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defencejobs.gov.au/airforce/jobs/AirfieldEngineerOfficer
Document generated on Friday, 11 December 2015 at 12:47:17 AM

Airfield Engineer Officer

A unique chance to broaden your engineering, management and logistics skills working for a large
organisation with branches Australia-wide.

Job Details
The mission of the Air Force Airfield Engineering Specialisation is to provide appropriate infrastructure
for the conduct and sustainment of effective combat and related air operations to the Air Force. To
achieve this mission the Airfield Engineering Specialisation requires the ability to deploy both onshore
and overseas to provide their vital enabling functions for the projection of Air Force's core air power
capability.
The Airfield Engineering Organisation provides advice to the wider Air Force on infrastructure issues
including the following:
Provision, protection and regeneration of air bases;
Ability to rapidly deploy to, assess, prepare, maintain and regenerate both onshore and offshore
military and civilian airfields;
Protection and sustainment of air power; and
Provision of infrastructure and expertise for passive defence and physical security to airfields.
As an Airfield Engineering Officer you will perform a broad range of engineering and military roles and
hold significant responsibility. Using specialist military and technical civil engineering expertise you will
be involved in management, delivery, assessment, maintenance, repair, regeneration and operation of
the Air Force airfields, roads, buildings and engineering services. These activities are performed regularly
on deployments to temporary and permanent airfields during expeditionary operations. Such activities
could also be undertaken at any of the major RAAF Bases and at isolated temporary RAAF airfields or
construction sites within Australia.
You will be working with a wide and varied workforce including RAAF tradesmen from plumbing,
electrical, carpentry, plant operation and works supervision backgrounds, along with civilian contractors.
Numerous posting opportunities exist in various areas including infrastructure/airfield assessment, estate
planning, weapons effects on structures, construction management and management of mobile
engineering teams.
After you complete Initial Officer Training, time and circumstances permitting you you may be placed in
an Airfield Engineering Flight to gain exposure to a variety of job roles and exercises before commencing
your employment training. On completion of your employment training you will be posted to new roles
every 2-3 years. As a junior Airfield Engineering Officer you will experience various roles (discussed in
greater detail below) including: a Base or Staff Engineering Officer position; Flight Commander of an
Airfield Engineering flight; work delivering major facilities projects; and specific engineering based
specialist positions. From this experience, you will develop as a competent engineering leader with
increasing levels of responsibility along the way.

Duties of an Airfield Engineer (AFENG)

Across the spectrum of Airfield Engineering roles, the duties of an Airfield Engineer can include:

provide airfield infrastructure to meet required operational capability;

Understand basic airfield planning requirements and techniques;
Manage Engineering works in support of deployed operations;
Assess airfields including pavement integrity;
Manage engineering infrastructure for point of entry airfields;
Deliver facilities works;
Develop facilities works;
Review infrastructure development proposals;
Review works proposals;
Input weapon system master planning status;
Participate in airfield inspections on RAAF Bases, and undertake airfield inspections on
non-defence airfields;
Represent the RAAF on infrastructure and utilities issues for natural disaster planning;
Perform contingency planning;
Develop, exercise and review, contingency plans for base passive defence, including the
identification of resource options;
Participate in exercise planning with particular emphasis on Airfield Engineering;
Plan defence aid to the civil community;
Assist in the preparation of base disaster plans;
Perform pre and post exercise evaluation with respect to airfield infrastructure and engineering;
Plan for contingency maintenance of plant and equipment;
Manage construction stores;
Perform strategic estate planning;
Produce plans in accordance with endorsed strategic planning guidance; and
Prioritise defence assets to meet strategic guidance requirements.
Employment conditions range from office based administratively oriented employment where specialist
military and Airfield Engineering skills and competencies may be employed in such activities as planning
and policy formulation. At the other end of the spectrum employment could be at an operational Airfield
Engineering Unit with tradespersons and plant operators, where the majority of the Air Force's Airfield
Engineering physical capabilities reside and are utilised and exercised. All junior officers in the Airfield
Engineering category should expect at least one posting to an operational Airfield Engineering unit.
Roles of an Airfield Engineering Officer
The specific roles of an Air Field Engineering Officer include:
Base Airfield Engineering Officer:
The Air Force has Airfield Engineering Officers on most of the main Operational Air Bases. The role of
these Officers is to be familiar with the Airfield Engineering infrastructure required to support air
operations. The Airfield Engineering Officers are responsible for ensuring the functionality and
development, familiarity and exercising of the airfield and other base infrastructure, with a focus on
operational capability.
The Base Airfield Engineering Officer acts as a specialist adviser to the Base Commander. Duties include:

act as a specialist adviser to the Base Commander;

maintain a working knowledge of the airfield infrastructure;
determine works priorities;
act as a specialist officer in the Base Command Post;
implement standing instructions;
liaise with Service Provider Programs and contractors;
identify facilities requirements;
negotiate delivery of works;
assess engineering works requirements; and

 maintain and restore base engineering systems and infrastructure during exercises and
contingencies.
Facilities Management within Defence Support and Reform Group (DSRG):
A Staff Officer in the DSRG, may be appointed as a Project Officer for individual capital new works
projects, participate in the preparation of plans and programming for building, civil and
mechanical/electrical engineering projects and also assist in the formulation of policy. Extensive liaison
with design and construction organisations and other Government bodies, as well as interstate travel is
involved in these duties.
Personnel posted to DSRG will be required as an expansion force in times of contingency and exercises,
when they will be employed in operational positions associated with Airfield Engineering.
The key areas are that of project delivery, plans and regional operations. General descriptions of some
of the activities undertaken in these areas are outlined below:

Strategic facilities planning;

Proposal development and analysis;
Detailed project development;
Project delivery;
Regional planning;
Master planning;
Initiation of reinvestment proposals;
Land use assessments; and
Provide specialist technical Airfield Engineering advice on Explosive Ordinates Safeguarding and
airfield pavements.
Commander of an Airfield Engineering Flight:
Airfield Engineering Flights are located at Townsville (QLD) and Richmond (NSW), with a Headquarters
contingent at Townsville.
The Flight Commander is responsible for the training and development of construction teams to cater for
deployments overseas and military exercises. Construction projects, such as aircraft hangars and base
camps are often undertaken in remote locations such as Learmonth (WA) and Curtin (WA). Additionally,
new works projects may be undertaken at any RAAF establishment.
The primary role of the Airfield Engineering Flights is to provide engineering and facilities services and
maintenance wherever the RAAF deploys its people and aircraft. Training in Battle Damage Repair to
airfields, in conjunction with Army Engineers is also undertaken.
Staff Officer at a Headquarters:
Staff Officers provide specialist Airfield Engineering advice to commanders in a variety of environments,
including headquarters and training establishments.
Any officer roles: Officers in the Air Force may also undertake a posting to an Any-officer role at some
stage during their careers. Examples include instructor/training roles and staff officer roles. This helps to
broaden the skill set of an Engineering Officer in preparation for more senior roles.
General Details of an Air Base
To enable the Air Force to meet its mission of being able to 'prepare for, conduct and sustain effective
Air Operations to promote Australia's security', the Air Force depends on a huge geographically
dispersed organisation with an intricate infrastructure. Airfield Engineering Officers, together with their
associated non-commissioned specialists are involved in the management, delivery, assessment, repair,
regeneration and operation of this infrastructure.

The Air Force's infrastructure consists of nine major Operational Air Bases, three Bare Bases, two
Command Headquarters, ammunition depots, numerous exercise areas, air weapons ranges and other
minor establishments. The facilities (land, buildings, permanent installations and engineering services)
which constitute this infrastructure consist of many elements.
Components of an Air Base
Large Operational Air Bases are expected to support up to three thousand personnel during normal
operations and many more during contingencies and have the following range of facilities:
Aircraft Operations:
aircraft pavements and aprons;
an air traffic control tower;
a fire station;
air navigation aids;
an engine run-up area;
avionics repair and calibration workshops;
weapons ranges;
fuel installations;
fuel delivery systems; and
ordnance storage and preparation areas.
Administrative Support:
headquarters buildings;
a medical/dental centre;
motor transport operations;
command, control and communication facilities;
aircraft passenger and cargo handling facilities; and
warehousing and equipment distribution facilities.
Engineering Services:
an emergency power station;
local emergency generators;
uninterrupted power supply systems;
an electrical reticulation system;
a sewage farm and reticulation system;
roads and carparks;
water storage and reticulation;
fire detection and suppression systems;
security systems; and
telecommunication system.
Engineering Support:
aircraft maintenance workshops; and
general engineering works.
Community and Recreational:
playing fields;
swimming pools;
gymnasiums;
schools;
churches; and
cinemas.
Residential:
sleeping accommodation; and
messes (hotel and recreational facilities services).

Entry

The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) is designed to provide young Officer Cadets from all
three Services (Navy, Army, Air Force) with the finest tertiary education in Australia.
ADFA is a College of the University of New South Wales and officers graduate with a University of New
South Wales degree. ADFA offers degrees in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil and Aeronautical),
Science, Arts, Business and Technology.
Engineering students will undertake a four-year degree (with the possibility of undertaking an honours
year at the end of this time for some students).
The following details Air Force degree requirements by Specialisation:

Aeronautical Engineer: BE (Aero or Mech);

Electronics Engineer: BE (Elec);
Armament Engineer: BE (Mech, Aero, Elec);
Airfield Engineer: BE (Civil);
Pilot: BSc, BA, BTech (Aero), BTech (Avn), BBus;
Logistics Officer: BBus, BA;
Administration Officer: BBus, BA (Business);
Intelligence Officer: BA, BSc, BTech (Aero), BBus;
AirCombat Officer: BA, BSc, BTech (Aero), BTech (Avn), BBus; and
Joint Battlefield Airspace Controller (Air Traffic Control): BA, BSc, BTech (Aero), BTech (Avn),
BBus.
It is the Academy's philosophy to provide cadets with every possible resource and opportunity to help
them do their best, which in turn helps the Academy and its graduates live up to the maxim "To lead. To
Excel".
You are paid to study at ADFA and receive a textbook allowance, free medical and dental treatment,
free uniforms and Higher Education Contribution Scheme payments are met by the ADF. In addition, you
are guaranteed a job as an Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force when you graduate. While you are
studying, you will enjoy one of the best student/teacher ratios in the country and have access to
state-of-the-art technology and facilities on campus dedicated to giving you the best academic and
military qualifications possible.
But academic pursuits are just a part of being a student at ADFA. There's also the military studies,
fitness training, leadership and management skills you'll develop.
The first academic year essentially consists of the following components:
1 week Orientation;
4 weeks Academy Military Education and Training (AMET);

Full Time
ADFA

1 week Chief of the Defence Force Parade;

16 weeks Session 1 academic studies (This period includes a 2 week recess of career development and
field trips which can be either academic or military in nature);
2 weeks mid-year examinations, followed by two weeks Single Service Training (SST) at HMAS Creswell
(Navy), Royal Military College, Duntroon (Army) or Officer Training School, RAAF Base East Sale (RAAF);
14 weeks Session 2 academic studies (This period includes a 1 week study recess);
2 weeks study and end of year examinations;
3 weeks SST at respective Single Service Colleges;
1 week - Graduation; and

5 weeks end of year leave.

Breaks during the year provide scope for academic field trips, military tours, excursions and adventurous
training. Military training is also provided in Defence Studies, which include Current Affairs, Military
History, Physical and Recreational Training. You will also take your place in Drill and Ceremonial Parades
throughout the year.
Note: During 2nd and 3rd year, Single Service Training normally takes place at the beginning and end of
each academic year and includes, for example, Ground Defence Training, Management and Operations
theory and practice, Navigation and Single Service Drill and Ceremonial. It may also include Specialist
Courses, visits to Military Units and opportunities for Service Attachments or Engineering Work
Experience.

Pay & Allowances

First year of training: $30,003 per year ($1,154 per fortnight).*
Second year of training: $35,458 per year ($1,364 per fortnight).*
Third year of training: $40,913 per year ($1,573 per fortnight).*
While under training, you will also receive $9,888 per year pro rata ($380 per fortnight) Trainee
Allowance.
On successful completion of your third year of study you will be promoted to Pilot Officer and receive a
salary of $54,551 per year ($2,098 per fortnight).*
To assist you in maintaining your uniforms in good order and condition, you will receive a Uniform
Allowance of $419 per year ($16 per fortnight). This increases to $682 per year ($26 per fortnight) after
commissioning.
Salary (excluding allowances) on completion of academic, military and employment training will be:
$62,323 per year ($2,397 per fortnight).*
In addition to your salary, you will receive Service Allowance of $13,184 per year ($507 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.
Your salary will continue to increase based on your rank and the number of years of service completed
in that rank. Your pay grade may increase following the acquisition of additional skills and completion of
further training. Refer to the Salary Scales for further details.
Trainees with dependants may be entitled to Trainee's Dependant Allowance which is paid to enable
trainees with dependants to receive a salary not less than $43,766 per year ($1,679 per fortnight) while
training. Conditions apply. Speak to your Careers Counsellor for details.
* 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 of age, depending upon
the capacity of their local recruiting centre.
Maximum age on entry is50 years of age.
Maximum age guidelines are set to ensure Return of Service Obligations (ROSO) are met prior to the
compulsory retirement age of 60.

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 require you to complete 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 best match your abilities.
Further information on the aptitude testing requirements can be found here.

Education & Experience

To be eligible for admission to UNSW@ADFA, applicants must have completed Year 12 and obtained an
entrance rank high enough to qualify for entry to the relevant degree program.
Further information on studying at ADFA is available here.
Assumed Knowledge Requirements
Assumed Knowledge is the level of subject knowledge that a lecturer or a tutor of a first year
UNSW@ADFA course could reasonably expectof students enrolled in that course.
Assumed Knowledge is fundamental to the assessment of whether or not an applicant is likely to
succeed andis taken into account by the ADF (during the recruiting process) and by UNSW@ADFA when
assessing the application.
The specific Year 12 subjects that currently satisfy the UNSW@ADFA Assumed Subject Knowledge
requirements for engineering applicants are (by State):
ACT: Majors in English, Mathematical Methods andPhysics.Chemistry desirable;
NSW: 2-Unit English; Mathematics (previously called NSW 2 Unit Mathematics), 2-Unit Physics
or 2-Unit Senior Science (Multi-strand, including Physics) and 2-Unit Chemistry (desirable) or
2-Unit Senior Science (Multi-strand, including Chemistry) (desirable);
QLD: English, Mathematics B and Physics. Chemistry is desirable;
SA/NT: English (or Year 11 plus Year 12 Language-rich subject), Mathematical Studies and
Physics. Chemistry is desirable;
TAS: One of the TCE English Group Choices; Mathematics Methods 5C and Physics 5C.
Chemistry 5C is desirable;
VIC: One of the VCE English Group Choices, Mathematical Methods 3 & 4 and VCE Physics. VCE
Chemistry is desirable; and
WA: English Literature or English, Mathematics (Calculus or Mathematics 3DMAT) and Physics.
Chemistry is desirable.
Requirements are expressed as a minimum.
In States where Year 12 English may be replaced by a Humanities subject for the purposes of meeting
Year 12 certificate requirements, the Assumed Knowledge is Year 11 English plus a Year 12 Humanities
subject.
Note: All applicants for undergraduate programs at ADFA must also apply to the Universities Admissions
Centre (NSW and ACT) for entry to the University of New South Wales. The Universities Admissions
Centre website is http://www.uac.edu.au
ADF Service Requirements
You should be aware that in addition to the UNSW @ ADFA Assumed Subject Knowledge requirements,
there may be some Year 12 subjects that are ADF Service requirements.

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 toPhysical Fitness Standards for
Entry into the ADF and Medical Process for Entry into the ADF.

Period of Service
You will be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of seven 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.
Defence Academy Entry Officers become liable to an IMPS from appointment into the ADF. However, the
Services will allow you to resign at any time up to the end of either the first or second year of academic
studies.

Additional Requirements
Applicants must have held a provisional Aust C class licence for 12 months at the time of ADFA
graduation.

Military Training
Upon joining the Academy, cadets undertake six weeks of military training to prepare them for Service
life. They are normally required to complete this six-week period before any resignations will be
accepted. On completion of this period the annual Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Parade is held prior to
the commencement of the Academic year.
During the academic year, six hours per week are allocated to military training. This consists of Academy
Military Education and Training (AMET) for all three Services as well as Single Service Training (SST).
SST blocks are held at the beginning and end of the year. The SST program is intended to provide
cadets with equivalent skills to the Initial Officers Course.
Subjects covered during AMET include studies in defence, psychology and leadership, drug and alcohol
awareness, military law, physical and recreational training, military drill and ceremonial training,
weapons training, field training, character development, English and military communications, and study
skills.
Breaks during the year provide scope for academic field trips, military tours, excursions and adventurous
training (including five weeks at Officers Training School, East Sale, Victoria in Year 2 at the
Academy). Military training is also provided in Defence Studies, which include Current Affairs, Military
History, Physical and Recreational Training. You will also take your place in Drill and Ceremonial
Parades.
During Military (ADFA) Training and (Initial) Employment Training, members may be required to pay a
contribution towards meals, accommodation and utilities.

Employment Training
Initial employment training for Airfield Engineers is undertaken in conjunction with the Australian Army
School of Military Engineering in Sydney.
Royal Australian Engineers Regimental Officer Basic Course:13 Weeks

Location: Army School of Military Engineering at Moorebank, NSW.

The intent of the course is to prepare new Airfield Engineer Officers to perform basic military civil
engineering activities.

Employment Location
As an Airfield Engineer you may be posted to QLD: Townsville, Amberley; NT: Darwin, Tindal; WA:
Pearce; SA: Edinburgh; VIC: Laverton, East Sale; ACT: Canberra; and NSW: Richmond, Nowra,
Glenbrook, Williamtown.
However, construction projects such as base camps and erection of temporary structures are often
undertaken in remote locations including Learmonth (WA), Curtin (WA), Townsville (QLD), Shoalwater
Bay (QLD) and Delamere Air Weapons Range (NT).

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