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About the role

Specialisations

Apprenticeship trades | Engineering & Technical trades
Entry type

General entry, Apprenticeships
Under training

$68,103
Location

Linton

As an Electrician your main focus is to provide electrical support to the Army. You will find yourself working on a variety of tasks, from appliance repairs to wiring multi-storey buildings, in an even greater variety of locations

Initially you will be posted to the School of Military Engineering, Linton Military Camp. You will spend the duration of your apprenticeship there learning basic engineering and electrical skills. You will then be posted into 2 Engineer Regiment on completion of your training.

Accepting Applications

Recruit Regular Force 417, starts 07 Jul 2025 Apply by 24 Mar 2025
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.

Period of Service

Once you have completed training you will be required to give a 24 month return of service to the NZ Army.

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

The primary role of an electrician once on Camp is to maintain your trade skills on construction task sites or conduct further professional development training. Most RNZE Electricians are based at Linton Camp, but there are also opportunities to work in Waiouru and Burnham.
Job on deployment

While on deployment, Electricians will use their skills working alongside other NZ Army trades constructing and maintaining camp facilities wherever the Army is deployed. Royal New Zealand Engineers (RNZE) personnel can be found in small contingents around the globe. Places they have previously been deployed include Antarctica, Afghanistan, Bougainville, Vanuatu, Fiji, Bosnia, Timor Leste and Iraq.
As an electrician in the NZ Army you will have the opportunity to achieve your National Certificate in Electrical Engineering. From here as your career progresses you will then get the opportunity to attain your Diploma in Construction Management.

Career progression and training

01Basic Training

Basic Training

Upon successful enlistment into the Army you will be posted to Waiouru Army base. Here you will do 16 weeks of basic military training to find out if you have what it takes to be in the Army, and learn various subjects including:

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

02Job Training

Job Training

BASIC COMBAT ENGINEER COURSE

This is an eight week course held at the School of Military Engineering, Linton Military Camp. This is the first course conducted for most trades within the RNZE. It introduces you to the combat side of being an engineer before you undertake your specific trade. The course covers the basics of field engineering including bridging, water supply, explosives, field defences, obstacles, booby traps, boating and other subjects. After the course, you will have a good understanding of field engineering and also be qualified as an Army (explosives) Demolition Handler. Further Combat Engineer training will be conducted over the duration of your career.

LEVEL TWO NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (NCEE)

An eight-week course conducted at UCol in Palmerston North. It introduces you to the fundamentals of the electrical trade. The apprenticeship will be carried out at your home unit, with all theoretical trade training assessed at UCol throughout your apprenticeship until you qualify on the Level Four NCEE. Once you have completed and passed all these requirements, you will be eligible for electrical registration. This training takes four years.

03Career Progression

Career Progression

As an electrician in the NZ Army you will have the opportunity to achieve your National Certificate in Electrical Engineering. From here as your career progresses you will then get the opportunity to attain your Diploma in Construction Management.

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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