Army Officer Āpiha Ope Tauā

Physical Requirements

Army officers need to be able to pass Army fitness tests, so they should be fit, healthy and strong, with good hearing and eyesight (with or without corrective lenses). Some specialisations require you to have normal colour perception.

• Defence Careers website -fitness requirements

Useful Experience

Useful experience for army officers includes:

• training as a soldier in the Territorial Force/Army Reserve
• involvement in youth organisations such as Scouts and Cadets
• work or sporting experience in a team environment
• work, sporting or other group experience in leading or managing others
• tertiary education, or experience of activities requiring self-discipline and responsibility.

Personal Qualities

Army officers need to be:

• disciplined and organised
• confident
• careful and accurate, with an eye for detail
• efficient and able to work well under pressure
• able to manage and lead people
• able to solve problems and make decisions
• able to give instructions and communicate well.

Skills

Army officers need to have:

• leadership, management and budgeting skills
• problem solving and decision making skills
• knowledge of army regulations, tactics and protocol, including health and safety, ethics, and conduct
• knowledge of drills and parade requirements
• knowledge of how to operate and maintain weapons, radio, vehicles and specialist equipment
• first aid and rescue skills.

Army officers also need to have skills and knowledge related to their field of specialisation, or trade. For example, medical officers need knowledge of emergency care, nursing and surgical methods.

Conditions

Army officers:

• usually work regular business hours but may be expected to work long or irregular hours on training exercises or when on deployment
• work and train at military camps in New Zealand and overseas
• work in all weather conditions and may have to work in combat situations
• may spend long periods away from home on overseas assignments.