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About the role

Specialisations

Army Reserve | Combat & Special Operations
Entry type

Army Reserve
Location

Various

The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment provide the front-line New Zealand Army with vital combat skills and trade craft, by being a modern, agile, and highly adaptive light combat force. As Infantry in the Army Reserve you will be trained across a variety of different combat skills in the application of force, both lethal and less lethal, in a variety of different terrain across an operational environment. You will work mostly outdoors in close-knit teams, learning combat skills such as weapon handling including live firing, navigation, first aid, field craft and survival training, while building physical fitness, strength, high levels of endurance and stamina. Throughout your career you will be given every opportunity to develop this infantry skillset as well as your command and leadership.

During your career you could be given the opportunity to deploy overseas on military training exercises, on operational deployments in conflict areas of the world or in support of humanitarian aid and disaster relief within NZ or overseas.

Lawyers, architects, electricians, project managers, police and data analysts number amongst our team and we welcome anyone with an interest in conducting infantry techniques, tactics and procedures outdoors in a challenging 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.

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.

Career progression and training

01Training Overview

Training Overview

Initial training consists of three stages which equates to approximately 7 weeks of training. Module 1 (Introduction to the New Zealand Army and Reserve Force service) is conducted throughout the calendar year, with Module 2 (Basic Training) & Corps Training (Initial Trade Specific Coursing) taking place in November, December and January of a given year.

Module 1 (Introduction to the New Zealand Army and Reserve Force service) is conducted across New Zealand at specified times throughout the calendar year. This course is run in Auckland (Whangaparāoa Leadership Centre or RNZAF Base Auckland, Whenuapai), Wellington (Trentham Military Camp) or Christchurch (Burnham Military Camp). Your Candidate Engagement Facilitator will outline the intended MOD 1 location as part of your initial application to join the ResF.

Module 2 (Basic Training) is conducted at Waiouru Military Camp. This is a 38 day residential course, taking place across November, December and January of a given year (duration accounts for leave period over the Christmas and New Year period).

Corps Training (initial trade specific training) is a further two week residential course conducted in Waiouru immediately following Module 2.

02MOD 1

MOD 1

MODULE 1 - Introduction to the New Zealand Army and Reserve Force Service

The purpose of this stage of training is to familiarise recruits with the Army, and Reserve Force service prior to their attendance at the Recruit Territorial Force All Corps Basic (Module 2 - Basic Training).

This is a two day introduction to life in the Army. Over this period, you will be attested into the New Zealand Army, learn the basics of drill and command, Military Law, the Ethos and Values of the NZ Army and the particulars of Reserve Force service. You will also be taught how to live and operate within the military environment and learn about the standards that are required of you as a soldier.

03MOD 2

MOD 2

MODULE 2 - Basic Training

The aim of this course is to develop the individual skill set required of a soldier operating at a basic level of capability. This stage of training is a 38 day residential course conducted upon your arrival at Waiouru Military Camp.

During this stage of your training you will be introduced to:

Drill
First Aid
Operate and communicate utilising in-service communication systems
Introduction to the Individual Weapon, Modularised Assault Rifle System – Light (IW MARS-L) and light support weapon (LSW-C9)
Live firing on the range in order to qualify on the IW MARS-L Annual Weapons Qualification
Introduction to and qualification on the high explosive grenade
Living in a field environment, including:
- patrolling procedures,
- operating in a rifle section, and
- fieldcraft and battlecraft
Introduction to Physical Training, including the Army Fitness Test, swim test and timed pack walk, and
A broadened understanding of military law, including “The Laws of Armed Conflict”

This stage of initial training concludes with a recruit's graduation from the NZ Army training establishment - The Army Depot. Recruits will graduate as a fully qualified soldier (rank of Private/Sapper/Gunner/Trooper/Signaller) in the NZ Army’s Reserve Force, ready to progress on to initial trade specific coursing.

04Corps Training

Corps Training

Initial trade specific coursing differs across the various Army corps. The purpose of initial trade specific coursing is to provide personnel with the necessary basic trade specific skills required of their respective corps.

All personnel will continue to build on the foundational knowledge obtained through Basic Training, with trade specific and ongoing training continuing to refine outputs focused on operations within the combat battlespace. All personnel will train annually to maintain the tenets of the soldiering profession (Move, Shoot, Communicate and Medicate).

As Army Reserve Infantry (Rifleman), you are required to complete Reserves Combat Corps Training.

During this course your role as a soldier within a rifle section will be refined, including your role, use of equipment, tactics, procedures and drills involved in being a functioning section member within the rifle platoon.

This course is conducted immediately after Module 2 (Basic Training) of each calendar year. Here you will conduct collective training across the following proponents:

Additional weapons training, including familiarisation across:
- M203 Grenade Launcher,
- M72 Light Anti-Armour Weapon System, and
- Trip Flare
Adapt to different environments including open and close country field and battlecraft,
Communicate using in-service communications equipment, and
Increased understanding and application of 'buddy-aid' within a combat casualty event.

Collective training objectives of the Army Reserve Engineer profession, and the fundamentals of soldiering are continually refined as part of your continued annual training compliance.

Benefits & allowances

As a Reservist you are paid on an hourly rate rather than a salary. Pay rates depend on the role you are in and your rank; your pay will increase as you move through the ranks.

Salary & benefits

As an Army Reserve soldier, the minimum remuneration you will be paid is a daily rate, including holiday pay. The NZDF also pays 4% Kiwisaver on top of your personal contribution. Your remuneration will increase on promotion and seniority.