OSB Board

What it means to be an officer in the RAAF

• being a leader

• person to set an example

• inspiring and support team members to achieve goal

Why do I want to become an Officer?

• naturally gravitated toward leadership roles

• want to contribute to something that is much bigger than myself

• be apart of a team

• role allows me to combine leadership with purpose — both of which are very important to me.

What it means to be an officer in the RAAF

• being a leader

• person to set an example

• inspiring and support team members to achieve goal

Why do I want to become an Officer?

• naturally gravitated toward leadership roles

• want to contribute to something that is much bigger than myself

• be apart of a team

• role allows me to combine leadership with purpose — both of which are very important to me.

What can I contribute to the RAAF

• A willingness to learn

• Strong communication and Teamwork

• Dedication

• Leadership under pressure

Role of officers vs non-commissioned officers vs enlisted members

• Officers hold leadership and command positions, often with a focus on strategic planning and management

• NCOs are skilled leaders within their specific fields, bridging the gap between enlisted personnel and officers, and executing tactical plans

• Enlisted members focus on their trade specialties, providing the essential skills and expertise to support military operations

Qualities to make a good officer

• Effective Communication - Listens well and gives clear, respectful instructions. Keeps everyone informed.

• Respect- The humanity of character to value others and treat them with dignity.

• Adaptable - Can respond to change and unexpected challenges with a problem-solving mindset.

• Emotional Intelligence - Leaders need to be self-aware, empathize with others, and manage emotions effectively to build strong relationships and foster a positive team environment.

Qualities to make a bad officer

• Poor Communication - Gives unclear instructions, doesn’t listen, or is disrespectful. This leads to confusion and mistakes.

• Lack of Integrity - Dishonest, unreliable, or willing to cut corners. Can’t be trusted with responsibility.

• Indecisiveness - Struggles to make clear decisions, especially under pressure. Wastes time and loses confidence of the team.

Weaknesses

• Critical

• Hard on myself

Leadership vs Management

• Leadership is about inspiring and guiding people toward a vision

• Management focuses on organizing and coordinating resources to achieve specific goals.

Name the Leadership Styles

• Transformational: Leaders inspire, motivate, and empower their team members to exceed expectations and achieve their full potential

• Transactional: Leaders rely on system of rewards and consequences to motivate followers

• Democratic: Leaders involve team members in decision-making, fostering collaboration and engagement

• Autocratic: Leaders make decisions independently with little input from others, emphasizing control and efficiency

• Laissez-Faire: Leaders provide minimal direction, allowing teams to operate independently, which can be effective for self-motivated teams but can also lead to a lack of direction

Name these Airforce Ranks

Air Rank Officers

1. Air Chief Marshall

2. Air Marshall

3. Air Vice-Marshall

4. Air Commander

Name these Airforce Ranks

Senior Officers

1. Group Captain

2. Wing Commander

3. Squadron Leader

Name these Airforce Ranks

Junior Officers

1. Flight Lieutenant

2. Flying Officer

3. Pilot Officer

4. Officer Cadet

Name these Airforce Ranks

Senior Non-Commissioned Officers

1. Flight Sergeant

2. Sergeant

Name these Airforce Ranks

Non-Commissioned Officers

1. Corporal

Name these Airforce Ranks

Junior Airman

1. Leading Aircraftman/ Aircraftwoman

2. Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman

Name these Air Force Ranks

Non-Commissioned Officer Cadets under Training

1. Non-commissioned Officer Cadet

Name these Navy Ranks

1. Admiral

2. Vice Admiral

3. Rear Admiral

4. Commodore

Name these Navy Ranks

1. Captain

2. Commander

3. Chaplain

4. Lieutenant Commander

Name these Navy Ranks

1. Lieutenant

2. Sub Lieutenant

3. Acting Sub Lieutenant

4. Midshipman

Name these Navy Ranks

1. Warrant Officer of the Navy

2. Warrant Officer

3. Chief Petty Officer

4. Petty Officer

Name these Navy Ranks

1. Leading Seaman

2. Able Seaman

3. Seaman

Name these Army Ranks

1. General

2. Lieutenant General

3. Major General

Name these Army Ranks

1. Brigadier

2. Colonel

3. Lieutenant Colonel

Name these Army Ranks

1. Captain

2. Lieutenant

3. 2nd Lieutenant

Name these Army Ranks

1. Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army

Name these Army Ranks

1. Staff Sergeant

2. Sergeant

3. Corporal or Bombardier

4. Lance Corporal or Lance Bombardier

Name these Army Ranks

1. Private

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Pearce

• Role: pilot training base and has significant logostics role

• Unit:

  • No 2 Flying Training School

  • No 79 Squadron

  • No 453 Squadron Pearce flight air traffic control

  • No 25 (City of Perth) Squadron airbase operations

  • No 3 Security Forces Squadron Detachment Pearce

  • No 1 Expeditionary Health Squadron Detachment Pearce

  • Republic of Singapore's No 130 Squadron

• Assets:

  • Pilatus PC-21 training aircraf 

  • Hawk 127 fighter trainer aircraft - operated ny No.79 Squadron

  • Republic of Singapore Air Force (No 130 Squadron) trainer aircraft.

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Learmonth

• Role: Used for Operations, Exercises and Defence Aid to the Civil Community tasking

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Curtin

• Role: Bare Base

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Tindal

• Role: providing strategic air combat capability, surveillance, and support operations in northern Australia, and regularly hosting major joint and multinational military exercises including:

  • Pitch Black - Large-scale multinational air combat exercise

  • Diamond Storm - Advanced air warfare training for fighter combat instructors

  • Arnhem Thunder - Domestic air-to-ground strike and training exercise

  • Talisman Sabre - Major joint Australia–US military exercise across multiple domains

• Units:

  • No 17 Squadron

  • No 2 Security Force Detachment Tindal

  • No 2 Squadron Detachment Tindal

  • Tindal Health Centre

  • No 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron Detachment Tindal

  • No 452 Squadron Tindal Flight

  • No 75 Squadron

  • No 1 Joint Military Policing Unit Detachment Tindal

  • Chief Information Officer Group - Communications Security Tindal

  • Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS) Branch

  • Security and Estate Group RAAF Tindal

  • No 803 Squadron Australian Air Force Cadets

  • Army's North-West Mobile Force (NORFORCE) has a detachment on the base

Assets:

• F-35A Lightning II

• MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System

• F/A 18 Hornets

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Darwin

• Role: A major centre for technical and non-technical initial employment training and postgraduate training - exercises include Pitch Black and Diamond Storm

• Units:

  • No 114 Mobile Control Reporting Unit

  • Headquarters 452 Squadron

  • No 452 Squadron Darwin Flight

  • No 2 Security Forces Darwin Flight

  • No 13 City of Darwin Squadron

  • US Marine Rotation Force Darwin Air Combat Element

  • Chief Information Officer Group - Communications Security

  • Security and Estate Group RAAF Darwin

  • Darwin Health Centre

  • No 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron Detachment Darwin

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Scherger

Role: Bare Base

• One of a series of strategic outposts, designed to be moved in to at short notice in the event of defence requirements or for exercises

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Townsville

• Role: Australia's northern defence strategy, providing operational support, training, and acting as a launch point for regional and international missions - South West Pacific

• Units:

  • No 27 (City of Townsville) Squadron – air base support

  • No 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron – air base recovery

  • No 383 Squadron - contingency response squadron

  • No 452 Squadron Townsville Flight - air traffic control

  • Combat Survival Training School - evasion and escape training

  • Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment – Taipan (MRH-90) and Chinook (CH-47) helicopters

  • No 1 Expeditionary Health Squadron Detachment Townsville

  • No 2 Security Forces Squadron detachment Townsville

  • Air Force Museum – The Heritage Centre

  • No 1 Wing, Headquarters

  • No 101 Squadron Australian Air Force Cadets.

• Assets:

  • EA-18G Growler

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Amberley

• Roles: largest operational air base and serves as a central hub for the Royal Australian Air Force's air combat, airlift, and aerial refuelling capabilities

  • Evans Head Air Weapon Range

• Units:

  • No 95 Wing, Headquarters

  • No 382 Squadron - Contingency Response

  • No 295 Squadron - Training and Standards

  • No 1 Combat Communication Squadron, Headquarters

  • No 2 Security Forces Squadron, Headquarters

  • No 1 Combat Communication Squadron Flight Amberley

  • No 96 Wing, Headquarters

  • No 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron - airbase operations

  • No 1 Expeditionary Health Squadron, Headquarters

  • No 3 Aero-medical Evacuation Squadron Detachment Amberley

  • Combat Support Group, Headquarters

  • Health Services Wing, Headquarters

  • Health Operational Conversion Unit

• Assets

  • F/A - 18F Super Hornet - No. 1 Squadron

  • EA-18G Growler - 12 growlers controlled by No.6 Squadron

  • C-27J Spartan - 10 operated by No. 35 squadron

  • KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport - 7 operated by No. 33 Squadron

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Richmond

• Role: Home to various intelligence and communication units, as well as our C-130J Hercules medium transport aircraft

• Units:

  • No 453 Squadron Flight Richmond - Air Base Air Traffic Services

  • No 37 Squadron - Hercules medium transport

  • No 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron - airbase operations

  • No 87 Squadron Air Mobility Tactical Intelligence Flight

  • No 285 Squadron - Air Mobility Group flight simulator and technical training

  • No 3 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron

  • No 1 Security Force Squadron Detachment Richmond

  • Air Movements Training and Development Unit - aerial delivery development, training and certification

  • Air Lift Systems Program Office - Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group medium airlift sustainment

  • No 176 Air Dispatch Squadron - Army air dispatching

• Assets:

  • 12 x C-130J Hercules - No. 37 Squadron

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Williamtown

• Roles: home to the Air Combat Group and Surveillance and Response Group. The base plays a critical role in training, operational readiness, and deploying air combat and surveillance capabilities for national defence and international missions

  • Salt Ash Air Weapons Range

• Units:

  • Headquarters Air Combat Group

  • Headquarters Surveillance and Response Group

  • No 41 Wing

  • No 42 Wing

  • No 44 Wing

  • No 78 Wing

  • No 81 Wing

  • Tactics and Training Directorate - Air Warfare Centre

  • Australian Defence Force Warfare Centre

  • No 1 Security Force Squadron, Headquarters

  • No 2 Squadron operating AEW&C E-7A Wedgetail aircraft

  • No 2 Squadron Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU) operating F-35A Lightning II aircraft

  • No 2 Squadron (2SQN) operating E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning control aircraft

  • No 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron, Headquarters

  • No 3 Squadron operating F-35A Lightning II aircraft

  • No 4 Squadron operating PC-21 Forward Air Control aircraft

  • No 26 (City of Newcastle) Squadron - Airbase Operations

  • No 76 Squadron operating Hawk Mk127 aircraft

  • No 77 Squadron operating F-35A Lightning II aircraft

  • No 381 Squadron - Contingency Response

  • No 453 Squadron Headquarters

  • No 453 Squadron - Williamtown Flight

  • No 1 Combat Communication Squadron - Williamtown Flight

  • Air Combat System Program Office

  • Tactical Fighter System Program Office

  • Surveillance and Response System Program Office

  • Airborne Early Warning and Control System Program Office

Assets:

• F-35A Joint Strike Fighters - operated by No. 2 Squadron

• AEW&C E-7A Wedgetail aircraft - operate by No. 2 Squadron

• F-35A Lightning II aircraft - operated by No. 2 Squadron, No. 3 Squadron, No. 77 Squadron

• E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning control aircraft - operated by No. 2 Squadron

• PC-21 Forward Air Control aircraft - operated by No. 4 Squadron

• Hawk Mk127 - operated by No. 76 Squadron

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Glenbrook

• Role: Home to the headquarters of Air Command, providing an HQ function for major Air Force units and personnel

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Wagga

• Role: major centre for technical and non-technical initial employment training and postgraduate training

  • IMT through No 1 Recruit Training Unit

  • IMT and IET for ADF aviation maintenance personnel through the RAAF School of Technical Training

  • IMT and IET for Air Force members specialising in logistics and personnel capability management through the RAAFSALT

  • IET across enlisted personnel and officers through the School of Postgraduate Studies

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base East Sale

• Role: training the next generation of Air Force personnel under the Air Academy.

• Units:

  • New Officers at the Officer's Training School;

  • Mission Controllers, Mission Aircrew and Operations Officers at the Air Mission Training School (AMTS); and

  • Air Traffic Controllers at the School of Air Traffic Control.

  • The base is also home to No 32 Squadron (which flies the King Air multi-role aircraft)

  • No 30 Squadron - airbase operations.

  •  Roulettes aerobatic display team from Central Flying School

• Assets:

  • KA350 King Air - 12 operated by No.32 Squadron

  • Pilatus PC-21

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Williams

• Role: home to the RAAF Museum and Air Force Band

• Units:

  • 8/7 Royal Victorian Regiment (Army Reserve)

  • Air Force Band

  • Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group

  • Chief Information Officer Group

  • Defence Force School of Languages

  • Defence International Training Centre

  • Defence Publishing Services

  • Security and Estate Group

  • Headquarters Air Force Training Group

  • Joint Logistics Command

  • Joint Logistics Unit - Victoria

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Edinburugh

• Role:hub for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare operations, supporting maritime patrol and space surveillance missions

• Units:

  • No 453 Squadron Edinburgh Flight - air traffic control

  • No 24 (City of Adelaide) Squadron - airbase support

  • No 87 Squadron - intelligence

  • No 292 Squadron - sensor operator training

  • No 1 Remote Sensor Unit - Jindalee Operational Radar Network

  • No 1 Expeditionary Health Squadron Detachment Edinburgh

  • No 1 Combat Communication Squadron Flight Edinburgh

  • No 10 Squadron

  • No 11 Squadron

• Assets:

  • No 92 Wing's P-8A Poseidon aircraft operated by No. 11 and No. 292 Squadrons

  • MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System - operated by No. 9 Squadron, held at Tindal

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Butterworth

• Role: n Air Force Station of the RMAF, and headquarters of the Five Power Defence Arrangements Integrated Area Defence System (HQIADS)

• Units:

  • No 19 Squadron (19SQN)

  • No 92 Wing Detachment Alpha (92WG Det A)

  • 2nd/30th Training Group (Australian Army)

  • Joint Health Command (Butterworth Clinic)

  • Australian Defence Force Investigative Service (Joint Investigation Office Butterworth)

What Role, Units and Assets at RAAF Base Woomera

• Role: provide direct operational support to the activities conducted at the Woomera Range Complex

What is this Asset

• Name: F-35A Lightning II

• Type: Air Combat Aircraft

• Role: stealth multirole fighter designed for air combat, strike missions, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance

• Based:

  • RAAF Base Williamtown

  • RAAF Base Tindal

What is this Asset

• Name: EA-18G Growler

• Type: Air Combat Aircraft

• Role: electronic attack aircraft designed to jam enemy radar and communications to support air combat operations

• Based:

  • 12 controlled by No.6 Squadron at RAAF Amberley

What is this Asset

• Name: F/A-18F Super Hornet

• Type: Air Combat Aircraft

• Role: twin-seat multirole fighter used for air combat, interception, strike missions, close air support for ground troops and maritime operations

• Based:

  • 24 at No. 1 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley

What is this Asset

• Name: C-17A Globemaster III

• Type: Air Mobility Aircraft

• Role: a heavy-lift transport aircraft used to move troops, cargo, and equipment globally

• Based:

  • All 8 operated by No. 36 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley

What is this Asset

• Name: C-130J-30 Hercules

• Type: Air Mobility Aircraft

• Role: a medium sized tactical airlift aircraft used for transporting personnel, cargo, and conducting airdrop and medical evacuation missions

• Based:

  • 12 operated by No. 37 Squadron RAAF Base Richmond

What is this Asset

• Name: C-27J Spartan

• Type: Air Mobility Aircraft

• Role: a tactical transport aircraft used for short-haul airlift of troops, cargo, and humanitarian aid to remote or unimproved airstrips

• Based:

  • 10 aircraft are operated by No. 35 Squadron and based at RAAF Base Amberley

What is this Asset

• Name: KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport

• Type: Air Mobility Aircraft

• Role: provides air-to-air refuelling and strategic transport of personnel and cargo

• Based:

  • 7 operated by No. 33 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley

Describe the 737 Boeing Business Jet

• Name: 737 Boeing Business Jet

• Type: Air Mobility Aircraft

• Role: provide secure and efficient transport for the Governor-General, Parliamentarians, and international dignitaries

• Based:

  • Fleet of 2 operated by No. 34 Squadron at Defence Establishment Fairbairn in the Australian Capital Territory

What is this Asset

• Name: KA350 King Air

• Type: Air Mobility Transport

• Role: twin-turboprop aircraft used for transport, surveillance, and pilot training operations

  • Air logistics support

• Based:

  • 12 operated by No. 32 Squadron at RAAF Base East Sale

What is this Asset

• Name: Dassault Falcon 7X

• Type: Air Mobility Aircraft

• Role: Special Purpose Passenger and VIP transport

What is this Asset

• Name: P-8A Poseidon

• Type: Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Aircraft

• Role: maritime patrol aircraft used for anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance missions and air-to-air refuelling

• Based:

  • 12 aircraft commanded by No. 92 Wing and operated by No. 11 and No. 292 Squadrons at RAAF Base Edinburgh

What is this Asset

• Name: E-7A Wedgetail

• Type: Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Aircraft

• Role: provides airborne early warning and control, offering real-time surveillance and battle management to support air and joint operations

• Based:

  • 6 Operated by No. 2 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown

What is this Asset

• Name: MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System

• Type: Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance

• Role: provides long-endurance, high-altitude surveillance and reconnaissance for maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions

• Based:

  • Operated by Number 9 Squadron at RAAF Base Edinburgh

  • Based at RAAF Base Tindal

What is this Asset

• Name: Pilatus PC-21

• Type: Aviation Training Aircraft

• Role: pilot training aircraft

• Based:

  • RAAF Base East Sale and RAAF Base Pearce

What is this Asset

• Name: Hawk 127

• Type: Aviation Training Aircraft

• Role: Training aircraft for conversion to: F-35A Lightning II, F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler

• Based:

  • Operated by Number 76 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown

  • Operated by Number 79 Squadron at RAAF Base Pearce

Name the Force Element Groups and briefly describe their role

• Air Combat Group - Controls all the fast-jet combat aircraft and conducts operational training

• Air Mobility Group - Provides air logistic support and responsible for air-to-air refuelling operations

• Air Warfare Centre - Delivers relevant advice in response to problems facing products and services delivered by the Air Force

• Combat Support Group - Provides airbase operational support to fixed and expeditionary air bases

• Surveillance and Response Group - Maintains air surveillance assets and provides aerospace, surveillance and battle space management

• Air Force Training Group - Provides training to members of the Air Force, some personnel from Navy, Army and overseas defence forces

Describe in more detail about the Air Mobility Group

Role:

• Provides air logistic support and responsible for air-to-air refuelling operations

AMG is responsible for providing:

• air logistics support

• airborne and special operations

• VIP transport

• air-to-air refuelling

• search and survivor assistance

• aeromedical evacuation

• training

Base:

• Headquarters - RAAF Base Richmond

• Personnel and Aircraft  - RAAF Base Amberley

Operational Wings:

• No 84 Wing

• No 86 Wing

• the Air Mobility Control Centre

• the Air Mobility Training and Development Unit.

Operations/ Exercises

AMG has been at the forefront in delivering personnel, cargo and equipment in:

• the Middle East

• Afghanistan

• East Timor

• West Africa

• South East Asia

• the Pacific region

• the Australian Antarctic region.

What is a Force Element Group

Force Element Groups (FEGs) in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) are component groups that organize and manage the ADF's operational capabilities

Describe the current geopolitical and security situation

• South China Sea - China's assertiveness has intensified, with incidents such as the deployment of water cannons against Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal, escalating tensions over territorial claims

• Pacific Region - Pacific Island nations are navigating complex geopolitical dynamics, balancing relationships with major powers while addressing internal challenges like disaster recovery and political transitions.

• Russia-Ukraine Conflict - Ukraine has launched significant drone attacks on Russian airbases, marking a strategic escalation in the conflict.

Describe the Defensive Strategy Update 2020

• Definition - replaces the 2016 White Paper and sets out a plan that sets out how Australia will prepare its Defence Force to shape, deter, and respond to threats closer to home — especially as tensions grow with countries like China

  • Moves away from relying on 10 years’ warning time for major conflict and focuses on grey zone tactics

Name some Operations that are currently in progress and the role of logistics

• Operation Argos - The RAAF continues its commitment to enforcing United Nations sanctions against North Korea by deploying aircraft and personnel to monitor and deter illicit maritime activities

Why this Service

• As a child, my dad would take me onto the air base at RAAF Pearce and into the control tower — those memories have always stayed with me and sparked my interest in the Air Force.

• I’m drawn to the precision, innovation, and strategic thinking that underpin air operations

• And the importance of air operations, especially with the coordination of supplies to make sure everyone has what they need

Example of where you have shown Leadership

Situation

•  used to work as a supervisor at a sports stadium

• one of my bar’s in the area I was responsible for quickly ran out of Great Northerns

• half-time break,

• customers frustrated as they had to wait longer than expected.

Action

• informed my manager about the situation

• took charge by assessing he available stock of other beverages

• temporarily shift the focus to other cold drinks while ensuring the team communicated with customers about the delay

• delegated staff to check other nearby outlets for stock we could transfer

• communicated with the venue's stock control team to arrange a quick restock

• Meanwhile, I reassured the team and kept them focused, ensuring customer service remained a priority while we dealt with the issue.

Outcome

• Got additional supplied within 15 minutes, and service resumed without major disruption

• Customers were understanding of the issue

• The rest of the event ran smoothly, and we were able to handle the high demand without further stock shortages

• Next time, will order more stock