We understand that for many young people, joining the Defence Force will be the first time they have been properly away from home. That is why we are on-hand 24-7 to provide our new personnel with the mentoring, encouragement and training they need to adjust. There is also cultural and spiritual support if they need it. Our officers are adept at spotting if someone isn’t happy and knowing what to do to help them through any difficult patches.

Rest assured – you will get to see them. We need time for intense periods of training and once they are up and running, there will probably be overseas missions - that is all part of a Defence Force career. But a lot of their time will still be spent in New Zealand and personnel normally get weekends free just like any civilian job. You will still find them on the phone regularly asking for home comforts!

Perhaps most importantly, we offer a career and lifestyle that is rich in rewards, achievements and experiences. Continuous training development and learning is important to us. For some individuals we can provide packages to assist with study which can include time off and payment of tuition fees. We provide our personnel with the professional skills that will set them up for life. The salaries are competitive and rise as our people gain qualifications and responsibility. Benefits include Free medical and dental care for work related purposes (a small contribution from your remuneration will go toward non work related medical and dental care cover). We help young people develop confidence and maturity and give them the opportunity to make a positive difference to the world.
 

During the application process, your family member will be assigned a Candidate Coordinator, who will help manage them through each stage of their application. The Candidate Coordinator will be available to you or other family members if you have any questions during the application process.

The Candidate Coordinator will send an introduction email to your family member after the initial application is submitted with all of their contact details.
 

For further information you can contact us or call 0800 1 FORCE and speak to an advisor.
 

Find out more information on our minimum requirements and how to apply.