FAQs

You will not be charged for the barrack accommodation the NZDF requires you to live in during recruit training. When eating on base at the mess or galley, you will be charged for meals (total approximately $15.00 per day and are taken out of your pay cheque). When training in the field or on ship, meals will be provided free of charge.

Each application is different and there are a number of tasks that need to be completed before you re-enlist (military file check, police check, medical test, etc). The timeframe can also depend on availabilty of a position for your rank and trade. Some people are back within a month, and others can take up to six months or longer. You will have responsibility for completing parts of the process, the faster you complete these the faster your application will progress.

The annual leave entitlement is 25 days per year for all service personnel. In addition to annual leave there are over 20 other categories of leave that you can apply for. These include study leave, representational leave, household removal leave, sick leave, and bereavement leave among others. The most common form of additional leave besides statutory holidays, is stand-down leave (for respite after long operations and intensive work periods) and equivalent leave (for working weekends and statutory holidays).

Yes. Your previous experience will be reviewed against what you are applying for and you may be credited some course requirements. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis and it may also be decided that you need to start again in your new service or trade alongside new recruits.

Yes, both the Recruiter and the Career Manager will review your file to assess your suitability for re-enlistment. If it is decided that you are not suitable for re-enlistment, you will be given the reason for this.

We assess each re-enlistment application on a case-by-case basis. A variety of factors are considered including how long you previously served for, how long you have been out for, what you have done since you left.

The NZDF no longer has its own superannuation scheme, but instead offers recruits the option to join Kiwisaver. The NZDF pays an employer contribution of 4% on top of your personal contribution from 3% to 10%.

No. There is no upper age limit for re-enlisting. However, you will need to meet fitness and health criteria.

The NZDF provides free dental and medical care to all full-time serving uniformed personnel.

From 14 January 2021, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) shifted to the new online system changing the way the NZDF administers the aptitude tests.

The new tests will measure Numerical Ability, Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning and Mechanical Comprehension. These tests assess cognitive ability on these subjects, rather than the knowledge base, which is what the old tests were measuring.

To ensure a fair and even comparison between all of our candidates who are wanting a position in the NZDF (even if re-applying), there may be the requirement for some to sit the new online aptitude test even if they may have already sat the old tests previously (known as the R-Series).

Candidates will also need to pass an RFL before re-enlisting in the Army, and the Navy and Air Force will require you to pass their fitness tests shortly after you’re back in uniform (usually on the day of enlistment for the Navy and within three months for the Air Force).

If your application is successful, and once you have accepted your Offer of Service, you may be entitled to some benefits to aid with your entry:

• Duty Travel for you and your family, from your bona fide home to your new posting location.
• Household removals funding/partial funding.
• Accommodation during relocation to your new posting location.

If your new skills or qualifications are relevant to your trade then this will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

This will vary depending on how long you have been out of the NZDF and whether you have had any medical treatment since leaving. We may require additional information from your civilian GP and the sooner you provide this, the sooner our military doctors can review your medical file. A decision on your medical clearance is usually made within a week as long as we have all the information we need from you.

No, you will be issued with the uniform and equipment you require free of charge.

It can take up to 30 days. If you have lived overseas for longer than six months, you will need to provide a Police check from that country. Your Candidate Engagement Facilitator can give you some guidance on how to do this.

If you are re-enlisting and have lived overseas for longer than six months since leaving the NZDF, you will need to provide a police check from that country.

If you are from overseas, you will need to provide a police check for any country that you have lived in.

Every case is different. Please contact 0800 1 FORCE (0800 136 723) to discuss.

As of December 2018:

• Navy = 22.4%
• Air Force = 18.3%
• Army = 13.2%

Recent and upcoming intakes have a higher percentage of women than above, which is steadily increasing the overall percentage of women in the NZDF each year.

We accept re-enlistment applications for all ranks and trades, although the available positions vary. Please contact 0800 1 FORCE (0800 136 723) to discuss.

All trades in the NZDF are accessible to women. Some combat roles (NZSAS, Commando, and Diver) have extremely high selection and training standards in regards to physical fitness. These standards are the same for men and woman, making it very difficult for women and most men to access these trades.

Once your application has been received it will be allocated to one of the re-enlistment Candidate Engagement Facilitators who will send you an email within 24 working hours with the next steps.