In a significant milestone, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has strengthened its space capability by formally accrediting its inaugural cohort of military personnel as space operations officers and space operations specialists through a new Defence joint training program.
Sixteen members from the Navy, Army and Air Force graduated from the first Space Initial Employment Training Course at Fairbairn in Canberra on May 13.
They are the first joint cohort to earn the space operations officer and space operations specialist qualifications through this joint training program.
Commanding Officer Defence School of Space and Cyber Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Grant said the milestone marked a critical step in building Australia's sovereign space capability.
"Space operations are critical for enabling the Integrated Force - inclusive of assuring satellite communications and navigation, space domain awareness, space control and missile warning effects," Lieutenant Colonel Grant said.
"Building a skilled, capable and sovereign space workforce is a long-term investment in Australia's security and resilience, and these graduates are ready to contribute from day one."
The graduates will join the Space Surveillance Unit or 74 Squadron of the Space Force Group within Space Command.
There, they will predict space weather impacts, enable precision navigation and persistent surveillance, and deliver the space-based insights that power decision advantage across the integrated force.
'Space is a new and fast-growing industry, and I like challenges. New industry, new challenges.'
Course Director Flight Lieutenant Sean Buchanan praised the cohort's resilience in getting through the demanding 15-week program.
"Although some of the course content was quite challenging, they all pulled together and worked as a team to ensure the entire course graduated," Flight Lieutenant Buchanan said.
The group included Army medics, armoured corps members, signallers, Navy electronics technicians and Air Force logisticians. No previous science background was needed.
Among them was Leading Aircraftman Jialin Geng who was drawn to the role after completing a Defence STEM course last year.
"Space is a new and fast-growing industry, and I like challenges. New industry, new challenges," Leading Aircraftman Jialin Geng said.
He said that working with peers from different technical backgrounds was a highlight of the course.
Marking the importance of the milestone, the graduation parade was reviewed by Commander Space Command Major General Greg Novak.
Chief of Joint Capabilities Lieutenant General Susan Coyle and United States Space Force Chief of Space Operations General B. Chance Saltzman also attended.
To learn more about the space operations officers and space operations specialists roles visit ADF Careers.
