Introduction

The purpose of this document is to describe the roles and responsibilities of the Regimental Medical Officer (RMO).

Qualification Requirements:

Candidates are required to have recognised experience as a registered medical practitioner, to be of good standing, and have at least 2 years House Surgeon experience. They must hold a current New Zealand Practicing Certificate. It is preferred that applicants are Fellows or are training towards their Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practice. The New Zealand Army is able to sponsor doctors through the Fellowship training programme.

Locations:

A Medical Officer in the New Zealand Army is to be prepared to be deployed to designated missions overseas and/or posted to and employed as a general practitioner (primary care) in the following static New Zealand Base locations:

• The Auckland Area (1 NZ SAS Gp).
  • Responsible for medical support and medical training.
• Waiouru.
  • Responsible for medical support to military and civilian dependant personnel and to the Army Training Group training area.
• Linton Camp (near Palmerston North).
  • Responsible for medical support and specific medical officer roles in 2nd Field Hospital, including the Linton Medical Treatment Centre or as Regimental Medical Officer at the 1 RNZIR Regimental Aid Post.
• Trentham Camp (near Upper Hutt City).
  • Responsible for medical support to Trentham Camp based units.
• Burnham Camp (near Christchurch).
  • Responsible for medical support to Burnham Camp based units from the Burnham Camp Medical Treatment Centre or as Regimental Medical Officer at the 2/1 RNZIR Regimental Aid Post.

Roles and Responsibilities, Static:

They are as follows:

• Overall responsible for the health of the battalion. Health is defined as a person's physical and mental well being.
• The maintenance of the health, which not only involves treating medical conditions, but prevention of medical problems, including preventative measures such as implementing vaccination programmes and occupational health, advice and screening.
• Overseeing and auditing health care and preventative programmes.
• Advising the Commanding Officer on matters medical.
• Being in charge of the clinical practice of medicine.
• Overseeing the professional welfare and career management of the RAP staff. This includes training, both formal and informal.
• Ensuring appropriate health education is provided to the Battalion soldiers.
• Overseeing the first aid training of the Battalion.
• Ensuring all documentation procedures are complied with , including Accident Compensation matters.
• Planning and training for operational deployments.
• Work in liaison with other camp medical facilities including the provision of after hours medical cover.
• Maintain and foster civilian professional qualifications and continuing medical education commitments.

Command and Control:

• The RMO is in command of the RAP and in his absence the Regimental Nursing Officer.
• The RMO is under command of the Commanding Officer and reports and advises on matters medical.

On Deployment:

• The static roles remain extant.
• In addition the RMO attends coordinating conferences and Orientation groups in order to provide medical advice and to comply with the operational plan.
• The RMO is responsible for the treatment, triage, and evacuation of casualties.
• The RMO is to ensure that ongoing health and hygiene is maintained in the area of operations, in order to minimise disease non battle injuries.

Recruitment

The initiation of your recruitment will be via the New Zealand Army web based recruitment application.  Following an initial interview and testing by recruitment staff, your curriculum vitae will be reviewed by the Director of Army Health Services.  You may then be invited to undertake an OSB and your initial credentialing documents will be completed.

An OSB is convened two or three times a year in order to determine the suitability of prospective recruits to undertake officer training in the NZDF.  This is a week long process during which various aspects of your character along with leadership potential and ability to function within a team will be scrutinised.  It does not assess your technical ability or skills.

If you successfully complete the OSB and are selected as appropriate, you will receive an Offer of Service which will detail your rank, seniority, length of initial engagement, remuneration and the unit to which you will be posted.

Initial Officer Training

Upon commissioning as an officer in the NZDF you will be welcomed by your new unit and administratively marched into the Army, this will be followed by a short period of orientation and induction.  At the next available opportunity you will attend the Officer Cadet School (NZ) for your initial military training on the Specialist Officer Induction Course (SOIC), on which you are introduced to the basics of life in the NZDF.  You will learn the principles of leadership, regulations and customs of the service, safe weapons handling and life in a deployed environment.  The SOIC includes a rigorous programme of fitness maintenance and enhancement.

Upon completion of the SOIC, you will be introduced to the organisational structure and history of the NZDF Health Services and the Royal New Zealand Medical Corps.  You will learn the skills and techniques required for effective performance as a Medical Officer in both the static and deployed environments.  You will learn what Health Service Support means, and responsibilities of other members of the military health team.

Your training will include instructional techniques to prepare you to participate in the training of your colleagues.  You will develop your observation skills, and you will learn how to interview and counsel personnel.

You will undertake the Junior Staff Officers (JSO) course on which you will be taught the staff duties of a junior officer whilst being familiarised with the various aspects of military administration and military law.

Applications:

Applicants wishing to apply for a Medical Officer position, are to apply in writing supported by a current curriculum vitae and should be forwarded to your local Recruiting Office

All applications will be treated in strict confidence and place the applicant under no obligation.