The annual outputs of the NZDF fall into two categories: performing predictable or routine tasks, such as providing policy advice or continuing to support existing peace support operations; and maintaining an ability to respond to unknown future security events.
The latter preparedness requirement is specified in the NZDF Output Plan by detailing the level of military capability that must be maintained against the five Employment Contexts (ECs), depicted in Section 2 of this Report. These ECs identify representative security events that would pose a threat to New Zealand’s national security outcomes, and to which the government would expect to provide a military response. The ECs provide the guidance to determine the Operational Level of Capability (OLOC) required to conduct such military tasks effectively and safely. Because of the high costs of maintaining OLOC, the NZDF is funded to routinely maintain a lower Directed Level of Capability (DLOC). This allows force elements to be raised to OLOC within specified warning times, before being deployed on operations.
Raising forces to OLOC generally includes additional training and personnel preparation appropriate to the environment and task, additional equipment maintenance, any necessary upgrades to military equipment, and logistic support planning. Extra costs for OLOC generation and operational deployments are covered either by offsets within the existing vote (for example where operational tasks fulfil some of the routine DLOC training requirements); or by supplementary funding under Output Expense 16, Operationally Deployed Forces.
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