Intelligence Officer

Your Role as an Intelligence Officer, you will initially be employed at the Integrated Mission Support Squadron (IMSS) at Auckland, with employment at other Bases throughout your career. During this time you will also have opportunities to be employed in various overseas Defence Force posts.

You will at some time be employed on an Operational Squadron preparing, co-ordinating and presenting intelligence briefs, conducting debriefs and providing advice to Squadron members and commanders.

You will manage imagery processing and analyse and prepare assessments of air-related activities relevant to New Zealand’s interests. You will analyse intelligence received from various sources and interpret the significance of this data to Air Force operations.

As you advance, you will take on the role as an Intelligence Instructor and can look forward to being involved in projects incorporating capability development and research.

There will be the opportunity to deploy with Squadrons on Exercises or Operations. You will spend time in other countries and experience a diversity of cultures and conditions. Some of these Operations can be at short notice; no day is ever the same as an Intelligence Officer.

You will utilise state of the art digital imagery work stations for viewing imagery, and equipment such as computer terminals, scanners and printers. As security is paramount, discretion is your middle name. You will frequently work in a secure environment within a close knit team of likeminded people. Intelligence support is a 24 hour job, since we deploy at short notice and operate in various locations throughout the world.  The prospect of shift work can add flexibility to your personal pursuits.

Life in the Airforce

If you thought life in the Air Force was all starched uniforms and saluting, think again. And it’s not just about flying aircraft either. There are over 30 different careers in today’s Air Force, all with great benefits. You’ll get paid while you train, you’ll never be stuck doing the same thing day after day, and you’ll get the chance to travel. Accommodation is cheap. Medical and dental care is free.

Don’t get us wrong, a career in the Air Force takes dedication and commitment. But it’s not all work, work, work. You can play sport and have a great social life, and best of all, you get to make heaps of great mates along the way.

Qualifications

Formal professional training courses are provided on an ongoing basis. The Air Force has a voluntary education scheme whereby all personnel can complete tertiary study towards furthering their education for ongoing professional development and be reimbursed up to $1800 per year for the costs.

The Sky's the limit

The opportunity to fly even higher in the Air Force is always open. Once your Initial Officer Training is completed you’ll be commissioned. After completing your training you can progress to the rank of Flight Lieutenant. As your career progresses opportunities also exist to be come a Squadron Leader or higher, determined by a Promotion Board.

First you’ll complete a 21 week Initial Officer Training Course at RNZAF Base Woodbourne (near Blenheim). This will commence in either January or July. Here you’ll find out if you’ve got what it takes to be in the Air Force, and will cover various subjects including:

• RNZAF Customs and Protocol
• Drill and Parades
• Military Law
• Military Field Skills and Weapons Training
• Defence and Strategic Studies
• Personnel Administration
• Communication Skills
• Command, Leadership and Management
• First Aid

After successful completion of your Initial Officer Training Course, it is likely you will gain experience in the RNZAF Intelligence workplace while your Security Vetting is processed. Once this is gained, you will attend an Air Intelligence Common Training Course of approximately four weeks duration, held at RNZAF Base Auckland. You will be educated on the New Zealand and Military Intelligence Communities, security principles and be introduced to specialist intelligence techniques on this course.

After your Basic Course you will return to the work force and gain on the job training. Within your first two years of service you will attend an Air Intelligence Officers Course overseas. This will be up to 22 weeks long. Additionally, there will be various specialist training courses to attend throughout your career.

As well as the courses listed above, you will be required to complete a Flight Commanders Course. This course lasts two weeks at RNZAF Base Woodbourne and continues your training in command, leadership and management. To become a Flight Commander, all officers are required to complete further courses covering service writing, staff skills and professional military education before being eligible for promotion beyond Flight Lieutenant.

The New Zealand Defence Force Command and Staff College at Trentham Military Camp (Wellington) conducts two courses: a residential eight week Junior Staff Course and a seven month Staff course. Both courses comprise a mixture of visiting lecturers, tutored discussion groups, visits and individual study to give you the skills you need for high-ranking appointments. If you’re a successful graduate of the Staff Course, you’ll qualify for a Postgraduate Diploma of Arts. You can then choose to complete a further four papers to gain a Master of Philosophy.

You must be 19 Years or Older on Date of Enlistment and have a Degree with preference of Politics, International Relations, Defence and Strategic Studies, Information Systems/Technology or Remote Sensing.

You will also need a 10 year background history that can be checked by New Zealand authorities to obtain high level security clearances and have no colour perception irregularities.