Aviation Rescue Firefighter

Royal New Zealand Air Force; Middletown Township (PA); On-site; USD 61,974 - 75,746; Full time

Job summary

A military air service is seeking an Aviation Rescue Firefighter to join their ARFF team, providing essential emergency response capabilities for both military and civilian operations. The role requires maintaining fitness and completing training while supporting firefighting efforts at various airfields. Candidates must meet certain age, medical, and citizenship requirements, serving a minimum of one year after training. This position offers an annual salary of $68,860 and involves a unique operational shift system.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years old by the time you graduate from recruit course.
• Eligible to meet national security clearance criteria.
• Must be medically fit for service.
• Must meet the minimum entry fitness standards.

Responsibilities

• Be part of a highly versatile Specialist Aviation Rescue & Fire Fighting team.
• Maintain a high level of fitness for firefighting operations.
• Carry out regular maintenance of competency training.

Education

3 years secondary school

Job description

Mō te tūranga

About the Role

As an Aviation Rescue Firefighter you’ll be part of a highly versatile Specialist Aviation Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) team located at established and expeditionary airfields to enable both military and civilian aircraft operations. The ARFF units are staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to deliver an emergency response capability for Aviation, Industrial, Urban and Rural firefighting in support of personnel, infrastructure and mission critical assets at airfields, defence and local areas as well as in deployed locations. The ARFF Trade may also support Fire Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) as well as other Emergency Service providers at Local, Regional, National and International emergencies.

Aviation Rescue & Fire Fighting is a challenging job, both physically and mentally. You will be required to maintain a high level of fitness to conduct rescue and firefighting operations in challenging environments including at heights and in confined spaces. You will carry out regular maintenance of competency training, designed to help you retain the knowledge, skills and attributes required to make the right decisions in dangerous situations.

Camaraderie is second to none; integrity, trust and teamwork are values held high in the ARFF trade.

All Fire Flights work a 6 day operational shift set: a day shift, a 24 hour shift, and a night shift followed by 3 rostered days off.

To be part of the team we don’t expect you to be the best, but to give your best. It is as a team that we will be the best.

Key Details

• Specialisations: Safety Management & Emergency Response
• Entry type: General Entry
• Under training: 1 year in the Air Force after graduation
• Annual salary: $68,860
• Locations: Ohakea, Whenuapai, Woodbourne

Applications

Recruit 3/26. Start date: Apply by 08 Jun 2026. Apply Now

Requirements

Basics

• 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.
• Minimum: Class 1 – Restricted Licence is acceptable; Class 1 – Full Licence is desirable.

Education

• Minimum: 3 years secondary school.

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.

Period of Service

After completing training, you are required to serve 1 year in the Air Force.