What We Do

Training Programme

Our Wednesday night training covers a variety of topics and is based on learning basic skills that allow you to participate in our many practical activities. We run a three year training programme, with each year’s training building on the last. You’ll get the most benefit out of the training programme by attending as many as parade nights and activities as you can.

This table is a summary of TS Amokura’s training programme. You can find an explanation of what some of the topics are below. See the separate section, Water-based Training, for our water related training.

First Year

New Entry Programme

Basic Foot Drill

Cadet Force Knowledge

Sea Survival and Sea

Safety

Boat Skills

Sailing a Dinghy

Firearms Training

First Aid

Radio Procedures

Physical Training

Second Year

Advanced Foot Drill

Cadet Force Knowledge

General Service Knowledge

Seamanship

Sailing a Dinghy

Sea Navigation

Boat Knowledge

Weather

Instructional Techniques

First Aid

Radio Procedures

Citizenship Training

Physical Training

Third Year

Leadership

Risk Management

Instructional Techniques

Outboard Engines

Firearms Training

Sea Navigation

Radio Procedures

General Service Knowledge

Citizenship Training

Physical Training

Lifeskills

Drill: Learn the team work and skills required to stand tall in public. Drill is a great way of encouraging both self-discipline and teamwork. Following RNZN drill, you’ll learn everything you need to be able to participate in our nightly parades, as well as formal events such as ANZAC Day. You’ll learn both foot drill and rifle drill.

Dress and bearing: Become skilled in meeting exacting standards of personal presentation. You’ll learn to wear and look after your uniform, which is the same as the Royal New Zealand Navy’s. Pride in your uniform is a key part of being a cadet.

Cadet Force Knowledge: Learn all about our organisation and what it offers. You’ll learn our rank system, about our rules, and the history and structure of the NZCF. Later on you will also learn about the other two Corps.

General Service Knowledge: Learn about the Royal New Zealand Navy, its ships, what it offers, and how it assists New Zealanders. In year three you’ll learn about the Royal New Zealand Air Force and NZ Army as well.

Firearms Training: Become skilled in safe firearms handling and target shooting. We’ll teach you how to safely use our .22 rifles and take you shooting on 22m ranges. If you are good at shooting you will be able to work towards marksmanship awards and shoot in local and national shooting competitions. Shooting is a popular activity that sets us apart from other organisations. We have a strong focus on safety and skills when shooting – all shoots are supervised by Range Safety Officers, officer staff trained on special Defence Force courses.

First Aid: Know how to look after yourself and others by learning basic first aid skills. In your third year you will do a formal first aid course to gain a formal First Aid Certificate.

Radio Procedures: Practice correct military procedures when using handheld radios, and gain your Royal New Zealand Coast Guard VHF licence.

Leadership: A core part of our training is developing the skills to lead others. Those that have what it takes will get the chance to attend leadership courses on a military base. After that you’ll be given more responsibility for training younger cadets.

Instructional Techniques: Develop teaching skills to pass your knowledge onto other cadets. First you’ll learn how to teach drill, and as a senior cadet you’ll learn how to teach classroom lessons. Gain a great boost to your confidence standing up in front of a class.

Physical Training: Keep fit and have fun with friends through sports activities, including competitions with other units. An annual swim test is conducted to make sure you are confident in the water.

Citizenship Training: Acquire pride by helping others in your community.

Lifeskills: Throughout your cadet career we’ll give you skills you’ll take throughout your life. Our aim is to develop confident, competent young people who will succeed in life.

Bushcraft: Every so often, we leave the water and head up onto land. We’ll teach you how to be safe and have fun in New Zealand’s great outdoors. You’ll get to go tramping and camping and learn survival skills, navigation skills as well as have a great time with others outdoors.