18 February 2006
In his first official visit to Waiouru Military Camp, Defence Minister Phil Goff attended the parade ceremony of 105 army officer cadets on 18 February 2006.
The Chief of Army, Major General Matepaere accompanied the minister.
Mr Goff presented the New Zealand Officer Cadet Corps Badge to 85 cadets marking the completion of their initial seven-week officer training.
Another 20 Territorial Force graduates including two specialist officers received their commissioning parchment.
The graduates will be posted to one of the Territorial Force Regiments based in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Wanganui, Palmerston North and Auckland.
ENDS
For further information please contact Charmaine Pene, Defence Public Relations, 04 496 0296 or 021 487 980
Background
Initial Officer Training Course
All Officer Cadets, whether full-time or part-time, are required to complete Initial Officer Training (IOT), a seven-week full-time course designed to introduce the cadets to the basic individual military skills required to be an effective member of the NZ Army. These military skills include navigation, weapon handling, radiotelephone procedures and living in the outdoors. It is during IOT that Officer Cadets are introduced to the standards and discipline demanded of all members of the NZ Army.
Graduation
Graduation is marked with a full military parade by the Corps of Officer Cadets followed by an evening ball where the graduating Officer Cadets are 'pipped'. Following graduation from the Officer Cadet School (New Zealand), officers are commissioned into a chosen Corps specialising in combat, engineering, communications, intelligence or logistics. Here, Officers put their leadership, management and planning skills into practice. Leadership and specialist training will continue throughout an Officer's career.
Territorial Force
The current Territorial Force consists 6 Battalion groups, divided amongst 6 geographical regions across New Zealand, hence the name of Territorials.
Territorials are required to 20 days service a year, which is paid. This can consist of a variety of training, from night parades to weekend exercises or skills or promotion courses. The training is conducted in various regions in New Zealand and the Territorials do travel extensively within the country. The training programme is flexible and consideration is made for employment, tertiary training and family commitments.
In recent times Territorial soldiers and officers have been active on New Zealand peacekeeping missions to Lebanon, Sinai, East Timor, Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Bougainville, Afghanistan, and the Solomon Islands.