Royal Australian Corps of Signals - Training

Training

Soldiers joining the Signals Corps are given training specific to their field at the Defence Force School of Signals after first graduating from recruit training at the Army Recruit Training Centre, Kapooka. The School of Signals is a tri-service educational facility located on Simpson Barracks in Watsonia, Victoria. It is the home of the Signals Corps and the centre for defence training in communications and information systems for the Australian Defence Force. The school was previously located at Balcombe, before moving to Watsonia in the late 1960s. though Balcombe was maintained as a training location for some Signals and Army apprentice courses into the 1980s. The School also has an Electronic Warfare wing, called the Joint Telecommunications School, located on Borneo Barracks in Cabarlah, Queensland.

Regardless of specialisation, all soldiers joining the Signals Corps (On successful completion of the 80 Day Recruit Course held in Kapooka) first complete an eight day Common Corps course which provides basic Royal Australian Corps of Signals skills in radio, line laying and computing and is a prerequisite for all Australian Regular Army RA Sigs trade courses. The course (and most subsequent training) is held at Defence Force School of Signals, Simpson Barracks Macleod, Victoria. On successful completion of the Common Corps course, students will be placed in a holding platoon while they wait for their trade course to start. During this time students may be placed on other courses, such as driver training.

• Communication Systems Operator: Communication Systems Operator training is a 25 week course that will ensure that trainees will be instructed in the operation and maintenance of military High Frequency (HF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) radios, portable satellite terminals, frequency hopping and cryptographic equipment. Communication Systems Operators will also be trained to deploy computer networks and to operate computer based communications applications. This training will be conducted in a range of simulated environments based upon vehicle and Command Post operations.

• Telecommunications Technician: Telecommunications Technician training is a 72 Week course that incorporates all aspects of the telecommunications communications equipment used in RA Sigs Units. Subjects include telecommunications cabling, satellite theory and equipment stations, circuit switch networks, telephone systems and local and wide area computer networks

• Electronic Warfare Operator: The Electronic Warfare Operator course is delivered in two parts due to the security clearance requirements.
  • Part One is of 22 weeks duration and is delivered at the Australian Defence Force School of Languages, RAAF Williams Laverton, VIC.
  • Part Two is currently of 36 weeks duration and is delivered at Defence Force School of Signals, Electronic Warfare Wing, Borneo Barracks, Cabarlah, QLD.
  • This course trains ARA trainees in Electronic Warfare and Signal Intelligence fundamentals, including basic language skills, and typing.
  • You must have a Top Secret Positive Vetted (TSPV) clearance in order to commence your Part Two training, which (depending on the individual and personal history) can take from 6 to 12 months.
  • During your Electronic Warfare Operator - Language specialist course you can expect to complete regular after hours study.
  • Both the ADF School of Languages and the Defence Force School of Signals (DFSS) are tri-service training facilities and you will be training alongside Navy and Air Force personnel.

• Information Systems Technician: Training incorporates a wide variety of Information Technology (IT) subjects ranging from fundamentals of computing, fault finding hardware and software problems and network operating systems. Subjects include installation of applications, peripheral devices, operating a help desk, data communications and operation of a Deployable Local Area Network (DLAN).