CDF’s vision – The Defence Force Team continued…

On recruiting and retention, CDF says, the Air Force at the moment was having some difficulties in reselling its image. "The perception that the Air Force has been disbanded is absolutely wrong. It lost its combat arm, there’s no denying that, but the rest of the Air Force gets on as it always has done in a very professional effective and efficient manner. There are huge opportunities for up-skilling people in those areas and retaining them."

He says, East Timor provided a fillip to recruitment and, to an extent, retention. "I do suspect that when that operation winds-down we will see a co-incidental attrition rate for those who have been there once, twice or three times, and have decided to move on to something else."

The procurement of the new multi-role vessel and off-shore and in-shore patrol craft will substantially increase the surface fleet of the New Zealand Navy, and with it, increase the job opportunities and the skills required.

Air Marshal Ferguson says, there is a huge training requirement required for the Army, not only to up-skill itself for the new motorised infantry battalion role with the LAVIIIs, but also to re-skill those who have come out of East Timor after being involved in a long-term peacekeeping operation - and that mission involves close to 50% of the Army at any one time.

"The whole evolutionary training process of the Army has been put on hold for two and a half years," he says. "The new general has a huge task, not only to re-skill his people back to the basic war-fighting capabilities and inter-operability with our closest friends and allies like Australia, we also have to look at introducing a completely new doctrine for the operation of the LAVIIIs. They are challenges, which in themselves, will provide a great incentive for recruitment. There is a high requirement for highly skilled technicians and operators and that is an attraction for our young people.

"So with the very small and short-term aberration of the Air Force, I think we are moving into a very positive environment for recruitment," he says.

Air Marshal Ferguson says, he has been given no mandate from the government to do other than whatever any Chief of Defence Force must do, and that is to obey the wishes of the government of New Zealand who are representing the country’s people.

"I believe totally in the New Zealand Defence Force. I believe in the mission we’ve got. I believe even more strongly in the democracy that we have, and that all of those RSA members have, at some stage, put their lives on the line for.

"I do believe that we have a Defence Force that can uphold what a defence force is required to do within the parameters that are placed upon us, that is the fiscal envelopes around us. The reality is that New Zealand is a very small country, its economy is microscopic compared to the more major economies, but we can make a difference. And we do make a difference in places, but thinking that the New Zealand Defence Force should be equipped to defend totally, without help, the shores of New Zealand is a myth. We can’t do that, we never will be able to do that.

"We’ll do what we can to the best of our ability with what we’re given. The true democratic society always places constraints on its military organisations, and they are normally quite severe constraints. New Zealand is no different. But I am humbled and delighted to accept the challenge"

"Make no mistake about it our combat units will retain that combat fighting edge."

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