To be a soldier in today's Army Reserve, you need to be able to do more than just follow orders, iron your uniform and polish your boots.

On overseas service, Army Reserve soldiers must utilise the Kiwi Soldier's qualities of initiative, good judgement, ingenuity and maturity to carry out a variety of roles in an increasingly complex modern environment.

As an Army Reserve soldier, both at home and abroad, you will have the kind of experiences that simply cannot be found anywhere else.

Serving in the New Zealand Army as a part-time soldier in the Army Reserve is a great way to challenge yourself, to lean new skills and build on your existing abilities.

Army Reserve soldiers are trained in a variety of skills: from Marksmanship, Navigation and First Aid, to negotiation and problem-solving in order to give them the ability to operate effectively in a variety of complex situations.

Specialisations

There are a number of different trades or specialisations which you can peform 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 common Recruit Course and maintain the same basic soldiering skills throughout your career.

Combat Roles

Rifleman - Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment

As a Rifleman you are the backbone of the Army. You'll be physically strong with a high level of endurance and stamina. You'll work mainly in outdoor environments and test your navigation, fieldcraft and weapons handing abilities on a regular basis.

Gunner - Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery

As a Gunner, you will be part of a professional team dedicated to providing safe, accurate and timely fire support to troops. To do this you will specialise within the Gunner trade as a Field Gun Operator, Artillery Signaller or Command Post Operator.

Crewman - Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps

You will be trained to operate and fight from an armoured vehicle and trained in the skills of mounted reconnaissance. This involves working under pressure in a confined space, by day or night, in all weather conditions over varying terrain, anywhere in the world.

Field Engineer - Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers

Field Engineers provide the New Zealand Army with vital combat engineering support. As a Field Engineer in the Army Reserve you will be trained in a variety of different specialist skills including explosive demolition, bridge construction, mine clearance, small boat handling and obstacle breaching.

Support Roles

Combat Medical Technician - Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps

As a medic, you will be trained in first aid and emergency care skills, diagnosis and treatment of disease. Out in the field, you will be ensuring a high level of health and hygiene is adhered to in order to prevent illness and injury.

Intelligence Operator - New Zealand Intelligence Corps

Intelligence Operators gather and process information to assist commanders in decision making. Intelligence staff predict what the enemy is going to do, while safeguarding our secrets and preventing the enemy from being able to predict our intentions.

Driver - Royal New Zealand Army Logistics Regiment

As a driver in the Army, you will be trained to operate your vehicle by day and night, anywhere in the world, and in all weather conditions and terrain.

Signaller - Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals

Signallers work with the sophisticated communications equipment and technology which keeps the Army's command and control systems up and running. You will learn to set up and operate multi-channel communications, long and short range radio networks and satellite terminals.

Career Progression

As a Soldier in the Army Reserve you will have the opportunity to be promoted into the role of NCO or Non Commissioned Officer. 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: they are responsable 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.

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.

• You must be at least 17 years of age
• You must be a NZ citizen (some exceptions apply).
• You must be of good character – assessed by a study of testimonials and a police record check.
• A Class 1 restricted driver's licence is recommended, but is not compulsory.

• 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.