09 Jun 2015

The most common question you’re going to be asked when you start at university will be, “What do you want to do with that?” The “that” is your major, and it’s a tough question to be asked in either your first semester or your last. Especially daunting is deciding if you even want to pursue a career in the major that you chose when you were 17-18.

Some people take some time off before university to figure out what they want to do with the rest of their lives, but it’s not always the best option for everyone. You might love what you study and just not have a clue how to get a job in that field when you graduate.

Why not choose a system that offers to fund your entire undergraduate program, that guarantees you a full time job upon graduation, and where you can earn a full time salary while undertaking military and leadership training? What’s wrong with going in with your eyes wide open, having a plan for your future, and knowing that when you leave you’re going to be miles ahead of anyone else?

The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) is a unique military institution that combines military education and training with academic study for an undergraduate degree through the University of New South Wales (UNSW). For most degrees, it only takes three years to finish the training program, already fast-tracking you passed most of your friends and colleagues who will likely spend a minimum of four years at their respective universities. They can’t guarantee themselves job security after graduation, or that their HELP debt won’t rule their decisions. ADFA graduates, on the other hand, possess the knowledge, skills, professional abilities and qualities of character appropriate to Officers in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The travel opportunities upon graduation can be extraordinary, as well as the shared unity between yourself and your fellow graduates. There are already about 1,000 Army and Air Force Officer Cadets and Navy Midshipmen currently enrolled at ADFA which means it isn’t merely a decision for the few; it is a decision for the smart, the certain, and the ones prepared for truly anything and everything.

Knowing all your options at 17 or 18 years old is a hard task to undertake.

Don’t be afraid that you might make the wrong decision, but rather be brave enough to ask questions and know what your career options really are.

To begin the search go to defencejobs.gov.au/education/adfa/.