Being a soldier is about trust, teamwork, mutual respect, leadership, professionalism, discipline and honour. You're trained as a soldier AND you're trained in a trade, so you can expect a lot of variety in your career. Soldiers don't just prepare for war they help local communities, assist in peacekeeping duties and provide humanitarian aid, at home and overseas. In this career you're guaranteed to find yourself in a range of challenging and demanding situations. If you're applying to be a soldier, we'll be looking for evidence that you have a desire to achieve, that you're someone who likes to do the best that they can, and have a competitive nature.

There are three broad careers options for soldiers: combat, apprentice and support.

All Arms Recruit Training (Full-Time)

The first thing you'll do when you join the Regular Army is a 16-week All Arms Recruit Course, which teaches you the common skills every soldier needs. You'll learn self-discipline, how to get along with others, basic first aid, and military skills like weapon handling, survival skills and drill.

Trade Qualifications

You'll also receive professional training in your chosen trade. You'll also have the opportunity to gain NZQA recognised qualifications, either through polytechnic block courses and/or correspondence study. Whether you opt for a career as a full-time Regular Force soldier or as a part-time Territorial Force soldier, you'll enjoy excellent training and opportunities for promotion, overseas travel and an excellent lifestyle.