John Allen, Chief Executive of New Zealand Post, has been appointed as the first Chair to the Territorial Forces Employer Support Council (TFESC).
The Volunteers Employment Protection Act 2004 created the TFES. The Council is a national organisation, sponsored by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), to develop the support of employers of part-time members of the NZDF.
Around 35 territorial personnel deploy overseas a year and in the past 12 months territorials have served in Sierra Leone, the former Yugoslavia, Lebanon, Iraq, East Timor, Sinai and Afghanistan. "I look forward to working with Defence and the employer community to strengthen and support our Territorial Forces," said Mr Allen.
The TFESC will ask employers to grant Military Leave for training and deployments, and will encourage discussion between the employer community and the NZDF.
Employers who release employees for military training or operations gain employees with improved leadership abilities and other essential skills.