NZDF

Output Expense 10

Special Operations Forces

Description

Provision of the capabilities of the Special Operations Forces prepared to conduct special forces operations in support of land operations, counter-terrorist operations, and the provision of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Explosive, Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (CBRE IEDD) that threaten public safety or national interests, in accordance with NZDF Output Plan specifications.

This output expense provides Special Operations Forces prepared for:

  • Special Operations (NZ Special Air Service (NZ SAS “green role”)) under ECs 1 to 5.
  • Counter-Terrorist (CT) Operations (NZ SAS “black role”) under ECs 1D and 2D.
  • National Response for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Explosive, Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (CBRE IEDD).

[See details on ECs at the start of this section].

Outputs in Output Expense 10

Output 10.1 - Special Forces

The provision of Special Forces prepared for the conduct of special operations in support of land operations. It also includes the requirement to provide Special Forces elements to the framework of a brigade group for simulation and Command Post Exercise-based combined arms training.

Output 10.2 - Counter-Terrorist Forces

The provision of forces at the operational level of capability prepared to conduct counter-terrorist operations within specified response times, either in New Zealand, or in South Pacific countries when requested.

Output 10.3 - Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Explosive, Improvised Explosive Device Disposal

The provision of a dedicated military organisation of specialised teams at the operational level of capability prepared for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Explosive, Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (CBRE IEDD) that threaten public safety or national interests. This organisation will not normally be available for other community support services.

Overview

Special Operations Forces were maintained at a high state of readiness and were able to meet the requirement to provide the initial and rotation elements in support of land combat operations in ECs 1 to 5. Counter-Terrorist Groups were available to assist the NZ Police with EC 1 tasks in New Zealand. In addition, three response teams were available in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to respond to IEDD threats and a specialist response team was available to respond to CBRE threats.

All preparedness targets were met, and Special Forces carried out a range of training activities and exercises to maintain and enhance readiness.

Personnel met training standards, experience levels and qualification requirements, however, supplementation from Navy and Air Force, lateral recruitment and retention strategies continued to address shortfalls in the CBRE IEDD capability.

Highlights

During the reporting period, 1 NZSAS Gp has focused on regenerating specialist skills to achieve OLOC in order to meet directed tasks. Also the CTTAG has been maintained at OLOC for the entire period. The main bilateral activity carried out over the training year was Exercise Lion Heart (with the Singaporeans).

1 NZ EOD Sqn has continued to grow and remains on-track to be fully established by July 2010. Until this time, 1 NZ EOD Sqn remains reliant on supplementation of qualified personnel from all three Services to meet directed output requirements. The capability to neutralise CBRE devices continues to be developed. 1 NZ EOD Sqn conducts weekly IEDD OLOC training to in order to maintain specialist skills. Regular collective training is conducted in order to maintain a CBRE team capability.

Contribution to Outcomes

Output Expense 10 contributes to Intermediate Outcomes 1 and 2 (Secure New Zealand and Reduced Risks to New Zealand from regional and global insecurity).

Performance

Performance measurement for this output expense is in accordance with the standard measures for operational force outputs shown at the beginning of this section and those measures listed in the table below. For additional important information on this Output Expense, see the notes at the end of this table.

Performance Standards and Measures Performance Achieved

Standards

Army, drawing on 1st NZ Special Air Service (SAS) Group and Army/NZDF-wide resources, will provide:

 
  • The initial and rotation elements of up to a SAS Squadron to conduct special operations in support of land combat operations under Employment Contexts 1 - 5, and to provide elements, as appropriate, in support of a Company and/or Battalion Group (motorised, non-motorised or composite).  (See details on ECs in Section 2).

 

1 NZSAS Gp was able to meet these requirements.

  • A Counter-Terrorist Group to assist the NZ Police in Counter-Terrorist operations, including Maritime CT, under Employment Contexts 1D and 2D.

 

A CTG and a Counter-Terrorist Assault Group were available to assist the NZ Police with non-CBRE EC 1 tasks.

  • A CBRE IEDD/EOD organisation of squadron strength which has the ability to provide three IEDD Response Teams (one each based at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch) and a specialist CBR Response Team to undertake emergency national IEDD/CBRE tasks.

1 NZ EOD Sqn continues to maintain this capability with considerable supplementation of qualified personnel from Navy, Army and Air Force units.

This arrangement will continue until the unit is fully established. Equipment shortages and a shortage of qualified personnel in particular continue to affect this capability. Nevertheless, these issues are being resolved through equipment purchases and recruiting.

Measure

NZDF OPRES (Operational Preparedness and Reporting System).  (See the OPRES Key Performance Indicators and OPRES Performance Rating Scale earlier in this section).

  

Standards

Army will also maintain a SAS Squadron to support the framework of a brigade group for training in New Zealand.

Measures

NZDF OPRES.

 

Army was able to maintain a SAS Squadron to support simulation based Command Post Exercises in a combined arms and coalition environment.

Standards

Standards and performance rating required under the NZDF Operational Preparedness and Reporting System (OPRES) against the four Elements of Preparedness (see the OPRES Key Performance Indicators and OPRES Performance Rating Scale earlier in this section).

Measures

While the aim, under the OPRES rating system, is an OPRES Rating of P1, for 2008/09 the following will apply:

  • For tasks under ECs 1 and 2 - a P1 OPRES rating.
  • For tasks under ECs 3 to 5 - a P2 OPRES rating.

 

EC Output 10.1 Output 10.2 Output 10.3
1 P1 P1 P1
2 P1 P1 N/A
3-5 P1 N/A N/A

Note, Output 10.2 is only assessed against ECs 1 and 2 and Output 10.3 is only assessed against EC 1.

(See paragraphs below.)

Readiness:

Standards

  • Special Forces, Counter-Terrorist (CT) Forces and CBRE IEDD Teams that meet the degrees of notice and Directed Level of Capability (DLOC) and Operational Level of Capability (OLOC) readiness criteria, as appropriate, in accordance with Schedule 4 to the NZDF Output Plan.

 

Special Forces elements were able to meet the specified readiness standards.

  • Special Forces, CT Forces and CBRE IEDD Teams carry out a range of readiness training activities in accordance with the NZDF Exercise Activity Schedule (EAS), Army Mission Essential Task Lists (METLs), Army Annual Plan, and Formation and Unit Training Directives to maintain DLOC and OLOC, as appropriate, in accordance with Schedule 4 to the NZDF Output Plan.

Measures

NZDF OPRES.

Special Forces elements conducted a range of readiness training activities, including sub-unit and specialist troop exercises.

Combat Viability:

Standards

  • Personnel that meet the experience levels and qualification requirements for special operations, CT tasks and CBRE IEDD tasks.

 

Personnel met the training standards, experience levels and qualification requirements, with the exception of CBRE.

There are still shortfalls in personnel within this output to meet the CBRE IEDD requirements, which are being managed by Army. Shortfalls are being addressed through lateral recruitment and retention strategies.

  • Equipment performance, reliability and technology that meet required OLOC standards for commitment to special operations, CT tasks and CBRE IEDD tasks.

Equipment met standards, however, there are still some specialist equipment shortfalls, which continue to be addressed as part of the procurement process.

  • Effective standardisation when working with friendly forces.

Measures

NZDF OPRES.

Effective standardisation when working with friendly forces was achieved.

Deployability:

Standards

  • Special Forces, CT Forces and CBRE IEDD Teams capable of deploying within specified degrees of notice/response times, as applicable, in accordance with Schedule 4 to the NZDF Output Plan.

 

Special Forces, CT Forces and CBRE IEDD Teams were capable of deploying within specified response times.

  • Munitions and specialist stores available to OLOC standards.

Measures

NZDF OPRES.

Munitions and specialist stores were available to OLOC standards.

Sustainability:

Standards

  • Munitions and specialist stores available for special operations, CT tasks and CBRE IEDD tasks.

 

Munitions and specialist stores were available for special operations, CT tasks and CBRE IEDD tasks.

  • Personnel available for reinforcement and rotation of deployed forces for continuous operations in accordance with Schedule 4 to the NZDF Output Plan.

Measures

NZDF OPRES.

Personnel were available for reinforcement and rotation of deployed forces for continuous operations in accordance with Schedule 4 to the NZDF Output Plan.

Note 1: This Output Expense is designed to provide capabilities prepared for:

  • Special Operations (NZ Special Air Service (NZ SAS) “green role”) in support of land operations.  It also includes the requirement to provide Special Forces elements to the framework of a brigade group for simulation and Command Post Exercise-based combined arms training.  If a major element of the Special Forces is committed in support of land combat operations, the Army is not able to provide, concurrently, a like commitment to another operation/mission.
  • A Counter-Terrorist Group to assist the NZ Police in Counter-Terrorist operations, including Maritime CT, under Employment Contexts 1D and 2D.
  • National Response for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Explosive, Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (CBRE IEDD).  It involves the provision of a dedicated military organisation of specialised teams at the operational level of capability prepared for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Explosive, Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (CBRE IEDD) that threaten public safety or national interests.  This organisation will not normally be available for other community support services.

Note 2: CBRE IEDD Organisation - Cabinet has approved the formation of an independent and separately funded organisation for the conduct of CBRE IEDD and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).  [CAB Min (05) 27/4 dated 25 Jul 05].  The establishment of this dedicated CBRE IEDD/EOD unit will be set up over the next three to five years.  The set up of the unit will not detract from the ability to respond to IEDD and CBRE incidents in the three Central Business Districts (CBDs) of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.  Although CBRE IEDD is a NZDF responsibility directed by Government, Army has been designated the “lead Service”.  Navy and Air Force will provide trained manpower and specialist support for CBRE IEDD/EOD, as required.

Note 3: Deployment Impact

  • If a high proportion of the Special Forces capability was deployed on actual operations, any other concurrent contribution from this output would be very limited.  This does not, however, affect the ability of the NZDF to continue to fully deliver force elements for the Counter-Terrorist capability.
  • The number of personnel qualified and available to deliver CBRE is currently limited.  The deployment of any personnel from this output to Output Expense 16 - Operationally Deployed Forces would have a major impact on training and the ability of the NZDF to deliver CBRE.

Costs for Output Expense 10 (GST Exclusive)

Actual
2007/08
($ million)		 Category Main
Estimates
($ million)		 Supplementary
Estimates
($ million)		 Actual
2008/09
($ million)
  Expenditure      
27.008 Personnel 31.984 33.664 33.284
14.266 Operating 17.900 15.379 16.241
0.043 Losses on Foreign Exchange - - 1.164
5.048 Depreciation 7.387 4.881 4.983
5.672 Capital Charge 5.697 6.321 6.321
52.037 Total Expenses 62.968 60.245 61.993
  Income      
50.881 Revenue Crown 62.773 59.842 59.842
0.086 Revenue Department 0.102 0.245 0.183
0.060 Revenue Other 0.093 0.158 0.060
0.555 Gains on Foreign Exchange - 1.366 1.511
51.582 Total Income 62.968 61.611 61.596
(0.455) Net Surplus (Deficit) - 1.366 (0.397)
 
  Cost by Output      
23.103 Output 10.1 27.777 26.568 27.299
23.070 Output 10.2 27.777 26.441 27.172
5.864 Output 10.3 7.414 7.236 7.522

The NZDF is appropriated for expenditure excluding remeasurements. Remeasurements are defined under the Public Finance Act as a revision of a future obligation that changes the carrying amount of an asset or liability. The total approved appropriation in 2008/09 for this output expense was $61.185 million and the total expenditure excluding remeasurements was $60.829 million. There was no unappropriated expenditure for this output expense.

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This page was last reviewed on 1 October 2009, and is current.