23 November 2007
The media are invited to attend the 2007 graduation for the New Zealand Army Officer Cadet School.
Forty cadets will graduate after eleven months at the Waiouru Army Camp. During their training the cadets spent around 100 days in the field on exercise, and the rest of their time either in the lecture room or learning the essential military skills required of all members of the New Zealand Army.
The Governor-General Honourable Anand Satyanand and the Chief of Army Major General Lou Gardiner will be in attendance at what is the New Zealand Army’s biggest annual ceremonial occasion.
Commandant of the Officer Cadet School Lieutenant Colonel Paul Curry said the aim of the course was to produce the best junior officers in the world.
“We have some of New Zealand’s finest young men and women join New Zealand’s Army and their graduation as commissioned officers is the culmination of 11 months of tough, challenging training. They are outstanding young leaders.”
Major General Lou Gardiner said the young leaders had committed themselves to serve New Zealand honourably and loyally in the proud traditions of the army.
In January 2008 the graduates will move to their chosen corps within the New Zealand Army for ongoing training and could face deployment on overseas operations within a year of graduating.
This year’s class includes graduates from across the cities and provinces of New Zealand as well as students from Australia, Singapore and Papua New Guinea.
ENDS
For media interested in attending the graduation ceremony at Waiouru on Friday November 30 please contact Dave Courtney on (04) 496 0296 or 021 487 980 by Tuesday November 27.
Cadets will be available for interview. The graduation ceremony is attended by the family and friends of the recruits, members of the Army and is a mix of traditional military ceremony and aspects of the New Zealand Army’s Ngati Tumatauenga heritage.