Job/Training Understanding

Question 1

What is your Initial Minimum Period of Service? (IMPS)

Answer 1

3 years, 2 years of sponsorship and an additional year

Question 2

What are some of the responsibilities of the Service that you are applying for? (AIRFORCE)

Answer 2

o Defending Australia and its interests:
 They control the air
 They acquire intelligence through reconnaissance and surveillance
 Provide air mobility for all operational needs
 Support combat missions through a stroke capability
o Provide a force for protection, rescue and disaster relief:
 Supporting international security and counter-terrorism initiatives
 Protect borders from illegal activity and incursions
 Carry out search and rescue missions
 Support peacekeeping operations
 Help communities affected by natural disasters
o Support peak strategic capability:
 Operate some of the most technically advanced aircraft in the skies
 Deploy cutting edge intelligence and communications technology
 Employ Australia’s best and brightest men and women
 Train, educate and reward personnel to perform at their peak

Question 3

What are some of the responsibilities of the Service that you are applying for? (ARMY)

Answer 3

o Help communities and support international operations:
 Support international security and counter-terrorism initiatives
 Protecting borders from illegal activity and incursions
 Supporting humanitarian and peacekeeping operations
 Help communities affected by natural disasters
o Adapting to complex strategic environments:
 Army constantly evolves to meet these complex challenges
 Maintain ability to deploy effectively when required to
 Invest in latest military technology and provide world-class training to ensure personnel are equipped with correct skills
o Protect the interests of Australia and our people:
 Army promotes and protect’s Australia’s interests, deters threats to Australia’s sovereignty and if necessary defeats them
 Provide formidable military capability built upon service, courage, respect, integrity and excellence combined with use of cutting-edge weapons, vehicles and military technology

Question 4

Why do the services have values?

Answer 4

• Service: The selflessness of character to place the security and interests of our nation and its people ahead of my own.
• Courage: The strength of character to say and do the right thing, always, especially in the face of adversity.
• Respect: The humanity of character to value others and treat them with dignity.
• Integrity: The consistency of character to align my thoughts, words and actions to do what is right
• Excellence: The willingness of character to strive each day to be the best I can be, both professionally and personally.
• To always remain humble in service
• You can’t join the defence force or air force in search of glory or trying to be a hero, you join it out of the privilege of being able to protect your country, help those in need and provide support where necessary
• It allows us to act with a purpose as people find belonging and purpose when working in a team
• Be adaptable, innovative and agile.
• Collaborate and be team-focused.
• Be accountable and trustworthy.
• Reflect, learn and improve.
• Be inclusive and value others.

Question 5

What is the Initial Military Training (IMT): Location, Duration, Course Content? (AIRFORCE)

Answer 5

o Initial officer training takes 1 week and an additional 17 weeks after that
o During the first year of sponsorship you are sent to attend a one-week familiarisation course at RAAF Base East Sale, VIC which introduces us to basic military protocols and procedures
o Following graduation the 17week officer course begins where you learn about AF values and attitudes and engage in:
 Ground defence and weapons training
 Leadership and personal development
 Communication skills and
 Air Force operations

Question 6

What is the Initial Military Training (IMT): Location, Duration, Course Content? (ARMY)

Answer 6

o The Specialist Service Officer (SSO) Course is conducted at the Oryal Military College- Duntroon (RMC-D) and provides ARA and Ares SSO with fundamental knowledge of:
 Leadership
 command and control
 unit and personnel administration
 basic military skills
 The ideals of officer behaviour and attitudes necessary for future employment
o The ARA course is 42 days of training and currently conducted in the first half of the training year
o On arrival, all trainees are required to participate in an Initial Fitness Assessment (IFA)

Question 7

What is the Initial Employment Training (IET): Location, Duration, Course Content? (AIRFORCE)

Answer 7

o Upon completing the initial officer course you can practice as a nurse
o Before being considered for deployment a 3 week Health Officer Conversion Course will be undertaken along with two-three further courses during the first year of appointment
o Nurse Initial Course: 3 week
 Health Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Base Amberley (near Brisbane), QLD
o Operational Health Support course: 1 week
 Health Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Base Amberley, QLD
o Aviation Nurse course (desirable not compulsory): 2 weeks
 RAAF Institute of Aviation Medicine, RAAF Base Edinborough (near Adelaide), SA
o Further training:
 After confirmation of probationary appointment- nurses encouraged to increase professional knowledge by undertaking post-basic and post-grad courses and maintaining liaison with professional nursing organisations

Question 8

What is the Initial Employment Training (IET): Location, Duration, Course Content? (ARMY)

Answer 8

o The Logistics Officer Basic Course is 3 weeks
o After training at the RMC, you attend the Logistics Officer Basic course at ALTC Bandiana, Victoria
o The course will provide the necessary training and information to apply your professional skills in a military environment
o Further training:
 In the first 12 months of appointment you will undertake the Australian Defence Force Extended Practice Nursing (ADFEPN) course
 This is conducted at Army School of Health (ASH) and conducted in 2 parts
• Phase 1: 15 days
• Phase 2: 10 days
 Also expect to undertake additional training in military logistics at ALTC in the first 2 years
 Health units also interact with major medical facilities in each region to provide additional clinical skills and currency training for nurses

Question 9

What can you expect to be your day-to-day role once posted to your unit? (AIRFORCE)

Answer 9

o You may be helping communities in Australia and overseas or managing global aeromedical evacuation system
o One week could be providing perioperative care in modern medical facilities, and the next attending earthquake injuries under canvas
o Need to show both initiative and flexibility as you adapt to the dynamics of remote localities, new conditions and other challenges
o Carry out general nursing duties at hospitals and clinics, gaining valuable primary healthcare skills
o May be employed in inpatient care, outpatient care, health promotion, aeromedical evacuation, health eduction, facility management, operational deployments, deployed operating theatre duties, administration/staff roles, and unit command

Question 10

What can you expect to be your day-to-day role once posted to your unit? (ARMY)

Answer 10

o Registered General Nurses primarily deployed in health units, however there are opportunities for employment in primary healthcare facilities, in-patient facilities as well as roles in training, health management, administration and command and leadership
o When deployed, provide primary healthcare and immediate resuscitation in a pre-hospital detting
 Army has a certified surgical field hospital that can provide a comprehensive hospital capability
 These units deploy during combat, peace-keeping and humanitarian relief operations
o When not on exercises or operations, nurses focus on training for operations through a range of individual and group activities
 Opportunities to maintain clinical skills through employment on Defence bases delivery primary healthcare and low acuity in-patient care
 Programs available through which nurses are placed in major metropolitan hospitals to maintain higher order clinical skills
 Nurses also fill a range of key management, administrative and command positions which will develop skills and professional horizon