Those who apply to become an officer of the Royal New Zealand Navy come from a range of backgrounds. This includes school leavers, tertiary students, university graduates and the workforce.
There are two officer intakes each year; late January or early February, and July. Prospective officers must complete Junior Officer Common Training (JOCT) then progress to branch training to specialise in their desired career.
Junior Officer Common Training
JOCT aims to develop the basic military, command, leadership and management skills required of an officer. The course is run over 22 weeks, in three phases; Introduction to the Navy, Sea Qualification and Academic Development and Leadership.
Phase One – Introduction to the Navy
Trainees are instructed in basic service knowledge, discipline, parade and kit preparation. There is a focus on ‘fellowship’ and teamwork, and on developing a high level of physical and mental fitness. The aim of this phase is to:
- instil the Navy core values (courage, comradeship and commitment)
- ensure that trainees can perform as an effective team member
- develop the competency behaviours required of a junior officer
Phase Two – Sea Qualification and Academic Development
Phase two covers fitness for sea, and academic development. The training provides the minimum knowledge and skills necessary to safely post to sea on a Navy ship.
Trainees undergo sea qualifying damage control training, which enables them to respond to an emergency at sea. They then participate in the sea qualification deployment which is designed to give an insight into life at sea and for staff to assess trainees in the sea going environment. The aim of this phase is to:
- embed the skills required to respond to an emergency at sea
- cement and build upon communal living skills
- gain an appreciation of the roles at sea
- confirm your commitment to life at sea
Training is provided on defence communication topics such as service writing and verbal communication. Officers are expected to have an understanding of wider national and defence policies, international relations and maritime doctrine.
Phase Three – Leadership
The final phase has a strong leadership focus covering both theoretical and practical aspects. Trainees are put through a number of assessments which are scenario based and provide the opportunity to display individual and the team’s combined skills.
On successful completion of your training you will normally enter service as a Midshipman. However this does depend on any prior qualifications and/or experience. Find out more about Climbing the Ranks or the Pay & Benefits.
Specialist Training
The following are general list officer roles, and do not require a tertiary qualification: Warfare Officer, Supply Officer, Hydrographic Surveyor, Marine Engineering Officer, Weapons Engineering Officer, Pilot, and Airborne Tactical Officer. Training will include some university papers which can be used as credits towards a tertiary qualification.
The following specialist officer roles do require a tertiary qualification prior to joining. These include Construction Engineers, Medical Officers (Doctor), Education Officers, Psychologists and Chaplains. Specialist Officer positions open occasionally according to demand. Graduates and experienced practitioners only are considered for specialist jobs.
The application process
Applicants should apply at least three months before JOCT intake starts; however, in some circumstances processing can take as little as six weeks. Find out more about full time enlistment and the intake dates > Full time enlistment
Ongoing Training
There are two broad categories for ongoing training; professional training tailored to your specialisation and promotion courses that focus on the common skills all officers need to be effective leaders and managers. Find out more about Ongoing Training.
If you are interesting in applying to become an officer contact a recruiter or download our Application Form.
> Ongoing Training
> Contact a recruiter
Application Form