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. After successful completion of the 80-day recruit course at Kapooka, all soldiers joining the Signals Corps, regardless of specialisation, 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.
Specialist Roles: •
Battlespace Communications Specialist: Battlespace Communications Specialist (renamed from Communication Systems Operator in 2020) conduct initial training that is a 21-week course in which trainees are instructed in the operation and maintenance of military High Frequency (HF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) radios, satellite communications (SATCOM), frequency hopping and cryptographic equipment all whilst working in small teams called Detachments. Battlespace Communication Specialists are also trained to deploy computer networks as a part of radio networks and to operate computer-based communications applications. This training is conducted in a range of simulated environments based upon dismounted, 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, docking, 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. It trains ARA trainees in Electronic Warfare and Signal Intelligence fundamentals, including basic language skills and typing. • Part One is of 22 weeks duration and is delivered at the Australian Defence Force School of Languages,
RAAF Williams,
Laverton, Victoria. • Part Two is of 36 weeks duration and is delivered at Defence Force School of Signals, Electronic Warfare Wing, Borneo Barracks, Cabarlah, Queensland. :To commence Part Two training, trainees must have a Top Secret Positive Vetted (TSPV) clearance, which depending on the individual and on personal history can take from 6 to 12 months to acquire. Both the ADF School of Languages and the Defence Force School of Signals (DFSS) are tri-service training facilities and also train Navy and Air Force personnel. •
Information Systems Technician: Training incorporates a wide variety of Information Technology (IT) subjects including fundamentals of computing, diagnosing hardware and software problems, network operating systems, installation of applications and peripheral devices, operating a help desk, data communications and operation of a Deployable Local Area Network (DLAN). •
Cyber Analyst: Operate on the new frontier of combat, using state-of-the-art technology to defend our systems and platforms against malicious cyber activity. ==Equipment==