New changes for ADF recruits: Who’s now eligible

Australia is launching new changes to boost recruitment numbers in the Australian Defence Force from January 1. See what’s afoot.

Australia will launch a phone app to help Defence Force members and potential candidates track their fitness and access mental health supports as part of a broader effort to bolster dire recruitment figures, as the military also prepares to welcome British, US and Canadian citizens into the forces.

The “ADF Ready App” will be rolled out from January with an initial focus on helping Australians reach the fitness requirements for entry to the Navy, but will later be expanded to cover Army and Air Force in a move the federal government is hoping will reduce barriers to signing up as the nation remains woefully behind on its personnel targets.

The ADF needs to boost its numbers.

Defence has missed its recruitment goal every year since 2012, with total numbers currently about 59,194 – a figure that needs to reach 80,000 by 2040.

Another strategy to boost numbers will begin from January 1 when citizens from all Five Eyes countries will be able to sign up to the ADF if they have lived in Australia for at least one year immediately prior to applying.

The foreign recruits must pass Defence security vetting, and have not served in another country’s military within the last two years.

Australian Army soldiers in action.

If successful in joining the ADF, the foreign Defence members will be required to apply for Australian citizenship, for which they would be eligible after completing 90 days of service.

The government is also hopeful its ADF Ready App will not only help potential candidates pass their pre-entry fitness assessment, but also be used by current serving members to maintain their training, access mental health supports and assist with rehabilitation.

Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said the app’s launch coincided with a time when many people are considering a job move.

“With a new year comes a new opportunity to take a leap and try out a new career,” he said.

“Being paid to stay fit and healthy is one of the many benefits of joining the ADF, along with a range of other experiences, great pay and unique conditions.”

Minister for Veterans Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh. Picture: Michael Currie/Defence

Mr Keogh said serving ADF personnel would also be able to benefit from the app’s “accessible, evidence-based and personalised approach” to ensure they met their own regular fitness assessments, “as well as participate in physical conditioning to perform their role with the highest resilience and wellbeing”.

Mr Keogh said expanding ADF eligibility to citizens of other Five Eyes nations was one of the “innovative” approaches the government was taking “recruit, retain and grow a highly specialised and skilled workforce”.

New Zealand permanent residents have already been permitted to join since July 1 this year, with almost 400 people currently working their way through the application process.

Originally published as New changes for ADF recruits: Who’s now eligible