Howard Launches ADF Gap Year Recruitment Program

The Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson,
Minister for Defence

Get Ready For The Australian Defence Force Gap Year Program

Prime Minister John Howard today officially launched the ADF Gap Year program and invited young Australians to lodge their applications with Defence Force Recruiting.

The ADF Gap Year program represents a $306 million investment in the youth of Australia.

Prime Minister John Howard today officially launched the ADF Gap Year program and invited young Australians to lodge their applications with Defence Force Recruiting.

The ADF Gap Year program represents a $306 million investment in the youth of Australia and is part of the Government's $3.1 billion commitment to boosting ADF recruitment and retention.

While many Year 12 school leavers go straight into tertiary education and training, we know that about 34,000 of them each year take a break in their first year out of school to broaden their life experiences, gain skills or travel.

The ADF Gap Year offers these young people an alternative way of pursuing their 'Year 13' by serving in the Navy, Army, or Air Force where they will experience a different and exciting lifestyle. It represents a unique opportunity to undertake training, acquire transferable skills, gain independence, maturity and become self-reliant, all while being paid.

Importantly, the ADF Gap Year offers a 'try before you buy' taste of the ADF, without any obligation to serve beyond the 12-month program. In this way, young Australians are given an excellent introduction to service life without having to commit for four or more years.

Each of the Services has tailored their Gap Year programs to give participants a wide range of choice. A basic military training element is common to all, but Navy participants can expect to experience life onboard a ship as a sailor, while Army is offering a range of employment streams as a soldier from rifleman and gunner to clerical and logistics trades. Air Force participants will be exposed to a range of officer and airman employment categories.

While not all Gap Year participants will want to continue serving in the ADF, those that do may transfer to full-time military careers and training or return to the ADF later and receive a financial bonus, having completed their tertiary or vocational training. Some may also pursue part-time paid service in the Reserves.

I encourage all Year 12 school leavers to seriously consider the ADF Gap Year option. The skills they will gain in terms of teamwork, self-discipline, communication and access to emerging technologies will assist them in their future studies and will be valued highly by prospective employers.

All this while earning between $30,000 and $46,000 over the year.

Defence Force Recruiting is accepting ADF Gap Year applications now, for entry later this year or early in 2008. More information is available at www.defencejobs.gov.au or by texting Gap to 13 19 01.

ENDS

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