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Become an Officer
We all have the potential to lead, even if we don’t know it yet. When you take on an Officer role in the Army, you'll be trained to bring out the leader within.
Find the leader within
Army Officers are leaders, heading up a team of soldiers. In this role, you’ll earn their trust and respect, and motivate them to excel. You will learn leadership and management techniques that will serve you well both in and out of the Army. Following Officer training at the Royal Military College – Duntroon (RMC), you will receive vocational training specific to your role.
Benefits of officer training
World-class leadership training plus a fast-track to a great career is just the start. You'll also enjoy:
What are my options?
You can apply to be a 'General Service Officer' (GSO) with Year 12 qualifications, or a 'Specialist Service Officer' (SSO) with an appropriate degree in an area such as engineering or healthcare.
GSOs train for 18 months at the Royal Military College, while SSOs undertake up to 41 days of military and leadership training to prepare them for their roles.
If you’re still at uni, you may be able to have part of a degree paid for through the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) or Defence University Sponsorship (DUS). Find out about the ways you can join below, including the option of part-time Reserve work.
Eighteen months at RMC will equip you with the skills required to lead a platoon of soldiers in your assigned specialisation, which will be based on your preference, your performance, and competition for roles. It will be in one of these roles
- Armoured Officer
- Artillery Officer
- Helicopter Pilot
- Catering Officer
- Electrical and Mechanical Engineer
- Engineering Officer
- Infantry Officer
- Intelligence Officer
- Medical Officer
- Military Police Officer
- Ordnance Officer
- Signals Officer
- Transport Officer
At ADFA in Canberra you can study for a degree from the University of New South Wales, earn a salary while studying and graduate with no HELP debt. You'll undertake military training in parallel with your academic studies, so on graduation you'll only need to complete 12 months of officer training at RMC before starting your career.
Degrees offered include:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Business
- Bachelor of Engineering (various courses)
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Technology (various courses)
With a successful sponsorship application you can join the Army, have your remaining course fees paid and receive a salary while you complete your degree. Qualifying degrees fall into the following broad categories:
- Dentistry
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
After graduation you will undertake between nine and 41 days of military and leadership training during your first year of service (it varies by speciality) and receive ongoing personal and professional development. Find out if you are eligible for sponsorship:
If the officer role you're pursuing is not directly related to your degree, you'll need to undertake the full 18-month training course at RMC before being assigned to a specific branch of the Army. See the ‘enter with no degree’ section above for more information.
Less training is required if you are pursuing a role in one of the following fields and have a relevant degree. These vary from year to year so please check with your Career Coach.
- Business
- Chaplaincy
- Dentistry
- Engineering
- IT
- Law
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Psychology
As a Specialist Service Officer you’ll be able to utilise and expand your professional skills in a dynamic team environment. You will undertake between nine and 41 days of military and leadership training during your first year of service (it varies by speciality), receive ongoing personal and professional development, and may be given opportunities for postgraduate study.
The Army Reserve is for you if you want to gain extra training and experience in your profession, or challenge yourself with something completely different. You’ll gain leadership skills in an exciting team environment, as you undertake rewarding and worthwhile work that benefits your country.
Entry requirements, training periods and commitment vary by job, so please check individual job pages.
Where could it take me?
Gain leadership skills you can use anywhere.
A career as an Army Officer will expose you to new challenges and experiences on a daily basis, in barracks, across Australia and overseas. You’ll gain transferable skills you can use anywhere.