Mō te tūranga

About the role

Specialisations

Combat & Special Operations
Entry type

General entry
Under training

$68,103
Location

Palmerston North and Christchurch

For future intakes, you will join the Army as a Combat Specialist and operate in a range of different environments. You will be introduced to the strategy and skills for combat, before branching into Infantry, Gunner or an Armoured soldier towards the end of basic training.

As Infantry, you are a front line soldier, and the backbone of Army service. You will be expected to be physically fit and will have to maintain a high level of both physical and mental stamina throughout your career. You will be trained and expected to operate in a range of different environments around the world and will receive advanced training in combat skills. You will become proficient in navigation, weapon handling, field-craft, survival and marksmanship throughout your career. You will be expected to carry out your duties regardless of weather, season or terrain.

Accepting Applications

Recruit Regular Force 416, starts 31 Mar 2025 Apply by 04 Nov 2024
Apply Now

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.

Education

3 years secondary school.

^{Note, qualifications may be used to assess trade suitability.}

Fitness & Medical

Citizenship

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

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.

“As Infantry, you are a front line soldier, and the backbone of Army service. You will be expected to be physically fit and will have to maintain a high level of both physical and mental stamina throug”

Malua Tapai'i

Corporal

Job on base

As Infantry, you will spend a vast majority of your time transitioning between a camp and field environment. While in camp you will continue to enhance your infantry core skills such as fieldcraft, weapon training, navigation, communications, marksmanship and physical fitness. When you move into the field environment you will put all your skills into practice during realistic training scenarios in a variety of different environments.
Job on deployment

A deployment is when you travel to another country to assist them in a variety of roles. These can either be combat or non-combat deployments and as Infantry you will deploy in your primary role. Your main focus will providing security by conducting patrols within your area of operations. As you move through the ranks this focus can shift towards a training, advisory and or an observatory role. The Infantry have a vast and proud history of serving overseas and currently they deploy on a variety of overseas operations.

Career progression and training

01Basic Training

Basic Training

Upon successful enlistment into the Army you will be posted to Waiouru Military Camp. Here you will conduct 16 weeks of basic military training to find out if you have what it takes to be in the New Zealand Army. Here you will learn various skills and subjects including:

Army Customs and Protocol,
Physical Fitness,
Drill and Parades,
Military Field Skills and Weapon Training,
First Aid, and
Organisation and Administration

Towards the end of this course, you will branch into the Infantry, Gunner or Armoured trade, depending on the best match for your skills, personal preference and spaces available

02Job Training

Job Training

COMBAT CORPS TRAINING

This course is more physically and mentally challenging than the recruit course. The aim is to prepare you to operate as an effective member of a rifle section.

You will be trained in the use of specialist weapons that are capable of engaging a wide range of selective targets. You will hone your fieldcraft and physical fitness and will learn to apply first aid to a combat casualty. Other skills learnt on this course may include working with military armoured vehicles and Air Force helicopters, navigation, operating combat radios, and learning the detailed organisation of an infantry battalion.

As Infantry, you will be posted to one of the Infantry Rifle Battalions which will either be the 1^st Battalion of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR) based in Linton Military Camp, Palmerston North. Or you will be posted to 2nd 1st Battalion of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (2/1 RNZIR) which is based in Burnham Military camp, Christchurch.

03Career Progression

Career Progression

As Infantry you will spend your initial years developing your infantry skills within a Rifle Company. You may then have the opportunity of working within a Specialist Infantry Platoon where you will develop some advanced infantry skills such as reconnaissance, sniping, crewing heavy weapons, or advanced communications. Over time you may promote in rank and hold different command positions within an Infantry Battalion. As your career progresses, you will work towards being an Infantry Instructor. In this capacity, you could be posted to the Combat School, based in Linton Military Camp, Palmerston North, tutoring on advanced combat courses, or to Waiouru Military Camp working at either The Army Depot providing initial training to recruits or The Army Command School (ACS) where you would train future leaders during initial training and promotion courses.

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 Army are well-rewarded, diverse and exciting. As you become more experienced and move up through the ranks, gaining additional skills and qualifications, your salary will rise accordingly.

Under training

$68,103
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

Ready to start your Army career?

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Tūranga whaipānga

Related Roles

Army

Active Intakes

Armoured (Combat Specialist)

Combat & Special Operations

General entry

There is no other trade like that of being Armoured. You will be trained to operate and fight from within an armoured vehicle and trained in mounted reconnaissance.