Mātaiora & Pakari
Medical & Fitness
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Ready for anything
If you want to be part of the NZ Defence Force, you need to be medically and physically fit for military duties. This page gives you an overview of the areas you'll be assessed on during the application process.
It pays to be completely honest about your medical history and put in the mahi by committing to your fitness upfront. Our Defence Health Hub will help you stay well and perform at your best while in Service.
Medical & Health
If you're selected to join us, your initial training will be mentally and physically demanding. Many conditions can be easily managed in civilian life but are exacerbated by military duties. The NZDF must ensure it selects individuals who can safely complete military training and serve anywhere in the world. To do this, we conduct several health checks upfront.
Our medical requirements were developed by health specialists with detailed knowledge of military service. Here are the requirements you’ll need to meet.
Non-disclosure
If you’re not sure about your medical history, please check with your Candidate Engagement Facilitator. Failure to disclose any history of a condition that could impact your performance will result in your application being declined.Fitness testing on Assessment Day
At your Assessment Day (A-Day) you'll be required to pass a fitness test and your results will be graded. This means that the better your fitness test results, the more competitive you are within the overall selection process.
Your A-Day fitness test consists of a MSFT Multi-Stage Fitness Test (beep test), press ups and curl ups, though the requirements differ dependent on the Service you have been selected to join. For Army, your curl ups will factor in your score. For Navy and Air Force, you will complete the curl ups but they are not counted for your final grade. The Navy also varies the minimum MSFT standard depending on your age bracket.
Expand each Service for fitness requirements and grading.
Get Force Fit
We offer free Force Fit training programmes and group training sessions to help you prepare for your fitness testing. Remember, a little preparation goes a long way, and Force Fit will help get you there!
Fitness testing on Induction Day
After you have been selected for a trade and intake, you will be invited to attend an Induction Day (I-Day). The second fitness test you must complete will be on I-Day, and the standard differs depending on the service you have been selected to join.
Expand each Service for fitness standards.
Ongoing fitness testing
To successfully graduate from your initial training, you will be required to pass your Service's fitness test to the required standard. During your initial training, physical training sessions will be a regular occurrence, building your physical ability and equipping you with the skills required to pass the required fitness tests.
As you continue on with your career in the NZ Defence Force, you will be re-tested against this standard once or twice a year.
Be prepared
Aptitude testing
Aptitude tests are an important part of the application process and provide us with some specific information about how you might perform in a particular job.
Learn moreThe Application Process
Your step-by-step guide on what to expect at various stages of the application process, specifically for military roles.
View Application process