Targeted Trade Transfer Initiative (3TI)

On this page:

You're in the right spot!
Tell Me More
What's the Deal?
What can I learn?
I want to sign up!

YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT SPOT!


Stick around and discover why the Army can mean much more for you with better training, more skills and increased opportunities. Chief of Army will offer an incentive bonus of $17,500 or $25,000 to encourage personnel to transfer from non technical trades within Army to technical trades which are becoming serious or critical. For further information go to StayARMY website follow link below: Trade Transfer Bonus - Stay ARMY

Stick around and discover why the Army can mean much more for you with better training, more skills and increased opportunities.

Chief of Army will offer an incentive bonus of $17,500 or $25,000 to encourage personnel to transfer from non technical trades within Army to technical trades which are becoming serious or critical.

For further information go to StayARMY website follow link below:

Trade Transfer Bonus - Stay ARMY

Tell Me More

Why staying on makes sense

Decisions, decisions. On this page you'll find information about the Targeted Trade Initiative (3Ti) and whether you're eligible.


What other people have found. “I wish to apply for transfer back to the ARA from AGRES. I have found my time as a civilian to be mundane in comparison to the satisfying challenges and demands that service life can provide.” H. Clayton “Having achieved all I had hoped to from my Army trade, I was very happy that to gain a corps transfer to a new and challenging area. 3ti made it possible to do the whole process with a minimum of paperwork and time.” M.S. Dillon “I plan to make the Army my career, and that requires moving to a trade where there's opportunity to acquire more skills and seek promotion. With the support of my wife and two young children, I applied through 3ti and the whole process went without a hitch.” W.J. Taylor	Why 3Ti offers you more. Designed to slash red tape and accelerate processes, the Targeted Trade Transfer Initiative (3Ti) will progress your Trade Transfer application to the fast–lane. More flexible when it comes to transferring you from one trade to another, 3Ti gives you greater career opportunities and more powerful career reasons to stay in the Army past your Initial Minimum Period of Service. Are you eligible? You're eligible for the benefits of 3Ti if: You're in your third year of your four year initial minimum period (IMPS). You're in an identified position to maximise your career opportunities. or Your background and experience indicate further potential for a successful Army career. Your Corps Career Manager identifies you as a suitable and approved candidate for transfer.

What other people have found.

“I wish to apply for transfer back to the ARA from AGRES. I have found my time as a civilian to be mundane in comparison to the satisfying challenges and demands that service life can provide.”

H. Clayton

“Having achieved all I had hoped to from my Army trade, I was very happy that to gain a corps transfer to a new and challenging area. 3ti made it possible to do the whole process with a minimum of paperwork and time.”

M.S. Dillon

“I plan to make the Army my career, and that requires moving to a trade where there's opportunity to acquire more skills and seek promotion. With the support of my wife and two young children, I applied through 3ti and the whole process went without a hitch.”

W.J. Taylor

Why 3Ti offers you more.

Designed to slash red tape and accelerate processes, the Targeted Trade Transfer Initiative (3Ti) will progress your Trade Transfer application to the fast–lane. More flexible when it comes to transferring you from one trade to another, 3Ti gives you greater career opportunities and more powerful career reasons to stay in the Army past your Initial Minimum Period of Service.

Are you eligible?

You're eligible for the benefits of 3Ti if:

You're in your third year of your four year initial minimum period (IMPS).
You're in an identified position to maximise your career opportunities.

Your background and experience indicate further potential for a successful Army career.
Your Corps Career Manager identifies you as a suitable and approved candidate for transfer.


What's the Deal? It's simple. The Army values people and their skills and wants to make it as easy as possible for members to upgrade skills, improve job satisfaction and increase their contribution to the force. This is fully supported by ADF policy too: "The Targeted Trade Transfer Initiative derives its authority from the extant policy as outlined in the Defence Instruction (Army) Personnel DI(A) Pers 47-11:" "A soldier may apply for a corps transfer or for re–allocation (Trade Transfer) if they believe such a change maybe in the interests of their career progression or may improve their job satisfaction". What does it mean to you?	Your part of the deal In exchange for developing your skills and progressing your career through the 3Ti initiative, the ADF asks you to commit to a minimum period of service through a Return of Service Obligation (ROSO). Simply put, this is to ensure that the considerable resources the ADF uses to train members and develop the skills have a return in the form of duties completed. As the complexity of the military environment continues to increase, highly trained and experienced members are becoming an asset that is difficult to replace. Members who wish to transfer and increase their skills and knowledge are an asset to the ADF.

What's the Deal?

It's simple. The Army values people and their skills and wants to make it as easy as possible for members to upgrade skills, improve job satisfaction and increase their contribution to the force.

This is fully supported by ADF policy too:

"The Targeted Trade Transfer Initiative derives its authority from the extant policy as outlined in the Defence Instruction (Army) Personnel DI(A) Pers 47-11:"

"A soldier may apply for a corps transfer or for re–allocation (Trade Transfer) if they believe such a change maybe in the interests of their career progression or may improve their job satisfaction".

What does it mean to you?

Your part of the deal

In exchange for developing your skills and progressing your career through the 3Ti initiative, the ADF asks you to commit to a minimum period of service through a Return of Service Obligation (ROSO).

Simply put, this is to ensure that the considerable resources the ADF uses to train members and develop the skills have a return in the form of duties completed.

As the complexity of the military environment continues to increase, highly trained and experienced members are becoming an asset that is difficult to replace.

Members who wish to transfer and increase their skills and knowledge are an asset to the ADF.

What can I learn?

Whatever you want to – almost! There's a huge range of skills you can acquire. Think about what you're interested in, what you enjoy doing and where you want to take your career – then click on a Corps name below.


AUSTINT: Australian Intelligence Corps AABC: Australian Army Band Corps RAAC: Royal Australian Armoured Corps RAA: Royal Australian Artillery AACC: Australian Army Catering Corps AAPSYCH: Australian Army Psychology Corps RASIGS: Royal Australian Corps of Signals RAINF: Royal Australian Infantry RAE: Royal Australian Engineers RACT: Royal Australian Corps of Transport	RACMP: Royal Australian Military Police RAAOC: Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps RAAPC: Royal Australian Army Pay Corps RAAMC: Royal Australian Army Medical Corps RAADC: Royal Australian Army Dental Corps RAEME: Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers AAAVN: Australian Army Aviation AAPRS: Australian Army Public Relations Service

Any questions?

Here are some FAQ's – and their answers. If you don't find the information you're looking for here, please contact Trade Transfer SGT @ SCMA on (03) 5258 0667 or TT CPL on (03) 5258 0640.

How long does it take for my Corps Transfer application to be processed?
If approved, when do I start my new trade/corps?
When do I start my courses?
What happens to my pay level?
What steps are involved in the application process?
Do I incur a ROSO?
Are there other trades available, other than the ones recommended, for trade transfer?
How do I go about trade transferring? What do I need to do to trade transfer? What do I need to provide with an application for trade transfer?
If I trade transfer how will it affect my career?
Can I select a preferred posting location when I trade transfer?
How long will it take to trade transfer?


How long does it take for my Corps Transfer application to be processed? It's usually processed by SCMA within a week of receiving it, as long as all the application requirements have been met. The biggest delay in the processing is the requirement for a psychological suitability assessment for the corps requested. It is recommended that an appointment is made with the local PSS at the time of raising the application in order to speed up the processing of the application at SCMA. If approved, when do I start my new trade/corps? The transfer will be be made when you satisfactorily complete the IET course for the new corps (if required). If you are fully qualified for the new corps, transfer will normally be done as part of the normal posting cycle. When do I start my courses? Approved applicants will be panelled for the next available panel position on the relevant course. If no course is available in the near future, you will be offered transfer to another trade/corps, advised to reapply closer to the course date, or wait listed. What happens to my pay level? If you request a corps transfer, you will retain your original pay group until completion of the qualifying course. Once qualified and posted to a position within the new corps, your pay group will be that applicable to your new trade. The reference is DI(A) Pers 47–11. What steps are involved in the application process? The application is raised in full at your unit and submitted to your CO for recommendation. It is then forwarded to SCMA where it is examined by the Career Manager of your present corps as well as the Career Manager of the proposed new corps. Once a position has been identified, the application is forwarded to the SO2 Transitions for approval. The application is then forwarded to the National Integrated Panelling Authority for panelling on courses as required. A signal is then raised to your unit notifying them of the result of the application. Do I incur a ROSO? All corps transfers that require retraining incur a ROSO. If the period of the ROSO will not exceed a soldier's current FPS obligation, it will be considered to have already been covered by the FPS period. If the ROSO will exceed the FPS period, it will be enforced, commencing on the date of posting to a position within the new corps. The ROSO can be acquitted concurrently with the FPS. In other words, the only additional obligation will be the difference between the FPS completion date and the ROSO completion date. ROSO is dependant on course length (usually course length plus one or two years). Are there other trades available, other than the ones recommended, for trade transfer? Yes, there are other trades available for you to trade transfer. These are extensive, however the range depends on your interests, the courses available and current position vacancies. For instance, at time of writing, in RAE trades training isn't available for ECN 418 Electrical Technicians and there are no trade vacancies for ECN 096 Combat Engineers. Vacancies do exist for ECN 116 Engineer Driver. Please contact the SCMA representative to discuss available trades.	How do I go about trade transferring? What do I need to do to trade transfer? What do I need to provide with an application for trade transfer? Complete a PE166 Application for Re–Posting, Retention, Corps Transfer or Re–Allocation Form, complete a statement on why you wish to trade transfer, provide your most recent medical report, and submit the application through your Chain of Command to your unit CClk. Some specialist trades require other documentation to support your application, your unit will help you meet these requirements. If you need more information, please contact the SCMA representative. If I trade transfer how will it affect my career? If you trade transfer you may incur a Return of Service Obligation (ROSO). The ROSO means you'll have to stay in the Army for a guaranteed time, in some cases up to four years after the completion of the course. The length of your ROSO depends on the cost, duration of training and the significance of the skills you have gained. Once you have successfully completed the training you will progress in accordance with the Manual of Army Employment and the subsequent part relating to the specific trade. Can I select a preferred posting location when I trade transfer? Yes. When you submit your trade transfer, simply provide an AD148 ADF Employment Preference and Restrictions Form with your applications. This will give the gaining Career Manager an insight as to where you would prefer to be posted on successful completion of your course. Please remember that this form will only be a guide and your posting will depend on where trade vacancies are located at the time of posting and on Service needs. How long will it take to trade transfer? The time it takes to trade transfer varies. Applications that have all the required documentation will be processed quickly and can take as little time as 14 days. Some trades, such as AUST INT which require special attention and include processes such as Corps Suitability Boards and interviews, may take up to twelve months. Trades such as Clerk Finance, Military Police and Army Technical and Trade Scheme (ATTS) only have two courses per year and may not have vacant positions in the current training year, therefore will take longer to process. For more information contact the SCMA representative.

How long does it take for my Corps Transfer application to be processed?

It's usually processed by SCMA within a week of receiving it, as long as all the application requirements have been met. The biggest delay in the processing is the requirement for a psychological suitability assessment for the corps requested. It is recommended that an appointment is made with the local PSS at the time of raising the application in order to speed up the processing of the application at SCMA.

If approved, when do I start my new trade/corps?

The transfer will be be made when you satisfactorily complete the IET course for the new corps (if required). If you are fully qualified for the new corps, transfer will normally be done as part of the normal posting cycle.

When do I start my courses?

Approved applicants will be panelled for the next available panel position on the relevant course. If no course is available in the near future, you will be offered transfer to another trade/corps, advised to reapply closer to the course date, or wait listed.

What happens to my pay level?

If you request a corps transfer, you will retain your original pay group until completion of the qualifying course. Once qualified and posted to a position within the new corps, your pay group will be that applicable to your new trade. The reference is DI(A) Pers 47–11.

What steps are involved in the application process?

The application is raised in full at your unit and submitted to your CO for recommendation. It is then forwarded to SCMA where it is examined by the Career Manager of your present corps as well as the Career Manager of the proposed new corps.

Once a position has been identified, the application is forwarded to the SO2 Transitions for approval. The application is then forwarded to the National Integrated Panelling Authority for panelling on courses as required. A signal is then raised to your unit notifying them of the result of the application.

Do I incur a ROSO?

All corps transfers that require retraining incur a ROSO. If the period of the ROSO will not exceed a soldier's current FPS obligation, it will be considered to have already been covered by the FPS period. If the ROSO will exceed the FPS period, it will be enforced, commencing on the date of posting to a position within the new corps. The ROSO can be acquitted concurrently with the FPS. In other words, the only additional obligation will be the difference between the FPS completion date and the ROSO completion date. ROSO is dependant on course length (usually course length plus one or two years).

Are there other trades available, other than the ones recommended, for trade transfer?

Yes, there are other trades available for you to trade transfer. These are extensive, however the range depends on your interests, the courses available and current position vacancies.

For instance, at time of writing, in RAE trades training isn't available for ECN 418 Electrical Technicians and there are no trade vacancies for ECN 096 Combat Engineers. Vacancies do exist for ECN 116 Engineer Driver.

Please contact the SCMA representative to discuss available trades.

How do I go about trade transferring?

What do I need to do to trade transfer?

What do I need to provide with an application for trade transfer?

Complete a PE166 Application for Re–Posting, Retention, Corps Transfer or Re–Allocation Form, complete a statement on why you wish to trade transfer, provide your most recent medical report, and submit the application through your Chain of Command to your unit CClk.

Some specialist trades require other documentation to support your application, your unit will help you meet these requirements. If you need more information, please contact the SCMA representative.

If I trade transfer how will it affect my career?

If you trade transfer you may incur a Return of Service Obligation (ROSO). The ROSO means you'll have to stay in the Army for a guaranteed time, in some cases up to four years after the completion of the course. The length of your ROSO depends on the cost, duration of training and the significance of the skills you have gained. Once you have successfully completed the training you will progress in accordance with the Manual of Army Employment and the subsequent part relating to the specific trade.

Can I select a preferred posting location when I trade transfer?

Yes. When you submit your trade transfer, simply provide an AD148 ADF Employment Preference and Restrictions Form with your applications. This will give the gaining Career Manager an insight as to where you would prefer to be posted on successful completion of your course. Please remember that this form will only be a guide and your posting will depend on where trade vacancies are located at the time of posting and on Service needs.

How long will it take to trade transfer?

The time it takes to trade transfer varies. Applications that have all the required documentation will be processed quickly and can take as little time as 14 days.

Some trades, such as AUST INT which require special attention and include processes such as Corps Suitability Boards and interviews, may take up to twelve months.

Trades such as Clerk Finance, Military Police and Army Technical and Trade Scheme (ATTS) only have two courses per year and may not have vacant positions in the current training year, therefore will take longer to process.

For more information contact the SCMA representative.

I want to sign up!


Download an application Form PE166 Application for Re-Posting Retention Corps Transfer or Re-Allocation (PDF) Now what happens? It's simple – and here you can see how the process works. When a fully completed PE166 form is received at SCMA it is processed as indicated to the right. More Information? Please contact (03) 5258 0667

Download an application Form PE166 Application for Re-Posting Retention Corps Transfer or Re-Allocation (PDF)

Now what happens?

It's simple – and here you can see how the process works. When a fully completed PE166 form is received at SCMA it is processed as indicated to the right.

More Information?
Please contact (03) 5258 0667