cross" brevet.

Maritime Patrol and Response

ACO students streamed MPR will remain at SAW to complete the 14 week specialist MPR module which
comprises of a further 50 hours of flying training in the Beech Super King Air 350 aircraft. Training
provided during this specialist module will expose ACO students to the nature and type of operational
missions flown in the maritime environment. Following graduation from specialist training, all students
will graduate as an ACO, and be presented with the ACO "Southern-Cross" brevet.

Air Combat and Combat Air Lift

ACO students streamed ACTS will remain at SAW to complete the 14 week specialist ACTS module which
comprises of a further 38 hours of flying training in the Beech Super King Air 350 aircraft. Training
provided during this specialist module will expose ACO students to the nature and type of operational
missions performed by fast jets and tactical transport aircraft. Following graduation from specialist
training, all students will graduate as an ACO, and be presented with the ACO "Southern-Cross" brevet.

Graduates of ACO training will have 'demonstrated the potential to apply combat air power and command
air combat missions'. The “Southern-Cross” brevet signifies the ACO’s role in the direct application of air
power.

Further Training
Following ACO course, graduates who are posted to the F/A-18F, C-130H or AP-3C aircraft, will complete
operational conversion training. Air Battle Management graduates will be posted to 3 Control and
Reporting Unit (CRU) and will immediately commence operational Air Battle Management duties:
 ACTS-Fast Jet graduates will first complete introductory fast jet training on the Hawk aircraft at
79SQN, RAAF Base Pearce. Following this, F/A-18F conversion training will be conducted. F/A-18F
training is still being developed and at this stage, no details are available;
ACTS-Transport graduates will complete C-130H conversion training over 14 weeks at 285SQN,
RAAF Base Richmond;
MPR graduates will complete AP-3C operational conversion training which is conducted over 6
months at 292SQN, RAAF Edinburgh; and
ABM graduates will complete a 6-12 month consolidation period at 3CRU, RAAF Base Williamtown
performing operational Air Battle Management duties. Following this consolidation period, ABM
ACOs will be eligible for:
AEW&C (Wedgetail) operational conversion training conducted over 6 to 8 months at 2SQN,
RAAF Williamtown;
114MCRU operational conversion training conducted over 2 weeks at RAAF Darwin; and
RSU operational conversion training conducted over 4 to 5 weeks at RAAF Edinburgh.
ACOs will also continue to develop professional combat air power and command skills throughout their
career. This will be achieved through operational experience, Professional Military Education and Training
events and facilitated self-learning.

Employment Location
Initial ACO employment locations are dependent upon the chosen stream for the individual and
operational posting requirements:
ACOs training on Hawk aircraft; will be posted to RAAF Pearce (Perth, WA);
ACOs posted to F/A-18F aircraft will be located at RAAF Amberley (Brisbane, QLD);
ACOs posted to C-130H aircraft will be located at RAAF Richmond (Sydney, NSW)
ACOs posted to AP-3C aircraft will be located at RAAF Edinburgh (Adelaide, SA);
ACOs posted to AEW&C aircraft will be located at RAAF Williamtown (Newcastle, NSW);
ACOs posted to 3 CRU will be located at RAAF Williamtown (Newcastle, NSW);
ACOs posted to 114MCRU will be located at RAAF Darwin (Darwin, NT); and
ACOs posted to 1RSU will be located at RAAF Edinburgh (Adelaide, SA).
Following an operational tour, ACOs can be employed at almost any location across the country or
overseas.

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