About the role
Combat Engineers provide the New Zealand Army with vital combat engineering support. As a Combat Engineer in the Army Reserve you will be trained across a variety of different specialist skills within our five engineering pillars including explosive demolition, bridge construction, mine clearance, small boat handling and establishing water supplies.
All of this is delivered in parallel with the soldiering profession, such as the development of infantry skills and tactics.
Although Combat Engineer is the only engineer trade offered by the Army Reserves, we welcome individuals with various civilian qualifications, such as lawyers, architects, electricians, project managers, police, and data analysts, who are interested in conducting engineering tasks within the combat battlespace.
Soldiers with qualifications in these areas will predominantly train as combat engineers but may have the opportunity to conduct some transitional training to apply their valuable skills within the military environment where appropriate.
Career progression and training
Initial training consists of three stages, equating to approximately 7 weeks of training. Module 1 (Introduction to the New Zealand Army and Reserve Force service) is conducted throughout the calendar year, with Module 2 (Basic Training) and Corps Training (Initial Trade Specific Coursing) taking place in November, December, and January of a given year.
Module 1 is conducted across New Zealand at specified times throughout the year. This course is run in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch.
Module 2 is a 38-day residential course conducted at Waiouru Military Camp. During this stage of your training, you will be introduced to:
Drill
First Aid
Operate and communicate utilizing in-service communication systems
Introduction to the Individual Weapon, Modularised Assault Rifle System Light (IW MARS-L) and light support weapon (LSW-C9)
Live firing on the range to qualify on the IW MARS-L Annual Weapons Qualification
Introduction to and qualification on the high explosive grenade
Living in a field environment, including patrolling procedures, operating in a rifle section, and fieldcraft and battlecraft
Introduction to Physical Training, including the Army Fitness Test, swim test, and timed pack walk
A broadened understanding of military law, including The Laws of Armed Conflict
This stage concludes with a graduation from the NZ Army training establishment - The Army Depot, where recruits graduate as fully qualified soldiers (rank of Private / Sapper / Gunner / Trooper / Signaller) in the NZ Army's Reserve Force, ready to progress to initial trade specific coursing.
Corps Training - Initial Trade Specific Coursing
This is a two-week residential course. Initial trade specific coursing differs across the various Army corps. The purpose is to provide personnel with the necessary basic trade-specific skills required of their respective corps.
As a Combat Engineer, you are required to complete a Basic Combat Engineer (BCE) Corps Training. This course, conducted in February, covers your basic combat engineer skills across the five pillars of the Army Reserve engineer profession.
During this course, you will conduct collective training across the following proponents:
Demolition
Search
Small boat handling
Bridge building
The establishment of a water point
This course will provide you with the necessary skills to be employed within a Combat Engineer section, where you will continue to build on your training and further develop your skills in your chosen trade.
Salary and benefits
As a Reservist, you are paid on an hourly rate rather than a salary. Pay rates depend on the role you are in and your rank; your pay will increase as you move through the ranks. The minimum remuneration you will be paid from day one is a daily rate of $176 including holiday pay, plus 4% Kiwisaver employer contributions. Your remuneration will increase on promotion and seniority.
Entry requirements
You must be at least 17 years of age
Preferably hold a Class 1 restricted driver's licence
3 years of secondary school
You must be medically fit for service; colour perception restrictions may apply.
There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required CV security clearance for this trade.
Ready to start your Army career?
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