Careers

NZ Army

Profile: LCPL Craig Terry - Electronics Technician

At college Lance Corporal Craig Terry was always taking things apart and putting them back together again, “just to see how they worked”.

Now he can indulge his passions for electronics daily - as an electronics technician in the New Zealand Army.

Craig, 23, joined the Army five years ago to study electronics. “I decided I could join the Army, receive my training there, and then I’d be equipped with a civilian qualification I could use later in life should I choose to leave.”

Craig has just finished studying for a National Diploma in Engineering and has completed most of his block training at Wellington Institute of Technology (WELTEC).

He also learns on the job at 3 Workshop Company, Burnham, where most of his time is spent maintaining or repairing electronic equipment. While training to work on a variety of equipment, Lance Corporal Terry most enjoys the optical side of it, for example, the night vision gear soldiers use in the field.

Now that he is fully qualified Craig is seeking a teaching role to train young Electronic Technicians. “I’m looking forward to teaching and passing on my skills and knowledge. The Army is kind of like being at school in that you always have all your mates around, but you’re working and training at the same time.”

Have you got what it takes to be an Officer? A Gunner, a Cook or maybe an Educator? Interested in gaining a trade qualification such as plumbing, carpentry or telecommunications? There are many Army careers to choose from, from apprenticeships to careers supporting Army operations to combat and specialist roles such as fire-fighting and education.

For all general Recruiting enquiries please phone 0800 NZ ARMY (0800 69 2769).

Navy

Profile: LT Aston Talbot - Boarding Team Officer

Exercise MARU was a recent multi-national, multi-agency exercise and part of the international Proliferation Security Initiative. The exercise included ships from New Zealand, Australia, France, and Singapore.

During Exercise MARU I was the Boarding Team officer for HMNZS TE KAHA; others taking part were members of the NZ Customs, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), NZ Police and boarding teams from the US Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy. Our boarding team spent a day with a camera crew recording practice boardings for a documentary-style DVD.

The practice phase of the exercise involved a weekend at sea to run through the planned events involving all four ships, and aircraft from New Caledonia, Japan, and NZ. During this phase, each country practised boarding RESOLUTION several times, greatly increasing all our skills in the area.

How did I get this great job? I joined the Navy in 2005. If you saw the ‘Snotties’ TV show you will have seen me under training! By September that year, I’d earned my Grade 3 Officer of the Watch certificate – the bottom rung of the climb to command at sea.

I served in the small patrol craft HMNZS MOA, then went to Canada to serve in HMCS ALGONQUIN – a big Area Air Defence Destroyer.

While in Canada I gained my Bridge Watch Keeping certificate and became their ship’s Boarding Officer. I was promoted to Lieutenant this year and joined TE KAHA. I’m now working on getting my Anzac frigate endorsements for my Bridge Watch Keeping certificate during the big Five Power exercise off Malaysia later this year.

Do you want to work in a variety of environments such as on board a ship, at a Naval Base or on deployment?  Would you enjoy assisting with disaster relief with members of other forces and other countries? An occupation in the RNZN is more than a job, it’s a career. Are you interested in gaining skills, working with state of the art equipment and having a job that changes from week to week?

Contact Navy Careers by calling 0800 GO NAVY (0800 696 289).

Air Force

Profile: LAC Rachael Main - Air Force Photographer

Capturing the perfect shot is all part of the job for Leading Aircraftsman (LAC) Rachael Main.

The 22-year-old says she’s always had an interest in photography and it’s a skill she’s been honing since joining the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 2004.

“I’ve always had a huge interest in photography and joining the Air Force as a photographer was a way to get experience and skills without a student loan.”

Once accepted on to the Junior Course, photographers start four months full-time training. This has them looking at the way light falls and photography theory, while the practical side teaches them about different styles, from portraiture and large group shots, to aerial and technical.

This initial four months is then followed by two years on-the-job training, where the photographers are sent out into the field to get clicking.

“The best way to improve your photography is to be always facing new challenges,” says Rachael.

During their two years training the photographers build up a folio, showcasing their talent and skills. Then it’s back into the classroom to make short documentary videos and learn how to work in variable conditions in the field.

Rachael’s career has taken her around the world, where she has captured the New Zealand Defence Force in action.

“As photographers we really do get some great experiences. I’ve been over to London photographing the unveiling of the NZ War Memorial, to Australia on an exercise with 3 Squadron in Townsville and I’m just about to go to Timor-Leste for three weeks. These are the sort of jobs that really make me enjoy this career.”

Are you ready to step up? There are two ways you can take the first step towards a career in the Air Force. Careers can be split roughly into four different areas: Aircrew, Ground Officers, Technical Trades and Operations Support Trades. Whatever you choose to do, you can be sure your training will be world class and that we’ll help you every step of the way.

You can apply online at www.airforce.mil.nz or you can give us a call on 0800 Air Force (0800 247 367) and we’ll send you an application pack.

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