Preparedness

The ability of the NZDF output expense force elements to be employed on military tasks is a function of the preparedness state in which they are held. That is, force elements must be held at a level of capability from which they can be raised to an operational status within a specified time, then deployed for the conduct of a particular type of military task and be sustained for a specified period while engaged in that task. Within the NZDF there are four ingredients of preparedness - Readiness; Combat Viability; Deployability; and Sustainability. These are defined as follows:

• Readiness
  

  Readiness is the current proficiency and effectiveness of a force to conduct a range of activities defined against a Directed Level of Capability and Employment Context, and that provide options for employment on military tasks within a specified Response Time. The force readiness comprises personnel, trained state (individual and unit), equipment held, and equipment condition (serviceability), and includes tactical command, control, communications and intelligence.

• Combat Viability
  

  Combat Viability is the in-theatre ability of a force to achieve its military task or mission using current resources. It incorporates the following:

• the ability of service personnel to engage in combat with due regard to morale, leadership, and a sense of mission;
• the sufficiency of equipment and its design/technology standards to provide firepower, protection to personnel and other battlefield attributes to the level required by the threat;
• the adequacy of military doctrine and tactics to make effective use of personnel and equipment;
• the standard of collective or combined training;
• the ability of the force to achieve the level and duration of fighting to achieve its objectives; and
• the effectiveness of standardisation when working with friendly forces.

• Deployability
  

  Deployability is the capacity of a force element to move to an Operational Level of Capability, complete final preparations, and assemble for deployment within a specified time. Effected deployability includes the completion of OLOC generation training, preparation of deployment equipment and munitions, and positioning personnel and equipment for embarkation by air or sea.

• Sustainability
  

  Sustainability is the ability to support a designated force at operating tempo throughout the duration of an operation. It includes the availability of replacement personnel, equipment maintenance, sufficiency of second and third line stocks, and the lift capacity to carry them into theatre and to those force elements requiring them.

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