Combat Driver

4 weeks ago


Linton, United Kingdom New Zealand Defence Force Full time

About the Role

As a Combat Driver with the New Zealand Defence Force, you will be responsible for operating a variety of vehicles, including motorbikes, cars, and heavy trucks. You will be a member of the Royal New Zealand Army Logistics Regiment (RNZALR) and will work in a Combat Service Support unit as part of a close-knit transport section.

You will be trained to operate your vehicle by day and night, in all weather conditions and terrain, from convoy driving on sealed state highways to tactical, off-road navigation. You will drive, operate, service, and maintain your vehicles, gaining a range of licences, licence endorsements, and NZQA unit standards towards New Zealand Road Transport Industry National Certificates.

The New Zealand Army uses a huge variety of vehicles, and you will be taught how to safely operate all of them in all kinds of operational situations. You will also learn basic mechanic skills for operator servicing and routine maintenance.

Job Responsibilities

  • Passenger transportation in a variety of scenarios
  • Service vehicles and develop military driving skills
  • Drive in formation, load stores and equipment, and vehicle recovery
  • Practise vehicle deployments and concealment of vehicles

Deployment Opportunities

As a Combat Driver, you will have the opportunity to deploy on a variety of overseas deployments and postings with large contingents. You will work with other international forces driving heavy articulated trucks and trailers between Sinai and Israel, moving supplies and providing logistics support.

Combat Drivers have also been deployed to East Timor, Solomon Islands, and Afghanistan. While in these locations, you could be driving infantry patrols and providing logistics support.

Career Progression

Initially, you will train as a Combat Driver, then progress to Driving Instructor and Section Commander positions. You will gain experience in the different positions within the driver trade and perform military command and leadership duties.

As you progress in rank to Sergeant, you could hold the position of Platoon Sergeant or Transport Sergeant, managing around 30-40 vehicles. You will also have opportunities to develop leadership and personnel management skills.

Training and Development

Upon successful enlistment, you will be posted to Waiouru Army base for 16 weeks of basic military training. You will learn various subjects, including organisation and administration, army customs and protocol, drill and parades, military field skills and weapon training, first aid, and physical fitness.

You will also complete the RNZALR Basic Training course, which will introduce you to basic RNZALR skills, including operating in-service communications equipment, camouflaging and concealing equipment, and operating vehicle recovery equipment.

Additionally, you will complete the Driver Licensing and Vehicle Operator Course, which will give you the basic driving knowledge you require. You will learn a variety of skills, including on-road convoy driving, defensive driving, vehicle dynamics, and off-road driving in light 4WDs and Unimog trucks.

Salary and Benefits

Careers in the Army are well-rewarded, diverse, and exciting. As you become more experienced and move up through the ranks, gaining additional skills and qualifications, your salary will rise accordingly.

You will earn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.

In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include access to your Service marae or tūrangawaewae, sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels, free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases, opportunities to travel, free and subsidised medical and dental care, subsidised food and accommodation on camps and bases, free and subsidised insurance cover, and help to buy a home and save for retirement.


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