Mō te tūranga
About the role
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Specialisations
Intelligence, IT & Communications
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Entry type
General entry
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Under training
$68,860
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Location
Auckland, Ohakea and Wellington
As an Intelligence Specialist, you will be providing intelligence to assist in the preparation and planning for military air operations. This includes researching, analysing, and producing mission data. This may be presented as written reports, graphical reports, oral briefs or programmed software. The Intelligence Specialist trade is comprised of two separate specialisations, Geospatial Intelligence Analysts and Electronic Warfare Specialists.
If you specialise as a Geospatial Intelligence Analyst, you will receive training in the exploitation of satellite, electro-optical, infrared and radar imagery, as well as full motion video. You will also be trained in the use of Geospatial Information Systems
(GIS) software, enabling you to display and analyse spatial data for the creation of maps and various graphics that supplement intelligence reports.
If you specialise as an Electronic Warfare Specialist you will receive training in the analysis, production and programming of data across the electromagnetic spectrum in order to support electronic warfare equipment across the Air Force fleet. A technically challenging role, you will be responsible for locating and identifying adversary emissions in order to provide valuable mission intelligence to keep our
aircraft and aircrew safe.
The NZDF’s commitment to international peace and security necessitates the
deployment of aircraft and military personnel overseas. This can be alongside the deployment of RNZAF aircraft, in support of internationally led peacekeeping missions, or to assist with humanitarian aid and disaster relief. As an Intelligence Specialist, you’ll play a vital role to support these operations either from New Zealand or deployed within the operating environment.
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.
- Must have been a New Zealand citizen for at least 10 years. Alternatively, must hold a NZ Permanent Residence visa or a current NZ Residency class visa and have been a citizen of the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, or Australia for at least ten years.
Education
Minimum: NCEA Level 2 certificate.
Find out more about the NCEA levels and certificate requirements.
Fitness & Medical
Citizenship
There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required TSS 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 Specialist, you’ll be contractually obliged to spend another 24 months 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.
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Job on base
The RNZAF supports missions 24 hours a day seven days a week, so you may need to work some weekends, holidays and shift work. At times you may be required to cover a duty call out roster and be prepared to work at short notice.
Initially you will work as part of a team under the leadership of an Intelligence Officer and an experienced Intelligence Specialist. Your job will be to support the military planning and decision-making process. This might include researching, analysing, preparing, and collating mission data which will then be presented in either written, graphical or oral reports to aircrew and decision makers.During your first 12 to 24 months in the RNZAF you will be continuously developing your skills as an intelligence analyst and learning from the more experienced analysts in your team. This will require you to hone your skills learnt in the formal training environment through continuous feedback on your work. This may require short stints of work experience and training in different units and locations.
Once you have completed your specialist training you will continue to research and produce intelligence, now within your specialisation skillset (either Electronic Warfare or Geospatial Intelligence) whilst also developing your leadership skills. You will be required to begin coaching and mentoring junior intelligence specialists and as you gain more experience personnel management will progressively become a key part of your job. You will be required to provide specialist analysis to support wider intelligence products, as well as specialist advice to a variety of people.
Such is the varied and dynamic nature of the role that no day is ever the same as an Intelligence Specialist. You may be supporting a Northern Patrol around the Pacific one day, and deployed overseas the next, working a multinational exercise involving aircraft, ships and land forces. -
Job on deployment
As an Intelligence Specialist you are likely to have the opportunity to deploy nationally and globally with squadrons, and other services on exercises or operations. Your role will be very similar to that on Base; providing intelligence to support NZDF operations, but the environment might be very different.
You may be required to conduct your job in countries where you will experience a diversity of cultures, complex military problems and challenging environmental conditions. Your duties on deployment will draw on both your all-source analysis skills and your specialisation (Geospatial or Electronic Warfare), and have you working alongside aircrew and other intelligence staff. During deployments you may have limited communications with home and may be required to work long hours. Sometimes deployments happen at short notice, and you may have less than 24 hours before going overseas without a return date.
Career progression and training
01Basic Training
Basic Training
Recruit course
(12 weeks) Location: RNZAF base Woodbourne
Upon successful enlistment into the Air Force you’ll undergo basic military training to find out if you’ve got what it takes to be in the Air Force, and learn various subjects including:
- Organisation and Administration
- RNZAF Customs and Protocol
- Drill and Parades
- Military Field Skills and Weapon Training
- First Aid, and Search and Rescue Techniques
- Physical Fitness
02Job Training
Job Training
PRIMARY TRADE TRAINING
Following basic military training you will complete the 12 week Air Intelligence Basic Course at RNZAF Base Woodbourne. This course will train you in:
- The principles of NZDF security
- The fundamentals of intelligence, and
- Intelligence Support to Air Operations
On completion of this primary trade training, Intelligence Specialists are considered all-source intelligence analysts, having gained the necessary skills to critically analyse and process information to produce intelligence.
ON THE JOB EXPERIENCE
Intelligence Specialists will then spend 12 – 18 months primarily at No. 230 Squadron gaining on-the-job experience. During this time, there may also be opportunities to conduct up to six-month long attachments to various intelligence units around the country. Intelligence Specialists will get the opportunity to use their analytical training in support of different operations and activities, prior to specialising as an electronic warfare or geospatial intelligence analyst.
SPECIALIST TRAINING
After approximately two to three years of service you will be considered to attend formal specialist training in either Electronic Warfare or Geospatial Intelligence. The timing of this training will depend on the availability of courses both in New Zealand and overseas. You may be required to travel overseas for up to six months to conduct training, and you may be required to travel as the sole New Zealander to remote Bases or Camps.
03Ongoing Training
Ongoing Training
Whilst conducting on-the-job experience, you will have the opportunity to attend a variety of formal and informal training activities. Intelligence specialists will also be required to attend exercises where they will put their intelligence skills to the test in a practice deployed environment.
Following specialist training and throughout your career you will have many opportunities to conduct formal and informal training that will ensure you continue to develop professionally and maintain up to date with technology and processes throughout your career.
On completion of your recruit and primary trade training you will initially be employed at No. 230 (Mission Support) Squadron in Ohakea. No. 230 (Mission Support) Squadron is responsible for providing integrated, timely, and accurate intelligence support to RNZAF Air Operations, and the force elements at Base Ohakea and Base Auckland.
Intelligence Specialists can expect to spend three to five years at No. 230 Squadron. During this time, Intelligence Specialists can receive diverse opportunities such as further domestic training and tours of duty, overseas postings, exchanges, exercises, and deployments. After this period, Intelligence Specialists can expect to be posted to another base, the Wellington region, or overseas. However, there will be some opportunities to remain at, or return to, 230 SQN and progress through the ranks there. Intelligence Specialists continue to grow their skills throughout their career and become increasingly involved in the supervision, management, and coordination of staff and operations.
In order to gain the required amount of experience to progress through the ranks you will be expected to work in different regions. Most opportunities for Intelligence Specialists are in Ohakea and Wellington, but there are also some limited roles in Woodbourne and Whenuapai.
As Intelligence Specialists progress to senior roles, greater focus on leadership and management is required to lead teams of analysts in support of military air operations. SINTELS will begin to undertake mentoring and coaching roles in order to develop the required leadership skills to promote and progress up the chain of command.
04Specialist Training
Specialist Training
As you progress to senior roles within the trade, you will focus on the leadership and management required to lead teams of analysts in support of military air operations. This will involve deploying as a lead of a small team and liaising with Intelligence Officers in support of flying squadrons to produce intelligence products.
05Career Progression
Career Progression
You will initially be employed at 230 (Mission Support) Squadron in Auckland; home of the RNZAF Intelligence Trade and responsible for mission support to RNZAF Air Operations. At 230 Squadron you will be part of the Mission Support Flight (MSF) team working with either the Geospatial or Electronic Warfare Sections. You can expect to spend at least six to eight years at 230 Squadron during which time you will support operations and deployments both overseas and within New Zealand.
Over your career you may also complete six to twelve month exchanges with other NZDF and allied units. Options for overseas posts are also feasible along with ongoing opportunities for deployment. Intelligence Specialists continue to grow their skills throughout their career and will increasingly become involved in the management and coordination of staff; rising to become a Section Commander and ultimately potentially head up the Intelligence Team at 230 Squadron.
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.
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Under training
$68,860
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Future potential earnings
$98,000
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
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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