Intelligence Specialist

Your Role as an Intelligence Specialist, 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 Defence Joint Service environments.

You will specialise in Imagery, Geospatial or Electronic Warfare. Initially you will correlate data, conduct analysis, produce intelligence derived reports, provide support to flying operations and manage information.

As your skills develop, you will perform increasingly complex analysis of intelligence material. You will utilise state of the art digital imagery work stations, and other high technology devices and software in the course of your daily duties. 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.

You will work with aircrew and Intelligence Officers in the preparation and planning for missions. This includes presenting oral and written reports and the preparation of visual aids for briefing purposes. There will also 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 Specialist.

During your career you will gain new and diverse skills and take on various responsibilities such as maintaining imagery, geospatial and electronic warfare libraries. This includes recording, storing and retrieving imagery details from a digital library.

You will maintain computerised intelligence databases which involves inputting, storing and retrieving information. You will also interpret and analyse all forms of intelligence data to produce electronic warfare, geospatial and imagery-related reports and products in support of a broad range of RNZAF maritime, land and air operations.

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 you’ve completed your training you can also gain promotion progressively to the rank of Warrant Officer, and if we think you have the right qualities, skills and qualifications, you may even be selected for officer training.

Upon successful enlistment into the Air Force you’ll be posted to RNZAF Base Woodbourne (near Blenheim).

Here you’ll do 12 weeks of basic military training to find out if you’ve got what it takes to be in the Air force, and learn various subjects including:
• Organisation and Administration
• RNZAF Customs and Protocol
• Drill and Parades
• Military Field Skills and Weapon Training
• First Aid, and Search and Rescue Techniques
• Physical Fitness

After successful completion of your Recruit 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.

Having completed your Common Training Course, you will then commence on a specialist training course. The duration and location is dependant upon the sub-specialisation to which you are streamed, but in most cases involves several weeks of overseas based training. Your specialist training will be in Imagery, Electronic Warfare or Geospatial Intelligence. Each of these courses will provide the theory, analytical and practical skills that will enable you to capably perform a variety of tasks within the Defence intelligence community as analysts.

Additionally, there will be various ongoing training courses relevant to your specialisation to attend throughout your career.

Your training is thorough and advanced. On completion of your Specialist Training Course, you’ll be contractually obliged to spend another year in the Air Force.

• You must be 17 Years 8 Months or Older on Date of Enlistment.

• A Minimum of 12 NCEA Level 2 Credits (each subject) in English, Mathematics and a Science Subject.
• A 10 year background history that can be checked by New Zealand authorities to obtain high level security clearances.
• No colour perception irregularities.