BOY ENTRANTS TO AIR FORCE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26524, 12 September 1951, Page 3

BOY ENTRANTS TO AIR FORCE

SPECIAL TRAINING AT WOODBOURNE

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 11. With the opeping of a boy entrant school at Woodbourne, Blenheim, the Royal New Zealand Air Force would enter a new phase in the training of boys for service careers, said the Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald) to-day. “Boy entrants will now be enlisted between the ages of 16J and 171 years, and the new scheme provides for one year at the school, which will be devoted to a special course.” said the Minister. "The syllabus will include general service training, educational subjects, semi-technical studies, organised visits, directed hobbies, sports and physical development. “The school will be staffed by specially selected instructors. The course is designed to provide the boys with a comprehensive background before commencing their trade training. “Particular care will be taken at the bov entrant school to ensure that boys are encouraged to continue their formal education. Facilities will be available for reaching the necessary standard for taking such examinations as School Certificate and University Entrance.

"Those who show exceptional promise will be given the opportunity to apply - for cadetships to Cranwell. England, and Point Cook, Australia, and these cadetships will lead to permanent commissions in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

“Applicants will be enlisted in one of 14 skilled trades, but they will have the opportunity of changing the trade of their choice while at the school. At the end of the special year’s course, bov entrants will be posted to the appropriate trade training school, with the status of airmen,’’ the Minister concluded.