Force Health Protection Technicians

Military Role

Recruit Regular Force 422, starts 08 Feb 2027

Apply by 25 Jul 2026

Learn environmental health skills in a job that helps people at home and overseas

Protect the health of NZDF personnel by preventing disease and environmental hazards in training, exercises, and operations.

As a Force Health Protection Technician in the NZ Army, you play a vital role in keeping NZDF personnel healthy, safe and mission‑ready—at home and on deployment. From safeguarding food and water supplies to identifying environmental and disease risks, you provide expert advice and practical solutions in camps, bases, and challenging field environments. Whether supporting daily training, overseas operations or humanitarian missions, your work directly protects people and enables operational success.

Job on base

As a Force Health Protection Technician, you will be trained in environmental and public health practices that protect the health of NZDF personnel. Out in the field, you will ensure high standards of hygiene and environmental health are maintained to prevent illness and disease.

This may include checking food safety practices, monitoring water quality, assessing sanitation and waste management systems, and identifying environmental hazards that could affect personnel.

You will also provide advice to commanders and units on maintaining safe and healthy environments during training and daily operations, helping ensure personnel remain healthy and ready for duty.

Job on deployment

Force Health Protection Technicians deploy overseas in support of NZDF exercises and operations. You may find yourself supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, peacekeeping missions, or training exercises with partner nations across the Pacific region and beyond.

In deployed environments you will assess environmental health risks in camps and field locations, monitoring food and water safety, sanitation systems, vector control, and occupational hygiene. You will also assess how climate, terrain, hazardous flora and fauna, and infectious disease threats may impact the health of personnel.

Your role helps ensure NZDF personnel remain healthy and operational in challenging environments where environmental conditions can significantly impact mission success.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years old by the time you graduate from recruit course.
• Eligible to meet national security clearance criteria, as stipulated by the Government's Protective Security Requirements.

Education

NCEA Level 2 certificate

Fitness & Medical

• You must be medically fit for service.
• You must meet the minimum entry fitness standards.

Citizenship

There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required CV security clearance for this trade.

Find out if you’re eligible here.

Basic Training

Upon enlistment into the NZ Army, you will be posted to Waiouru Military Camp. Here you will complete 16 weeks of basic military training to find out if you have what it takes to be a soldier in the NZ Army. The training will include:

• Organisation and administration
• Army customs and protocol
• Drill and parades
• Military field skills and weapon training
• First aid
• Physical Fitness

Job training

Upon successful completion of Basic Training, Force Health Protection Technicians are posted to the Force Health Protection Troop, Deployable Health Organisation at Linton Military Camp.

Specialist training is conducted in Australia at the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Army School of Health, where you will complete the Basic Preventive Medicine Course. This course teaches the fundamentals of Force Health Protection, including environmental health risk assessment, disease prevention, and field hygiene.

After completing this course you will begin working as a Force Health Protection Technician under training, applying your skills in operational and training environments.

As part of your trade training, you will complete a number of additional courses in Australia and New Zealand to develop the specialist skills required for the role. You will later return to the ADF School of Health to complete the Intermediate Preventive Medicine Course, further developing your expertise.

Career progression

Further training and education opportunities are available throughout your career. These include environmental health short courses in areas such as reptile and venomous snake handling, mosquito management and asbestos identification and sampling.

Further career progression also includes completion of the US Military Basic Occupational Hygiene Course, as well as support to undertake study in approved areas of specialty.

You will also continue to develop your military leadership and operational planning skills as you progress through your Army career.

Benefits & allowances

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
• Subsidised insurance cover

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.

• Under training: $69,883
• Future potential: $98,000