Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was a military force formed by the Australian government during World War I (1914-1918). By December 1914, more than 52,500 men had enlisted. They were sent with troops from New Zealand to continue training in Egypt, where the term ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) was coined to describe them.
Unlike the armies raised by other nations during World War I, the AIF was a volunteer army. Men enlisted for a variety of reasons. Patriotism and loyalty were motivations, but so too was a sense of danger and adventure. The war offered a glamorous way to escape a dull life, and the pay was good. Physical standards for recruitment started high but were progressively lowered as the war dragged on. Most men in the AIF were either tradesmen or laborers.
A voluntary force called the Second Australian Imperial Force was formed in Australia at the outbreak of World War II (1939-1945).
