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Our people

Serving in New Zealand and around the world, our people are part of a world class combat ready land force that are trained, led and equipped to win.

Our Army is made up of highly trained professionals working together from our Regular Force, Reserves and civilian staff. Our soldiers, led by professional and trusted leaders, are physically and mentally prepared to meet the rigours of military operations. 

Regular Force

Our full-time Regular Force personnel fill a wide variety of ranks and roles: Privates to Generals, technicians to special operations troops, intelligence specialists to medics. Our people are trained in skills specific to their trade as well as military skills applicable to their role such as planning, leadership and command. They serve on and support operational deployments and training, both in New Zealand and around the world.

Reserves

Our Reserves provide extra depth and diversity by working and training with us part-time. Reserves complement our Regular Force by providing additional capacity and expertise, ready to respond to events in New Zealand and overseas.

Civilian personnel 

Civilian employees fill a wide range of specialist and corporate roles that do not require deployment to an operational environment. The work they do is essential to our Army. 

A soldier in the workshop at Trentham Military Camp Two Officer Cadets wearing cam paint kneel down and acknowledge each other AARC 385 March Out Parade at Waiouru Military Camp

By the numbers 

Our Army is comprised of almost 6500 Regular Force and Reserve personnel, as set out in the following tables.

Information last updated: 3 March 2024

Army headcount

REGULAR FORCE 4,2451
RESERVE FORCE 2,162
TOTAL 6,413

Regular Force headcount by gender

female 647  
male 3,604    
Total 4,251  

The rank system forms the backbone of our military structure and defines the role of commissioned and non-commissioned personnel, and the degree of responsibility they hold.

Commissioned Officers

RANK ABBREVIATION
Lieutenant General LTGEN
Major General  MAJGEN
Brigadier  BRIG
Colonel COL
Lieutenant Colonel LTCOL
Major MAJ
Captain CAPT
Lieutenant LT
 Second Lieutenant 2LT

Non-Commissioned Personnel

RANK ABBREVIATION
Warrant Officer Class One  WO1
Warrant Officer Class Two  WO2
Staff Sergeant  SSGT
Sergeant SGT 
Corporal  CPL
Lance Corporal LCPL
Private PTE

 View the full NZDF rank system

New Zealand Army personnel in line formation