As a Supply Officer you work at sea and ashore both in New Zealand and foreign countries, and in conflict zones worldwide completing a wide variety of management roles. You are responsible for the provision of support to the Navy’s ships, bases and personnel, and manage supply chain systems, human resources, cash control, provision of legal advice, logistic planning, catering and food services and financial accounting. You will be overseeing staff while working as a team to ensure the efficient flow of resources.
You will predominantly work a standard 0800 to 1600 day both at sea and ashore. Shore postings can be in any number of areas and typically you will only spend 18 months to 2 years in any one role providing variety and stimulation. These range from the Navy Supply Depot to the Aide de Comp to the NZ Governor General.
On most Navy ships there is a Supply Officer to direct and control resources and personnel. There may also be a Deputy Supply Officer onboard and one or more Assistant Supply Officers who have yet to complete their formal qualifications and are participating in on-the-job training. The lifestyle onboard a Navy ship is demanding but very rewarding, living and working with your friends while travelling and experiencing other cultures.
Your hard work, experience and training accomplishments as a Supply Officer are rewarded by promotions in rank and salary. If you are joining with a relevant tertiary qualification, this is recognised by up to a 4 year ‘jump start’ in your career and you will be promoted to Sub-Lieutenant upon completion of Junior Officer Common Training (JOCT). On completion of JOCT you will conduct the 7 week Supply Officer Initial Professional Course (SOIPC) to learn the basics of Supply Officer duties. You will then conduct at least 6 months at sea to solidify your training and complete your task book. The time before sitting the Supply Officer’s Charge Board (SOCB) and becoming a fully qualified Supply Officer will involve a variety of training courses and on-the-job training both at sea and in ashore establishments.
Careers in the Navy are well-rewarded, as well as being diverse and exciting. As you become more experienced and move up through the ranks, gaining additional skills and qualifications, you will see your salary rise accordingly.
While undertaking Officer Training you will hold the Rank of Midshipman (see attached pay table). On graduation from your commissioning course your rank and pay will increase based on your trade speciality and qualification level.
You must have completed at least three years at secondary school.
Upon successful enlistment into the Navy you’ll be posted to Devonport Navy Base in Auckland. Here you will do 22 weeks of officer military training course to find out if you’ve got what it takes to become leaders in the Navy, and learn various subjects including:
The SOIPC is approximately 7 weeks long and is designed to instil the technical skills of being a Supply Officer. You will be trained in a full range of professional and widely used management systems including: Logistics, MYOB accounting, Budget Management, Departmental management, organisation and control, Defence Structure, Food Safety, Audit Procedures, New Zealand Defence Force Legal System, Human Resource Management, Logistic Information systems and Classified Document Processing.
After completing the Supply Officers Initial Professional Course, you will post to a ship as an Assistant Supply Officer where you will learn the practical application of your job and become accustomed to life at sea. This practical training combines the theory from your training with the challenge of managing people and working at sea. As well as conducting specialised tasks, you will participate in general ship routines, such as Damage Control exercises, Replenishment at Sea, Man Overboard Drills, boarding operations and humanitarian assistance operations.
Those who do not post to sea immediately, work ashore in an understudy program until they are able to post to sea. All junior Supply Officers will post to a ship to consolidate training prior to gaining their initial supply qualifications.
During this time you will also complete other pre-requisite training courses in general Officer duties such as the Divisional Officer’s Leadership Course (DOLC) and obtaining your Officer of the Day (OOD) ticket which will allow you to conduct full Officer duties on board the ship.
This time at sea culminates in the award of the Supply Officer Competency Certificate (SOCC) by the ship’s Commanding Officer, which is the qualification required to transition from the training environment and along with the OOD qualification, enables the Supply Officer to be promoted to Lieutenant.As a Supply Officer you will predominantly be posted ashore in a variety of roles both in New Zealand and abroad when not posted on board one of the RNZN warships.
As a Supply Officer you will predominantly be posted ashore in a variety of roles both in New Zealand and abroad when not posted on board one of the RNZN warships.