Australian Defence Force interview questions come at three points in the recruitment process: a phone interview with a Careers Coach in your YOU Session, a psychological interview and an ADF interview at your Assessment Session, and, for officers, a panel interview at the Officer Selection Board. The ADF tells applicants to prepare for questions such as "why do you want this job?" and "have you considered how it will impact your family?".
Everything below comes from the ADF's own application process page and Defence's values page, linked as we go. Where the ADF doesn't say something, we say so rather than guess.
Australian Defence Force recruitment process at a glance
| Step | What happens | Interview? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Apply online | Personal details, academic achievements, up to three role preferences; then a Supplementary Application Form and documents in your Candidate Hub | No |
| 2. Job Opportunities Assessment | Multiple-choice general ability and mathematical ability questions | No |
| 3. YOU Session | Phone interview with a Careers Coach; then the Medical History Questionnaire | Yes |
| 4. Assessment Session | Medical assessment, psychological interview, ADF interview | Yes, two |
| 4a. Officer Selection Board (officers) | Panel of officers and a psychologist; group and individual activities | Yes |
| 5. Fitness test (if required) | Pre-entry Fitness Assessment, up to twelve weeks before joining | No |
| 6. Enlistment or appointment day | Job offer, joining instructions, ceremony | No |
The ADF doesn't publish how long the whole process takes. A Case Manager guides you through it after your YOU Session.
Who can apply to the ADF?
The ADF's eligibility page lists:
- Citizenship: an Australian citizen, or an eligible permanent resident. Non-citizens must be citizens of New Zealand, the UK, the US, Canada or Papua New Guinea, be permanent residents in Australia or hold a subclass 444 visa, have lived in Australia for at least a year before applying, and not have served in a foreign military in the previous two years.
- Age: you can apply from 16.5, or 16 for ADFA, but must be at least 17 to join. Age limits vary by role.
- Background: you need a checkable background for the past ten years to get the minimum security clearance.
- Education: Year 10 or equivalent, with passes in English and Maths.
- Health and fitness: reasonably fit and healthy; some roles need licences.
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What is the ADF aptitude test?
It's the Job Opportunities Assessment (JOA), a set of multiple-choice general ability and mathematical ability questions that helps decide which service and roles suit you. You must complete it before your application can progress. The ADF doesn't publish the number of questions or a pass mark. Our guide to aptitude test questions covers the common types.
What happens in the ADF YOU Session?
The YOU (Your Opportunities Unlimited) Session is a phone interview with a Careers Coach. You'll be asked about your education, fitness level and sporting history, and any leadership experience, and you'll discuss roles that suit your JOA results, background, eligibility and interests. It can be split over several days or done in one go at an ADF Careers Centre.
Afterwards, you complete a Medical History Questionnaire in your Candidate Hub, and a nurse may contact you for a Medical Interview about your history.
What is the ADF psych interview?
The psychological interview is one of three parts of the Assessment Session. The ADF says it:
- asks about your educational and employment history, family circumstances, social and sporting activities, and interest in joining;
- determines how you are likely to cope living in a military environment;
- checks whether your values and life outlook are compatible with the ADF;
- assesses whether you'll be effective in your chosen role.
What is the ADF interview?
The ADF interview is your chance to explain why you want to join and show what you know about the job or jobs you've applied for. It assesses your suitability for those roles and your ability to withstand the demands of ADF service.
The same session includes a head-to-toe medical assessment by Sonic HealthPlus. A criminal history check follows a successful Assessment Session.
What happens at the Officer Selection Board?
The OSB looks for leadership and management potential, the ability to influence and motivate others, and the capability to learn what an officer needs to know. It's held by virtual interview and differs slightly by service:
| Service | What the OSB is likely to include |
|---|---|
| Navy | A combination of a written exercise, oral presentation, group exercise, practical exercise and panel interview |
| Army | The same combination, plus a fitness test |
| Air Force | An oral presentation and a panel interview only |
If you pass, you're placed on the National Order of Merit, which ranks you against other candidates for an intake. If you don't, the ADF gives detailed feedback and may offer another OSB once you've addressed the concerns.
Australian Defence Force interview questions to prepare for
The first two questions are named by the ADF itself. The rest are built from what the ADF says each interview covers and from Defence's values: Service, Courage, Respect, Integrity and Excellence. Use the STAR method when asked for examples.
1. Why do you want this job? (named by the ADF)
The ADF interview exists partly to hear this. Be specific about the role, the service and what you've learned about its training.
2. Have you considered how it will impact your family? (named by the ADF)
The ADF asks this directly. Show you've talked it through with the people close to you: relocation, time away and training.
3. What do you know about the role you've applied for?
The ADF tells applicants to learn the role overview, its training requirements, fitness requirements and the policies they'd need to follow. Cover all four.
4. Tell me about your education and work history.
The psychological interview covers both. Be ready to expand on anything in your resume, as the ADF advises.
5. What sport or physical activity do you do?
Fitness and sporting history come up in the YOU Session and the psych interview. Be honest about your current level and how you're preparing for the fitness test.
6. Tell me about a time you led a group.
The YOU Session asks about leadership experience, and the OSB tests leadership potential for officers. Team captaincy, part-time work or volunteering all count.
7. How do you cope with stress, routine and being told what to do?
The psych interview assesses how you'd cope with military life. Give real examples of pressure you've handled.
8. Tell me about a time you did the right thing when it was hard.
Courage, in Defence's words, is "the strength of character to say and do the right thing, always". Choose a real example.
9. Describe a time you worked with someone very different from you.
Respect means treating others with dignity, and Defence's behaviours include being inclusive. Show how you worked well together.
10. Tell me about a mistake you made and what you learned.
"Reflect, learn and improve" is one of Defence's behaviours. Be honest about the mistake.
11. How do your friends and family feel about you joining?
Family circumstances are part of the psych interview. Answer openly.
12. Do you have any questions for us?
The ADF encourages questions about the nature of military service and the support available.
How to prepare for the ADF recruitment process
- Check your eligibility, especially citizenship and background requirements.
- Upload documents early to your Candidate Hub.
- Practise general ability and maths questions for the JOA.
- Complete the Medical History Questionnaire as early as you can, as the ADF asks.
- Research your role: training, fitness requirements and policies.
- Talk to a serving member doing the job. The ADF can arrange this.
- Start fitness training now so the Pre-entry Fitness Assessment isn't a shock.
- For officer roles, visit air shows, base or ship open days, and reread the job description, as the ADF suggests.
Practising realistic work tasks
Assessment days reward clear thinking under pressure, and that improves with practice. Cohesyve, which publishes this guide, runs free practice job simulations for job seekers. It isn't affiliated with the Australian Defence Force or the Department of Defence and doesn't use their tests or questions.
FAQs
How many interviews are there in ADF recruitment?
At least three: the phone interview in your YOU Session, then the psychological interview and the ADF interview at your Assessment Session. Officer applicants also have a panel interview at the Officer Selection Board.
What does the ADF psychologist ask?
About your education, work, family circumstances, social and sporting activities, and why you want to join. The aim is to judge how you'd cope with military life and whether your values fit the ADF.
Is the ADF aptitude test hard?
The ADF describes it as a straightforward general ability test of multiple-choice questions. It doesn't publish a pass mark.
Do I need references to join the ADF?
They're not essential, but the ADF says they may help. Submit them with your application and bring copies to your YOU Session.
How long does ADF recruitment take?
The ADF doesn't publish a timeline. It depends on your role and how quickly paperwork is completed.
Sources
The ADF's and Defence's own pages, checked 30 October 2026:
- adfcareers.gov.au: Application process
- adfcareers.gov.au: Eligibility
- defence.gov.au: Values and behaviours