As a NZ Army Reserve Soldier you will experience a part-time job with full-on rewards.  From life in camp to operations out in the field, you will learn new skills and gain new experiences you won’t get anywhere else. While training you will mix with other like minded people from a variety of backgrounds, making life-long friends, professional contacts and gaining links into your community and further a field.

Serving in the New Zealand Army as a part-time Soldier is a great way to challenge yourself, learn new skills and build on your existing abilities. Kiwi soldier's are respected for their personal qualities and their ability to utilise initiative, sound judgement, ingenuity and maturity to carry out a variety of roles in an increasingly complex military environment.

Army Reserve Soldiers are trained in a variety of skills: from marksmanship, navigation and First Aid, to problem-solving and planning and the ability to operate effectively in a variety of complex situations. Along with Soldier-specific skills you will learn other practical skills that you can use in your every day life such as working in or commanding a close knit team, developing your leadership and management style or just improving your overall fitness.

The usual Army Reserve commitment is approximately 20 days a year, mostly on weekends with some training on week nights with your local Reserve Unit. Training is designed to be flexible, allowing you to choose when you serve; thus tailoring your service to fit with your work, study and/or family commitments.

As your training and career progresses you may be offered more hours or even the opportunity to deploy on operations or exercise overseas. As an Army Reserve Soldier, both at home and abroad, you will have the kind of experiences that simply cannot be found anywhere else.
 

Specialisations

There are a number of different trades or specialisations which you can perform as a member of the Army Reserve, which are divided into combat and support roles. But, regardless of which role you choose to take up; you are a soldier first, which means you must complete a recruit course and maintain the same basic soldiering skills throughout your career.
 

Career Progression

As a Soldier in the Army Reserve once you have become efficient in your given trade you will have the opportunity to be promoted into the role of a non commissioned officer (NCO). Non-Commissioned Officer ranks are divided into three categories: Junior NCOs, Senior NCOs and Warrant Officers.
 

Junior NCOs: Team Leaders

Junior NCOs are Lance-Corporals and Corporals. They are the Army's small-team leaders and are responsible for leading, training and motivating teams of between four and ten soldiers. They must be able to plan and execute tasks for their team, and inspire their soldiers to perform their duties in a professional manner under demanding circumstances.
 

Senior NCOs: Supervisors and Trainers

Sergeants and Staff Sergeants are the Army's Senior Non-Commissioned Officers. They provide assistance and guidance to junior Officers while ensuring that their soldiers are adequately trained, led and administered.

Senior Non-Commissioned Officers must also have the ability to lead a platoon of Soldiers in the absence of a Commissioned Officer.
 

Warrant Officers: Experienced Professionals

The Army's Warrant Officers are a vital bridge between Commissioned Officers and Soldiers, providing a vast store of knowledge and experience which they can draw on to advise and mentor, to maintain high standards of professionalism and develop the Army's Junior Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers.

Pay

As an Army Reserve soldier, the minimum remuneration you will be paid from day one is a daily rate of $105.39. Your remuneration will increase upon graduation of your recruit course to a daily rate of $119.41 and will continue to increase on promotion and seniority.
 

Benefits of being an Army Reserve soldier
 

• Opportunities for extraordinary experiences you’ll get no where else
• Gain leadership skills
• Get away for adventure-filled weekends
• You are paid competitive rates for part time employment and as you progress so will your remuneration
• Your pay includes Kiwisaver contributions
• Your work arrangements are flexible, you choose when you serve.
• Flexible work arrangements include the option to work full time as well.
• Your training is world class and much of it is recognised by NZQA
• You will make friends and professional contacts that last a life time
• You will work with weapons and equipment not available with other New Zealand employers
• There is always the potential for overseas training and operations
• We want you fit and healthy; so we will look after your medical and dental needs when you are conducting training, as well as assist you build your fitness

• You must be at least 17 years of age
• Meet the citizenship & security requirements to gain CV security clearance for this trade
• Preferably hold a Class 1 restricted driver's licence
• Specific entry requirements for each trade can be found the Reserve trade pages listed.

• You must have completed at least three years at secondary school
• A proven ability in English and Mathematics at NCEA Level 1 (8 credits per subject) or equivalent, as a minimum depending on trade preference

You must be medically fit for service.