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Airforce

Intelligence Officer

Military intelligence is a fascinating area of our operations and you will be at the heart of it, interpreting intelligence data on a wide range of missions at home and overseas.

Mō te tūranga

About the role

  • Specialisations

    Intelligence, IT & Communications | Officers & Management

  • Entry type

    Officer entry

  • Under training

    $68,103

  • Location

    Auckland, Ohakea, and Wellington

As an Intelligence Officer, you will interpret and analyse a wide variety of information to help inform modern air operations. This will include analysing, evaluating and fusing information in the context of the operation or activity you are supporting. Ultimately the result of an Intelligence Officer’s assessment helps better inform decision making for tactical, operational or strategic commanders and to ensure the safety and security of our people and the operations we are conducting at home and overseas.

In the broader Intelligence Officer role you will be involved in functions such as the production of all-source intelligence products and the review and amendment of intelligence policy. You will also be involved in the management of intelligence personnel, development and support of Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, fixed wing transport or rotary wing capabilities, mission planning, managing projects, security and intelligence processes and outputs.

Intelligence Officers will likely be deployed on operations, supporting a platform or as part of a wider air operations team, holding responsibility for co-ordinating and delivering critical intelligence support to the operation. This will include the application of analytical thinking, analysis, preparation, co-ordination and implementation of intelligence functions associated with the conduct of Air Operations.

Your role will see you having a high degree of computer literacy; utilising a variety of computer based systems and applications. This will include both web based applications as well as digital data libraries and tools. Technology and learning are staple aspects of your job with the next challenge only another mission away. You will also have strong public speaking skills, briefing crews and commanders on a day-to-day basis.

You will usually work in a secure environment with a close knit, highly motivated team who are very mission focused. As an Air Force we are always ready to respond, with intelligence support being a 24 hour job, you may deploy at short notice and operate in various locations throughout the world. This offers diverse, challenging and rewarding opportunities.

Requirements

Basics

  • Must be 18 years old by the time you graduate from recruit course.
  • Eligible to meet national security clearance criteria, as stipulated by the Government's Protective Security Requirements.
  • Pass an Officer Selection Board.

Education

You must hold a Bachelor's Degree.

 

Scholarship Entry

The Air Force offer undergraduate scholarships for candidates who demonstrate the qualities required to become an Intelligence Officer.

The scholarships are:

  • RNZAF Undergraduate Scheme: Study at an approved university institution of your choice while the Air Force covers your fees and a living allowance on a ‘year for a year’ return of service basis.
  • Graduate Incentive Scheme: Study at the university of your choice, and on completion of your degree, you will be paid an increasing incentive over the next four years with the monetary value based on the number of full time study years successfully completed. 

View our Scholarship programs.

Citizenship

There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required TSV security clearance for this trade.
Find out if you’re eligible here.

Period of Service

Your training is some of the most thorough and advanced in the world. Once you have graduated as an Intelligence Officer, you’ll be contractually obliged to spend another two years in the Air Force.

We offer guidance on entry requirements in our eligibility section. Apply if you're uncertain, as we’ll work through the criteria with you to determine if you can proceed.

  • Job on base

    You will be employed on an Operational Squadron preparing, co-ordinating and presenting intelligence briefs and products, conducting debriefs and providing advice to Squadron members and commanders. This will involve liaising with various stakeholders and ensuring effective intelligence support is implemented to support the mission. You will also support the various air-related activities relevant to New Zealand’s interests, analysing intelligence received from various sources and interpret the significance of this data to Air Force operations.

  • Job on deployment

    Intelligence Officers will likely have the opportunity to deploy with squadrons on exercises or operations. You could be called upon to spend time in other countries and experience a diversity of cultures and conditions as you support the activities of the Squadron you are deployed with. Your duties on deployment will draw on your training and have you working alongside aircrew and other intelligence staff.

    At times you may be called upon to deploy on some of these operations at short notice and to work long shifts. The role of an Intelligence Officer is varied and dynamic. You may be supporting an Exclusive Economic Zone Patrol around New Zealand one day, and the next deployed overseas working in a multi-national exercise involving aircraft, ships and land forces.

Career progression and training

01Basic Training

02Job Training

03Ongoing Training

04Specialist Training

05Career Progression

Benefits & allowances

Earn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.

In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include:

  • Access to your Service marae or tūrangawaewae
  • Sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels
  • Free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases
  • Opportunities to travel
  • Free and subsidised medical and dental care
  • Subsidised food and accommodation on camps and bases
  • Free and subsidised insurance cover
  • Help to buy a home and save for retirement

Salary & benefits

Careers in the Air Force 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.

  • Under training

    $68,103

  • Future potential earnings

    $140,000

20220909 NZDF R1055140 005

Am I fit enough?

If you want to be part of the NZ Defence Force you need to be medically and physically fit for military duties worldwide.

Medical & Fitness
Air Force Application Process 20240920

The application process

Your step-by-step guide on what to expect at various stages of the application process, specifically for military roles.

Application process
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