Our Recruitment Process
Think you’ve got what it takes? Read about our recruitment process and join when you’re ready!
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Membership requirements
To join the New Zealand Cadet Forces, you must:
Be 13-15 years old (or in Year 9 at secondary school)
Be willing to follow our Code of Conduct
Meet our requirements? Read on to find out more!
Recruitment Process
Fill in a Recruitment Application Form.
This form adds you to our Recruit Contact list. You will then be contacted by a Recruitment Officer, who will provide you with more information regarding recruitment.
Attend a Recruitment Info Evening.
We host multiple recruitment information evenings at the start of Term 1 and the end of Term 4. During these events, you will be invited to view a short video presentation, followed by a Q&A session. Note: if you visit our unit, you must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.
We may also visit your school during school hours, so do keep an eye out on your school noticeboard!
Click here to find out when the next recruitment event will be held.
Attend our Recruit Experience Evening.
This exciting event is designed for new recruits to tour around our unit and participate in introductory activities held by our senior cadets. Note: if you visit our unit, you must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.
Our Experience Evening is held in the first few weeks of Term 1, and will be announced here and on our Facebook page, so keep an eye out for the date when they become available.
Fill in a
Cadet Enrolment Form.
Think you’re up for the challenge? Once you have committed to joining the unit, have your parents/guardians fill in an NZCF 2A Cadet Forces Terms and Conditions Form — these can be obtained during a recruitment event or downloaded by clicking the button below. Submit these in person or to your Recruitment Officer through email. Make sure to attach a copy of your Passport or Student ID.
Once this is complete your parents/guardians will receive a personalised link to fill in our Enrolment Form.
Once you are enrolled, you may attend weekly parade nights as a Recruit!
Recruitment 2025 Timeline
Click the image below to download the timeline for our 2025 intake.
Subscription Fees
To cover the numerous costs associated with running an NZCF unit (such as uniforms, training facilities and utilities), cadets will have to pay yearly subscription fees. For first year cadets, this cost is around $300. The subscription fees are discounted each year you remain in service until you complete your Cadet training — at this point, you will not be charged subscription fees and instead are welcome to come back on a voluntary basis.
Uniforms
Recruits will be issued a squadron t-shirt and baseball cap once you enrol. During this time, you will be sized up for your uniform. Your uniforms will be issued to you shortly after Basic Boot Camp.
Basic Boot Camp
After the recruitment period, all recruits are to attend Basic Boot Camp. Held over a weekend, you will receive your basic training and graduate as Basic 1 Cadets at the end of the camp.
