Classroom to crankshafts

When Lt Zane Teh joined Army, it marked an almost seamless transition from higher education into a military profession.

He joined courtesy of a program that supports students financially in exchange for full-time service upon graduation.

Defence University Sponsorship (DUS) covers tuition fees for accredited degrees and pays an annual salary in return for an equal number of years spent in uniform plus one, with a three-year minimum.

Lt Teh heard about DUS in high school while attending a university open day, and took up the offer two years into an Aerospace Engineering Degree at Monash University.

“Army paid for the final two years I was at university, which meant I only had two years’ worth of HECS [Higher Education Contribution Scheme] debt,” Lt Teh said.

“I’d always been interested in the military and had a passion for engineering, so it was a natural progression.

“There was lots of admin to begin with, but the benefits are excellent and you’re guaranteed a job in the field that you’ve studied in. It gives you that vocational surety.”

Lt Teh’s initial posting was to the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Aircraft Maintenance School at Oakey.

In 2025, he posted into 16ASB as a learning engineering officer (LEO). The unit was created earlier that year to concentrate maintenance and logistics operations for Army Avn’s growing fleet of helicopters.

With on-the-job experience and training he’ll become a qualified electrical and mechanical engineering aviation officer overseeing a team of technicians who support the testing and maintenance of the CH-47F Chinooks and AH-64E Apaches.

A member of 5 Workshop Coy, his main duties comprise technical management of aircraft servicing and repair.

“Basically it’s all about looking after the people who fix the aircraft; it’s a bit like being a project manager,” Lt Teh said. 

“We do deep-level maintenance, the kind of work that can take weeks to complete. It is my job to do the technical reports on defects or damage, which then go to the Cargo Helicopter Maintenance Unit in Brisbane, which provides technical advice as required.”

When he isn’t in the workshop, the Malaysian-born LEO is a regular at the athletics track in his secondary role as the unit sports officer.

Having completed the ADF fitness leaders’ course, he helps conduct PT sessions and encourages participation in Defence sporting competitions.

“I’m not really that sports minded, but I’m very fitness-focused,” Lt Teh said. 

“Strength training is something I really enjoy and I spend lots of time in the gym.”

He recently earned the skills-at-arms badge for marksmanship, something not common in the aviation space.

“It came up as an opportunity last year. It meant a couple of weeks at the WTSS and training serials with some good coaching. Then we spent three days on the range and I got the badge on day three,” he said.

Somehow, he has also found time to study for a Masters of Systems Engineering through ADFA’s postgraduate scheme, a part-time online course delivered by UNSW Canberra.