"We can't recruit 'off the street' for the modern ADF," says Wolski. "We need people with the right attributes so we can train them up to the standard we need."

He says the roles that are expanding as the ADF becomes more technology driven include communications, intelligence, maintenance, cyber and the support areas such as clerical, administration and medical.

"Our big focus at the moment is on medical officers," says Wolski. "We're also looking for engineers and submariners."

He says in to recruit 8,000 Australians each year, the ADF takes 70,000 to 80,000 applications.

He says that the ADF has a recruitment rate of 98 per cent (of targets being met) and the "separation rate" is 9.4 per cent, compared with 8.5 per cent in Canada's armed forces and 9.3 per cent in Britain.

The ADF is actively seeking women and Indigenous Australians to ensure the applicants each year are of the highest quality, Wolski says.

"We want to ensure that we have the best selection of people we can get, knowing that we compete against a lot of other employers."

Targeted campaign


The advertising, therefore, has been targeted through TV and social media, channelling those who might be interested into the DFR, or Defence Force Recruitment website. At the website there are videos showing what the defence force is all about, down to actual roles.

"Our main target is Australians aged 18 to 24, and most of them have no exposure to what goes on in the military."

He says today's young people are interested in constant learning, progression through the organisation and flexibility.

"Our targets are to reach 25 per cent female participation in the navy and air force by 2023, and 15 per cent in the army. Our target for Indigenous participation is 2.7 per cent, and we are currently at 2.6 per cent."

Wolski says while flexible arrangements in the ADF are of particular interest to women, it is also of interest to young men. "We have adjusted the terms in the ADF so it's easier to move from full time to part time, and leave the military altogether and then come back."

He says the superannuation package – 16.4 per cent employer contribution – is the best rate in Australia.

"By the time we reach over 62,000 full time in the ADF, it will be a much-better-trained force than the ADF of 20 years ago," says Wolski, "and our training is nationally recognised."

The ADF's recruiting and retention strategy has drawn the support of Australian Defence Association, an association of military personnel, academics and defence industry. The ADA backs the flexibility and the enhanced superannuation.


"Defence currently has historically high recruitment rates," says executive director of the ADA, Neil James.

"Defence's main recruiting drives are now very researched and targeted, and they're very successful," says James.

"Career nights don't really work. Defence is targeting young Australians with a particular style of TV advertising and social media that shows the viewers what they can do, rather than just pushing a general product. Their online material is showing the life and technology the recruits could expect."

Try before you buy

He says the main drivers of the recruitment campaigns are "something different", "temporary commitment" and''service".

"One of the smartest things Defence has done is allow a 'try it before you buy it' approach, to people in their late teens. Gap Year has been a big success with young Australians."

This Gap Year approach, which allows recruits to sign up for one year, was reinstated in 2013 by the present government and is now regularly oversubscribed. In the 2017 intake Defence had 3519 applications for 495 positions and 35 per cent of participants were women.

James says the Gap Year is limited to young people who have completed year 12. However, one of the big attractions of the scheme is that recruits can select the job descriptions they want to try, from administration and artillery, to flight crew and officer roles.


It is different from general enlistment, in which a recruit does basic training and is then assigned an initial employment.

"These are smart ways to reach a younger generation," says James. "Defence is one of the youngest organisations in Australia; half are under 25 and two-thirds are under 33.

"People are quick to label the Millennials as one thing or another, but I think giving them the chance to spend a year in the army or navy, earning money and gaining skills, is a big attraction. The parents love it too.

"I think there's evidence for Millennials having more altruism than previous generations," says James. "Let's not forget how over-represented they were in our services during the Afghanistan war. The fact is they have been raised with more choices and distractions than other generations, which means you might have to be flexible and let them try something first. Defence has researched this and they're doing a good job."

Gender on the agenda

James also says that the ADF has made a lot progress in its prioritising of women in the armed services, and he says the Australian military is ahead of many of its foreign counterparts in gender balance.

"All jobs in Defence have been open to men and women since January 1, 2013," says James. "People talk about the Israeli army, but only one of their combat units has women. There's a greater range of military employment open to Australian women than Israeli women have in their country – and it's been that way for three decades."

He says the Australian army will probably never have 50-50 men and women because the infantry roles are not sought after by female recruits.

"The army infantry has around 6 per cent women," says James. "Currently women have a better chance of getting in to the military than men, and from what I understand their demand is not strong for infantry."

He says the gender push in the ADF is a good idea that will make the military stronger.

"Having your armed services reflecting the make-up of the nation they serve is a good idea. And having a culture where the women you do employ can flourish and have good careers, makes for a stronger army, navy and air force."