The Cargo Specialist is a soldier who loads and unloads cargo from all modes of sea, air and land transport utilising a variety of equipment such as small warehouse forklifts, 30 Tonne rough terrain forklifts, mobile cranes and ships gear and cranes. The RACT has many roles to perform, and in doing so operates the Army fleet of landing craft, amphibious vehicles and all forms of road transport. Cargo Specialists are involved with each of these modes of transport and vehicle types, as well as the interface between Army and Civilian transport at Ports, Airheads and Rail Terminals in the loading and unloading of cargo.

Duties

In addition to the basic driving, servicing and recovery duties performed as an ECN 109 Driver, the ECN 171 Cargo Specialist is required to:

• Operate and maintain various specialist B and D vehicles under all conditions by day and night.
• Rig, load and unload equipment, stores and vehicles, including dangerous cargo for movement on all modes of transport.
• Receive, dispatch and record the movement of all types of cargo through a terminal or Freight Distribution Centre (FDC).

Employment Training

Duration (working days) FT - 54 Training Days
General Comments. Trainees are to hold an C2 and MR2 driving licence in order to attend this course. Trainees must display mechanical, literacy and numeracy aptitude.
The drivers course is held at Army Logistic Training Centre, Road Transport Wing, Puckapunyal, Victoria (7 weeks), and then followed by a Cargo Specialist Course (11 weeks) at Army Logistic Training Centre Maritime Wing at Ross Island, Townsville QLD. As well as qualifying successful trainees to be employed as Cargo Specialists, this employment training sees the granting of work cover certification in:

• Forklift Operations
• Derrick Crane Operations
• Crane Dogman Operations

Employment Location

The majority of soldiers are employed within 10 Force Support Battalion in Townsville. Soldiers may also be posted to 1 CSSB, Darwin, ALTC - Maritime Wing, Townsville or as part of the Ships Army Departments (SAD) of HMA Ships TOBRUK, KANIMBLA or MANOORA. Whilst posted to an SAD soldiers receive the same Sea Going Entitlements as Navy (Sea Going Allowance and Sea Going Leave). All soldiers in this trade should expect at least one posting to a ship as a private and a subsequent posting as they are promoted through the ranks.

Pay

The pay levels for this employment are:

• Cargo Specialist Grade 1 ECN 171-1 PTE Pay Group 2
• Cargo Specialist Grade 2 ECN 171-2 PTE-LCPL Pay Group 3
• Advanced Cargo Specialist ECN 171-3 PTE-CPL Pay Group 3
• Assistant Supervisor Cargo Operations ECN 171-4 CPL Pay Group 4
• Supervisor Cargo Operations ECN 171-5 SGT Pay Group 4
• Manager Cargo Operations ECN 171-6 SGT-WO2 Pay Group 4
• Manager Cargo Operations ECN 171-6 WO1 Pay Group 2

Civil Accreditation

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

• Certificate III in Transport and Distribution (Road Transport) is granted to personnel on being assessed as a competent ARA PTE-CPL.
• Statement of Attainment towards the Certificate III in Transport and Distribution (Mobile Crane Operations) is granted to personnel being assessed as a competent as an ARA PTE -WO2.
• Statement of Attainment towards the Certificate IV in Transport and Distribution (Stevedoring) is granted to personnel being assessed as competent as an ARA CPL.
• Certificate III in Transport and Distribution (Stevedoring ) is granted to personnel on being assessed as a competent ARA CPL.
• Certificate IV in Transport and Distribution (Stevedoring) is granted to personnel on being assessed as a competent ARA SGT.
• Diploma of Logistics Management is granted to personnel on being assessed as a competent ARA WO2.

Further Information