APPLICATIONS FOR AIR FORCE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25741, 1 March 1949, Page 3

APPLICATIONS FOR AIR FORCE

SPEEDIER ENLISTMENT ASSURED

Applications for enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, previously dealt with by the manning branch, Air Department, Wellington, may now be considered by a selection board in Christchurch. The selection board, with Squadron Leader A. G. Lester appointed as officer-in-charge of southern area, has been set up to enable a swifter entry into the service by southern applicants. An endeavour to bring men into the Air Force within a month of application is now being made, said Squadron Leader Lester. Previously when the applications were dealt with in Wellington, it required anything up to three months to gain entry. All paper work, medical examinations, and other duties connected with enlistment will be done in Christchurch. At present the Christchurch office controls recruiting for the whole of the South Island, but shortly it is hoped to establish a subsidiary office in Dunedin. The procedure for enlistment now is that a member of the recruiting staff takes details from the applicant and, on the receipt of the completed application form, the person is notified of the date when he will be required to appear before the selection board. The board, which consists of Squadron Loader Lester, Flying Officer F. Hickey, and Warrant Officer R. Hetrick, will meet each Tuesday and Thursday, but before and after its tours will meet probably four times a week to prevent the possibility of applications mounting up.