kids encyclopedia robot

Australian Defence Force facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Australian Defence Force
Current form 1976 (ADF established)
Parts Australian Army
Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Navy
Headquarters Part of the Australian Defence Organisation
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove as representative of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia
Minister for Defence Marise Payne
Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin
Serving soldiers
Military age 16.5 years for selection process, 17 years to serve, 18 years to deploy on operations (2013)
Available to
be a soldier
4,999,988 males, age 16–49 (2009 est.),
4,870,043 females, age 16–49 (2009 est.)
Fit to be
a soldier
4,341,591 males, age 16–49 (2009 est.),
4,179,659 females, age 16–49 (2009 est.)
Reaching military
age annually
144,959 males (2009 est.),
137,333 females (2009 est.)
Active employees/soldiers 57,982
Reserve personnel 23,232 (Active)
22,166 (Standby)
Deployed personnel 2,241 (10 September 2015)
Expenditures
Budget A$31.9 billion(2015–16)
Percent of GDP 1.92 percent
Industry
Annual exports Confidential, but thought to be over A$600 million

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It is made up of the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Air Force and a number of joint groups.

At first the Australian Government set up three separate armed services. In 1976, the government decided to have a single military headquarters. Over time, the three services have combined headquarters, logistics and training camps.

The ADF is small, but uses a lot of technology. With 53,000 full-time active-duty service people and 20,000 part-time reserve forces, it is the largest military force in Oceania. It is much smaller than most Asian military forces. The ADF does not have enough people in some highly skilled areas, but it is still able to send forces in many regions outside Australia.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Fuerza de Defensa Australiana para niños

kids search engine
Australian Defence Force Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.