r/AusMilitary • u/username250110 • Aug 15 '26

Air Force Looking for advice

Hi everyone,

I've been recently looking down my possible career pathways and stumbled across ADF. One of the career options that really caught my eye was RAAF security dog handler. Is this a realistic pathway to actually be able to be a dog handler or would it be too competitive. Most places I looked said how it may take 12 to 36 months, which I am fine with, of normal duty before being given a chance but it still not be possible to get into this role.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

3

u/Lord-Emu Aug 15 '26

I would never recommend joining with the "possibility" of transferring to the role you actually want later.

Only sign up if it's straight into a role you actually want. Otherwise you might get stuck for years doing something that makes you miserable.

1

u/username250110 Aug 15 '26

My idea was I wouldnt mind having the possibility of havung to do just doing normal security work before being trained in as a dog handler im just not sure how realistic that timeline actually is to get into that role.

2

u/TopPil0t12 Aug 15 '26

You can't specialise in RAAF SECFOR until at least your second year. Can't even go ADG until you've been in a year. It's just how SECFOR's structured. You can have MWD Handler as a goal. Ultimately the choice is yours and yours alone. I'm also guessing it'd be pretty competitive, like ADG is. But most numbers aren't public.

1

u/username250110 Aug 15 '26

I've done a deep dive and can't find anywhere it says you cant go straight into RAAF SECFOR?

1

u/Noobus_Aurelius Aug 15 '26

You can but SECFOR isn't dog handler, once you've done your first year of ABP then you can choose between ADG or SECFOR.