ADFA

Australian Defence Force Academy

Coat of Arms of ADFA
Motto	To Lead, To Excel
Type	Commonwealth Military Academy
Established	1986
Affiliation	University of New South Wales
Commandant	Brigadier Cheryl Pearce
Administrative staff	~ 150 Defence staff ~ 380 University
Undergraduates	~ 950
Postgraduates	~ 1300
Location	Canberra, ACT, Australia
Campus	Mount Pleasant, Campbell
Website	www.adfa.edu.au

The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) is a tri-service military Academy that provides military and tertiary academic education for junior officers of the Australian Defence Force in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). In 2016 the Academy began accepting civilian students in its undergraduate courses.

Tertiary education is provided by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra campus, which is the awarding body for ADFA qualifications. Apart from educating future leaders of the Australian Defence Force, UNSW campus also provides postgraduate programs and short courses both to Department of Defence personnel and the general public.

The stated purpose of ADFA is "to serve Australia by providing the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with tertiary graduates who have the attributes, intellect and skills required of an officer."

ADFA is located in the suburb of Campbell, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, near the Australian Government district of Russell. It is situated next to Mount Pleasant, which gives some parts of ADFA a view over the rest of Canberra. The ADFA is also adjacent to the Australian Army military academy, the Royal Military College, Duntroon.

Junior officers who attend the Australian Defence Force Academy hold the rank of Midshipman (MIDN) in the Royal Australian Navy, Officer Cadet (OCDT) in the Australian Army or Officer Cadet (OFFCDT) in the Royal Australian Air Force.

After World War II, each of the three Armed Services adopted, as policy, that the educational standards should be raised for officers in training.