SELECTION OF RECRUITS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23493, 22 November 1941, Page 3

SELECTION OF RECRUITS

QUALIFICATIONS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT MINISTER’S ASSURANCE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 21. The steps taken by the military authorities to see that the civilian qualifications of recruits are used by the Army to the best advantage, were explained by the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) to-night. He said that it should be remembered that although a man may have qualifications in his profession or trade, it did not necessarily follow that he could be employed in the Army in a capacity which would enable full use to be made of those qualifications. For example, Mr Jones said, there was only a limited scope for the employment of accountants, lawyers, and scientists as such, and it was frequently necessary to post them to units in which their professional training was only of indirect value. This, of course, could not be avoided. “When a recruit is medically examined, the opportunity is taken of obtaining from him full particulars of his civil and military qualifications and experience,” said Mr Jones. “It is more than likely that the general public is not aware that for every unit in a modern army there is what •is known to soldiers as the ‘war establishment.’ This is a carefully prepared document, issued by the War Office, giving the organisation of the unit, showing in detail the personnel, weapons, ammunition, and vehicles required to complete the unit* The personnel required is set out with particularity and the specialists and tradesmen required are listed.” Equipped with this information of requirements and resources, area officers then proceed to select from the recruits available those whose civil qualifications fit them for the various positions provided for in the war establishment of the particular Unit. This procedure is well illustrated in the recent formation of the Army Tank Brigade, the war establishment of which contains a large number of various kinds of tradesmen and artificers who were carefully selected from recruits throughout the Dominion. Transfer Possible “In addition, area officers inform area headquarters of men who possess special qualifications, so that inquiries may be made and special consideration given to their employment in the Army. As a further precaution, camp staffs are required to give careful consideration during the period of training to the suitability of each man for the arm of the service to which he has been posted by the area officer, and to decide whether he wor.';s be more usefully employed in another arm. If it is found that he would be more usefully employed in another unit, action is at once taken to have him transferred. It should also be mentioned that assistance is obtained by the Army authorities from Government departments and also from employers and organisations of various kinds and valuable information with regard to the proper employment of men, is obtained.” Mr Jones said that recruits were encouraged to express preference for a particular unit. If they were found to be suitable, and provided, of course, that there were vacancies, they were posted in accordance with their wishes. Similarly, if a man after being posted applied for transfer to another unit, his application .was given full consideration. “On arrival at the overseas base, it may be found that there are some who have not been posted to the best advantage and these are again sorted out overseas and placed in any vacancies in the divisions which are more suited to their individual quali-, fications,” said Mr Jones. He added that it would be appreciated from his statement that the Army authorities fully recognised that it was of the highest importance that proper use should be made of every man’s qualifications and experience. From the time the recruit was medically examined, until he completed his training overseas, every effort was made to ensure that he was posted to the unit for which he was best fitted.