Questions about joining the RNZAF

[kate]

Hi there.
I have been researching my career options and have decided that the RNZAF is the way to go. I have a few questions, if anybody would mind answering them. 
I have researched different trades in the air force and have decided that Force Protection suits me the best. I was wondering if anybody knew of certain skills or qualities they look for in this trade, and what factors affect selection. I am reasonably fit, run and swim regularly and play waterpolo, netball and am a surf lifeguard. I also have been doing well in school, gaining excellence endorsements. I would like to join up straight from school, but I'm unsure if this is a disadvantage and if I would stand a better chance if I had more experience working (or getting a degree) outside of school.
I'm also curious about the whole process and would love to hear anything else about training and life in the RNZAF as well.
Thanks,
Kate 

[Dave Homewood]

Welcome Kate. Hopefully some of the currently serving RNZAF members here will have some great tips for you. I have been out for some time and in my days Force protection didn't exist. Although, I think this is the trade that used to be the RNZAF Police?

I doubt you'll need a degree. The Air Force would probably prefer you as you are so they can start training you fresh.

I imagine you'll need a full driver's licence. I also believe there may be a lot of night shift involved.

[kate]

Thanks for the welcome Dave. I'm pretty sure it did used to be the RNZAF Police, although the name might have changed a few times.

[suthg]

All the best Kate - great enthusiasm! That will take you a long way - enterprise and interest and a willingness to learn. Fitness and sport activities are good too. You should get some good directions from here

[Deleted]

If you get in and get posted to Auckland you should get a fair amount of travel under your belt. Everywhere an aircraft goes, normally they'll take FP (force protection) along to look after the aircraft and provide security. Sometimes not the most exciting of jobs, but hey you get to travel all over. Dubai, Malaysia, the islands, Australia, etc... Plus you get quite good money when deployed overseas! You definitely won't need tertiary study for FP. Outdoors skills wouldn't hurt, it's not a deal breaker. It could however help you on your survival training which FP undergo. I believe the selection board is down in Ohakea now, I saw a few people on the last board here. By the sounds of it, you're more then capable of being FP. You'll get a good work life balance in the air force. Sometimes it's very busy, however in the not so busy days you can go for a swim, run, gym, sport or do some tertiary study of which the air force will fund. You'll get some great experiences, most of which you won't get outside the military. The chance to become a dog handler might be up your ally, in which FP is perfect. I've worked with the military working dogs and they're pretty awesome! In summary... You'll get paid pretty well, you'll get great experiences, great friends and lots and lots of opportunities!

[kate]

Thanks stuhg and Mr. Orion. The military working dogs unit does sound pretty cool, and it might be something to aim for if I get selected. If you don't mind answering, do you know why those applying for FP need to go through a board when others don't? I'm just curious.

[Deleted]

I have no idea tbh! It's important to remember that if you find out that what you choose isn't for you, then you can always remuster to another trade.

[camtech]

I guess the idea behind a selection board is to ensure that those going into FP are of the right character and mental aptitude to be able to do the job.
Back in my day (I retired nearly 30 yrs ago after 22+ years service) the RNZAF Police trade was just starting to move from Mr Plod to employing fairly intelligent thinkers who could not only track elephants but could figure out where they got in. (Sorry - old joke about RNZAF Police, who were colloquially known as "Elephant Trackers").

[kate]

Thanks Camtech - that makes sense.

[Dave Homewood]

I'd think in today's security conscious world, the people they are entrusting to keep the country's most important assets secure really do need to be properly vetted, so the selection board makes sense. I'd imagine too it's no different from being selected for a civilian Police force position at the selection stage, even though RNZAF Police/FP won't encounter anything near as dangerous and nasty as the poor coppers on the beat do.

[Deleted]

i.stuff.co.nz/national/86668865/Meet-the-Kiwi-service-dogs-you-probably-didn-t-know-existed?cid=app-android

[Deleted]

There's been a few times maintenance pers were required to guard frames over the weekend because FP were "busy" haha no selection board to attend for tech trades though.

[exkiwiforces]

Kate,

The reason why RNZAF FP have selection broad is because a lot of the RNZAF FP staff are ex RAF Rgt and RAF Police (From my POV RAF guys know their stuff and just be careful of some of RAAF SECFOR FP personal especially the AFSEC/ RAAFPOL and the junior members of the ADG/GRDEF officers).

In the RAF if you want to join the RAF Force Protection (RAF Rgt and RAF Police)you have to do a selection broad. This is to make sure that they get the right people for the right job as RNZAF Force Protection Order of Battle is base around the USAF SECFOR model, for example you don't someone who might be suited to be Copper (Elephant Tracker)in a Close Combatant role (Ground Defence)or Close Combatant operative doing a Copper job (Elephant Tracker) and or begin Doggie etc.

Dave's last comment is not to far off the money, in fact the RNZAF FP world is about to be turned upside down for the better, but there is going to a awful lot of pain. I know that from my own personal experience here in Oz and in fact its a shit fight ATM ie more jobs than we have troops to task with overall standards dropping.

I've done 17yrs in Ground Defence plus 4and half years in the RNZAC and its been fun, but there is a few lows (I'm going though a few issues ATM from Deployments) that come with the job but that's with any job weather yo are in the forces or in civvie world.

If you like travelling this is the job to be in and its growth area within RNZAF especially if or when the RNZAF decide go down the P8/ Gobal Hawk route its going to hit RNZAF/ Government for six in more ways than one. As this aircraft comes under the Special projects program and its a new whole world from that day onwards.

Some summer reading for you:

On Killing and On Combat by Lt Col. Dave Grossman
Any history of Airfield Defence/ Airfield Force Protection. Wikipedia or Uncle Google also for those listed below
The battle for Crete, Malaya is where is Airfield Defence/ Airfield Force Protection came of age.
SAS attack on Peddle Island in the Falkland islands
The Tamil Tigers attack on Colombo International Airport and there is more

[isc]

When I joined the RNZAF Boy Entrant School in 1964, we all went before a board, and got grilled for an hour or so, then there was IQ tests, and a medical board, and for some unknown reason they passed me as OK, go to Woodbourne, your one of us. I think there were four of us that day in Dunedin, three passed. isc

[noooby]

Oh camtech, I nearly spat my coffee on the laptop at the mention of Elephant Trackers!!! Ahh Ohakea and the great Elephant hunt

Probably couldn't do that these days.

[kate]

Thanks for the info guys. I did a history project on the battle of Crete and found it really fascinating, so I'll definitely look the others up!

[exkiwiforces]

Katie,

What specialization are you looking at within Force Protection?

[kate]

I am not entirely sure - although the military working dog unit does sound pretty cool.