From October 1, the commitment period for personnel who join the permanent Australian Defence Force (ADF) will be extended from five years to 10 years.

Originally introduced as part of Defence Regulations 2016, the commitment period requires personnel to render a period of inactive Reserve service following separation from the permanent ADF.

Except for a call-out order issued by the Governor-General, inactive reservists have no service obligations.

“A contingent workforce, made up of experienced personnel, provides the ADF greater flexibility to respond to heightened operational or strategic demand,” Head of Military Personnel Rear Admiral Tish van Stralen said.

“Should the need arise, integrating SERCAT (Service Category) 2 personnel back into the ADF is a quicker, more effective method to strengthen our forces.”

The extension of the commitment period operationalises Recommendation 6 of the Strategic Review of the ADF Reserves 2024 and is consistent with approaches adopted by a number of Australia's international partners.

“Being prepared for a world of increasing strategic risk and competition means having the people who can deliver effective on-the-ground results,” Rear Admiral van Stralen said.

“Extending the commitment period will ensure the ADF’s contingent Reserve continues to have the skills and experience to be a leading military capability.”

There’s more than 8000 reservists not currently rendering service. This number is forecast to approximately double over a five-year period following the extension of the commitment period. This is in addition to the ADF’s current full-time and permanent force, which is on track to reach 69,000 personnel by the early 2030s.

“While the permanent workforce remains the ADF’s primary means to achieve operational outcomes, reservists are a force multiplier, enhancing the strategic reach and impact of our standing forces,” Rear Admiral van Stralen said.

Recommendation 6 will also extend the commitment period for Reserve personnel who never joined the permanent ADF. Personnel who join the Reserves after October 1, 2026, will have a commitment period of 10 years after the last day of effective service. Personnel who joined the Reserves before October 1, 2026, will have a commitment period of five years after the last day of effective service but can elect to extend their commitment period beyond five years, enabled through Chief of the Defence Force determination.