12 February 2008
Mention sport – any sort of sport – and Bob Bulman is in his element.
He has the look of someone who enjoys keeping fit, and while he was a keen and successful water polo and volleyball player in his youth, these days he’s a sports administrator, a role which every sportsperson knows, the game can’t do without.
LTCOL Bulman, an Army veteran of 37 years, is a familiar face throughout the Army’s sporting codes. His current role combines two passions – sport and administration, the latter being the trade he chose when he first joined the Army as a Regular Force Cadet in 1971.
As part of his Trentham-based role he is chairperson of the Army Sports Committee, which administers and supports the entire approved, and some non-approved, sport played by Army personnel.
The Army currently has 11 approved sports codes that are competed for at Inter-regional and Inter-services level – rugby, rugby league, basketball, football, netball, hockey, volleyball, softball, cricket, touch rugby and golf – which can all be played in duty time, and receive funding assistance. The list of codes was decided following a review of NZDF sport in the late 1990’s based mainly on being team sports and their popularity by playing numbers. Provided certain pre-conditions are met, it is possible for other sports to become part of the list after consideration by the sports committee, and CA approval.
But personnel can still play other sports in their own time, and assistance is sometimes provided for non-approved sport. For example, an increasing number of personnel are taking part in individual sporting activities such as triathlons and endurance races like the Everest Marathon.
The sports committee can call on what is known as the Singapore Fund to help fund sporting activities and adventurous training, particularly for overseas tours.
The Army, says LTCOL Bulman, has always placed a significant emphasis on sport.
“It has always been recognised as helping personnel fitness, but is also important for self development and personal discipline. Team sports encourage esprit de corps, and provide a great avenue for inter-action with other Services. It’s also a chance for officers and soldiers to mix in a less formal environment, and an opportunity to get a break away from normal work routine.”
He is proud of the Army’s sportsmen and women's achievements, and that in the past year a number of individuals have achieved provincial and national honours, and five Army codes have participated in overseas tours.
“There is a lot of (sporting) talent within the Army, and I think the Army as an organisation looks after its sports people very well.”
As GSO1 HR Services LTCOL Bulman has technical responsibility for the Army's administration centres at its five camps. He joined the Army as a clerk (a trade now known as Administrator), and served in New Zealand and Singapore before commissioning in 1989.
He was posted to the Army Schools in Waiouru, followed by a stint at HQATG, before being posted to Support Command in 1995. He has also served in the Sinai, East Timor and Bosnia.
He is enjoying the input and influence he can make in his current role, and is especially looking forward to the changes afoot in how the Army administers its personnel.
“We have always relied on a lot of rules within our administration and human resource systems that haven’t changed for many years. Under the auspices of the NZDF Transformation Programme, the HRM change programme (lead by CA) includes a review and simplification of policy which will potentially see some fundamental changes to existing rules”.
In support of NZDF policy, there is also a move within the Army towards greater self-administration. For example, kiosks are being installed in camps to enable all personnel to have access to their own personal data and administer themselves via the KEA application.
“These changes mean personnel at all levels will be able to manage for themselves a greater range of their own administration, leave being a prime example. Administrators will still be there to provide back-up support and advice as necessary, and continue to do other higher level personnel administration as well.”
LTCOL Bulman says it is an interesting time for the Army, and Defence as a whole.
“We’re re-shaping ourselves, and I’m convinced the way we do things can be done much ‘simpler and better’ in line with the main theme of NZDF Transformation.”