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Physical Training Instructor

Job Group

  • Soldier

Job Availability

  • Full Time
  • Part Time

The Role

Physical Training Instructors (PTIs) play a key role in the New Zealand Army. From swimming technique and general fitness to high performance sports teams and rehabilitation, they are tasked with ensuring that our personnel are "Fit to Fight".

PTIs are recruited internally from within the ranks of the Regular Force. If you are already in the Army, you can register your interest with the Regional Physical Training Adviser (RPTA) who is the head of the local gymnasium. Approval to attend the selection course is subject to the approval of the RPTA.

Job on Camp

The day–to-day role of the PTI’s is to ensure our personnel are ‘Fit to Fight’. The PTIs are also tasked with operating and equipping the gym facilities for each of the four camps around New Zealand. As well as this, PTI’s are responsible for coordinating and organising sporting activities and events.

As well as your day to day PTI tasks you will also continue your soldier training including weapons, medical and radio/communications training.

Job on Deployment

When deployed, a PTI’s role is to maintain operational effectiveness of other deployed resources, running regular fitness and exercise programs for New Zealand and multinational forces. As a PTI you will have the opportunity to deploy to the different areas the Defence Force goes.

General Requirements

  • You must be a serving member of the New Zealand Army

  • You must pass the Physical Training Instructor Selection Course

Training

Basic Training

The selection course is one week long. You will have to complete fitness tests that gauge your endurance, strength, power, co-ordination, balance, speed and agility. You will also be assessed for psychological suitability, public speaking, teamwork, leadership, interpersonal communication and ability to conduct a physical training lesson.

Passing the selection course qualifies you to attend the Primary Physical Trainers Course

Job Training

The Primary Physical Trainers Course

Conducted at the Physical Education and Recreational Training School, Woodbourne Air Force Base, Blenheim. This course is approximately eight months long and is a tri-service course. The course covers:

  • planning and conducting physical and recreational training

  • coaching

  • anatomy and physiology

designing weight training programmes, gymnastics, class taking, sports event organisation and learn to swim classes.

Ongoing Training

The Advanced Physical Trainers Course

After completing 18 months of 'on-the-job' training, you will return to Woodbourne for the Advanced Physical Trainers Course, which is approximately five months long.

During this course, you will delve deeply into anatomy and physiology and also cover subjects like kinesiology, bio-mechanics, programming for both sports teams and individuals, and sports medicine. You will also carry out an in-depth study of how a particular training system affects different components of physical fitness.

At the completion of the advanced course, you will be posted back to a gymnasium to put into practice what you have learned.

When the required hours of coaching and administration have been completed, you will be qualified to apply for the Joint Services Diploma in Physical Education and Recreational Training which makes you a qualified Physical Trainer.

Adventure Based Learning

Another choice that the Physical Trainer has after completion of the Advanced Physical Trainers course is to become part of the AATC (Army Adventurous Training Centre) monitoring scheme and then seek a posting to AATC.

Physical Trainers who follow this path will qualify as instructors in two areas of adventure sport, e.g. kayaking, rock-climbing, mountaineering, to the minimum of NZ Outdoor Instructors Association level one.

Specialist Training

Rehabilitation

Once a Physical Trainer has completed their Advanced Physical Trainers course, they are then given the opportunity to attend the rehabilitation instructors course. This course teaches rehabilitation of soldiers returning from injury or illness.

Location Details

Each major Army camp in New Zealand has a gymnasium, so you could be posted to any one of the four locations Waiouru, Linton, Trentham or Burnham.

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    Physical Trainer

    Physical Training Instructors (PTIs) play a key role in the New Zealand Army. From swimming technique and general fitness to high performance sports teams and rehabilitation, they are tasked with ensuring that our personnel are "Fit to Fight".

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