An infantryman is a skilled soldier who fights the enemy at close quarters in all phases of warfare using a variety of weapons. He may also be employed as a scout, rifleman or machine-gunner in a rifle section (the principal small unit that makes up a rifle company). If selected for further training he may also be employed as an Assault Pioneer, Mortarman, Signaller, Direct Fire Support Weapon Gunner, Reconnaissance Patrolman, Sniper or Surveillance Operator within Support Company of an Infantry battalion. Depending on the role of the unit, he may also be trained as a parachutist, an Armoured Fighting Vehicle (M113) Crewman or a Protected Mobility Vehicle (Bushmaster) Crewman.

• maintain personal arms and ammunition
• maintain high levels of physical fitness and basic soldiering skills
• conduct aggressive patrolling to seek out and close with the enemy
• operate as part of a combined arms team in a complex environment
• conduct assaults against enemy positions
• repel enemy assaults
• prepare defensive positions and construct field defences
• selected infantryman will maintain and tactically employ the AFV (M113) or PMV (Bushmaster)
• selected infantryman will employ support weapon systems including the 81mm Mortar, the MAG 58 GSMG in the Sustained Fire role, the Javelin direct Fire Guided Weapon and the 84mm Medium Direct Fire Support Weapon
• selected infantryman will provide precision fire support utilising the 7.62mm SR-98, 7.62mm SR-25 or .50 cal Anti-Material Rifle.
• selected infantryman will undergo training in field engineering techniques, breaching, demolitions, surveillance, tracking, specialist communications and Combat First Aid.

Infantrymen progress in pay from pay group 0-6. Progression is dependent upon completion of training requirements, time in rank and currency of skills as stipulated in RAINF Employment Specification (including Career Management Guidance RFN (ECN 343) dated 03 May 11 Version 7)

Training

Eleven-week Basic Rifleman Course at the School of Infantry, Singleton, NSW.

RFSU and Reserve soldiers have the option to complete either the progression outlined above or complete shorter courses. These shorter courses may be conducted either at the School of Infantry or within local units.

Competency Log Book

Regardless of the course completed, the infantryman must complete a Competency Log Book and 12 months service in a battalion before progression within the corps.

Posting

The Infantry Corps employs both ARA and ARes soldiers throughout Australia. Principal full time employment locations are Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Darwin.

Accreditation available to RAINF soldiers can be located at Defence Nationally Recognised Qualifications

This category's courses meet the requirements for both civilian and military authorities and will make you eligible for:

Rifleman

• PTE(P) is eligible for PSP20104 Certificate II in Government and 80736ACT Certificate II in Infantry Operations.
• CPL is eligible for PSP30104 Certificate III in Government and 80735ACT Certificate III in Infantry Operations.
• SGT is eligible for 80734ACT Certificate IV in Infantry Operations and PSP401 Statement of Attainment towards Certificate IV in Government.

Assault Pioneer

• ASSLT PNR PTE is eligible for: PUA30802 Statement of Attainment towards Certificate III in Public Safety (Explosive Ordnance Maintenance), PUA20802 Statement of Attainment towards Certificate II in Public Safety (Explosive Ordnance), PUA30902 Statement of Attainment towards Certificate II in Public Safety (Explosive Ordnance Operations), BCC20103 Statement of Attainment towards Certificate II in Civil Construction, BCC30703 Statement of Attainment towards Certificate III in Civil Construction (Road Construction and Maintenance), PUA31202 Statement of Attainment towards Certificate II in Public Safety (Field Construction) and PUA 32006 Certificate III in Public Safety (Military Engineering).
• ASSLT PNR CPL is eligible for a Statement of Attainment towards Certificate IV in Public Safety (Explosive Ordnance Operations).
• ASSLT PNR SGT is eligible for: PUA40502 Certificte IV in Public Safety (Explosive Ordnance Operations), PUA50602 Diploma of Public Safety (Explosive Ordnance) and PUA40602 Statement of Attainment towards Certificate IV in Public Safety (Range Control).

Detailed employment category information about the Rifleman can be found within the Manual of Army Employment (MAE). (DefWeb only)