Senior Non-commissioned Defence Force Member
What the work is
Implements and enforces directives of commissioned officers of the Australian Defence Force.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Supervises a small group of subordinates
- Maintains discipline of subordinates
- Monitors the morale, welfare and behaviour of subordinates, and advises commanding officers accordingly
- Instructs subordinates in dress, deportment, demeanour, behaviour, drill and devotion to duty to maintain military standards
- Conducts military drills and inspections
- Teaches military traditions and customs
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a fictional army training depot, working between the officers and a section of new soldiers. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A nervous recruit who nearly quit marches off the parade ground standing taller
- Your section passes inspection and you did not have to raise your voice once
- An officer takes your advice about the troops and changes the plan because of it
Hard days
- You have to enforce a standard on someone you like and who is trying their best
- Early starts, wet weather and a long list of small things that must all be right
- You are the link between orders from above and real people below, and they do not always agree
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 149431, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.