Career Progression

Once you have gained several years experience as a Platoon Commander at the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and Lieutenant, you will have the opportunity to attend further leadership and management courses, and progress to the rank of Captain and beyond.

Command and Staff Courses

Once you assume the rank of Captain and beyond, you will attend various staff and command courses which will equip you to hold mid-level management and leadership positions, in which you will gain further military experience while working towards command of a sub-unit of up to 100 soldiers.

Grade Three Staff and Tactics Course

This course is designed to give Army Officers the skills to assume an operational staff appointment at the rank of Captain.

The course is focused on developing detailed planning skills for a variety of different military scenarios. This course is conducted at the Tactical School in Waiouru.

Army Reserve Officers who graduate from this course are in high demand for overseas missions. In recent years Army Reserve Captains have volunteered for service in East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan, Bosnia and the Sinai.

Grade Two Staff and Tactics Course

The Grade Two Staff and Tactics Course provides opportunities for Officers to further develop their planning and management skills. The course is designed to give Officers at the rank of Major and above the skills required to hold staff appointments within a headquarters unit.

Army Reserve Officers qualified on this course are able to fill a variety of command and staff appointments both at home and on operational service. These positions can vary from being the Senior National Officer of a unit of New Zealand Soldiers, to assuming an advisory appointment within a multi-national force of United Nations Observers.