Australian army opens recruitment to foreign Nationals

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) plans to recruit individuals from foreign countries, including the UK, to increase its ranks.
The recruitment will expand to include individuals from the UK, the US, Canada, and other countries next year.
Starting January 1, “any” eligible permanent resident can apply.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will recruit individuals from foreign countries, including the UK, to help grow its ranks. Facing enlistment shortfalls, Australia seeks to bolster its armed forces in response to growing regional threats.
Starting in July, New Zealand nationals who are permanent residents of Australia can apply to join the Australian Defence Force. Next year, the recruitment will expand to include individuals from the UK, the US, Canada, and other countries. Minister for Defence Richard Marles emphasized that these changes to eligibility requirements are “essential to meet the nation’s security challenges through the next decade and beyond.”
He highlighted the longstanding “Anzac bond” between Australia and New Zealand, noting their history of fighting side-by-side at Gallipoli in World War One.
In recent years, Australia has sought to strengthen ties with the UK and the US, signing the Aukus pact in 2021. This far-reaching defense and security alliance aims to confront Chinese military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia, the UK, the US, Canada, and New Zealand also closely collaborate on intelligence sharing through the Five Eyes alliance. While the recruitment focus is on people from these nations, Defense Personnel Minister Matt Keogh has announced that starting January 1, “any” eligible permanent resident can apply.
Canberra has repeatedly voiced growing concerns about Beijing’s assertiveness. A strategic review of the ADF released last year highlighted the need to “grow and retain a highly skilled defense workforce” as a key measure to counter this threat.
In 2020, the previous government announced A$38 billion (£19.8 billion; $25.4 billion) in funding to increase the number of uniformed personnel by 30% within two decades.
However, Mr. Keogh says low unemployment levels in Australia have made recruitment “very difficult,” with recent government figures estimating the ADF is already short about 4,400 people. While Australia has historically accepted small numbers of military transfers from a few allied nations, the new eligibility rules aim to significantly widen the pool of potential recruits.
Applicants must meet ADF entry standards and security requirements, have been permanent residents of Australia for over a year, and must not have served in a foreign military in the previous two years.
They must also meet the eligibility criteria for Australian citizenship, which they will be offered and “expected” to take up after 90 days of service, according to Mr. Keogh. The opposition spokesman for foreign affairs stated that they were not against the plan but criticized the government’s defense strategy for undermining confidence and morale in the defense force.
“We want to see, ideally, Australians wearing the Australian uniform,” Simon Birmingham told the News Australia.