Becoming an Officer

Requirements

Those over the age of 18 and interested in being involved can become officers in the New Zealand Cadet Forces. This process is not as easy as joining up to be a cadet. All those wanting to be an officer need to be able to:

• Pass a police inspection (fit and proper person check)
• Be physically fit enough to fulfil the duties required of an officer
• Be able to participate regularly in cadet training nights and weekend activities
• Be able attend training and development courses

Officers like cadets get a lot of opportunities that are not available to most people. There are opportunities to travel, to see things and be involved some big events or activities.

Fitness

Not everyone is a hundred percent physically fit and officers are not required to be “army fit.” For some activities a certain level of fitness is requried but those that are not can still be involved.

Activities that require being physically fit are:

• Tramping and Camping
• Supervising cadets on outdoor activities
• Inter-corps activities (sailing with sea cadets)

Officers that aren’t physically fit enough to participate in these activities assist in other areas:

• Administration
• Training
• Assisting in stores
• Assisting other officers with training or on activities

Reimbursement

The NZCF commissioning course and other training and development courses are usually during the working period of the year and therefore requires some time off work. The cadet forces recognises this and therefore contributes for your time off work. All other training nights and weekend activities at unit level are on a volunteer basis only.

Don’t want to be an officer?

Participating on the Unit Support Committee

Because we are a volunteer youth organisation funded by the community, we have a support committee that supports the cadet unit with funding and logistics support such as transporting cadets or catering. The support committee fund raises to support the unit and is always looking for members who are keen fund-raisers. Fund-raising keeps the cost of activities and training affordable for cadets.