COMMENT FROM THE CAPITAL CAN THE ARMY EXPAND WHEN RECRUITING MARKS TIME?

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31501, 16 October 1967, Page 12

COMMENT FROM THE CAPITAL CAN THE ARMY EXPAND WHEN RECRUITING MARKS TIME?

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 15.—Any suggestion of an immediate buildup of New Zealand forces in South-East Asia is simply “kite-flying”, and is unsupported by any cun-ent action at New Zealand Defence headquarters.

If there were any such immediate intention, recruiting for overseas service (that is, for the Regular Army) would be going at top pressure. As it is, there is actually a “ceiling” on recruiting in New Zealand; and standards have been kept extremely high.

Even though Cabinet has called for a survey by the armed services, this is not expected to have any immediate effect on the number of men required. The survey relates to an examination of what units or sub-units in the Regular forces would be available if the New Zealand contribution in Vietnam were increased. Asked to comment on several stories appearing in the Australian and New Zealand press, and predicting an increase in the over-all number of New Zealand troops in Malaysia and Vietnam, a high Defence authority has been quite emphatic about the position. “All we are doing right now is maintaining New Zealand Army strength in both areas,” he said. “We are happy to say that we can do this. There has been no call for more troops, or for a redeployment. If there is. it will depend on political rather than military decisions.”

Having only this limited objective, it might be expected that the Army authorities are somewhat relieved. Recruits have been coming forward steadily over the last few months—but no recruiting or headquarters officer is yet prepared to align this with the economic situation.

The 300-man replacement for the half-battalion of timeexpired men now nearly ready to leave Terendak has been recruited, and is in the final stages of training. This time the problem will be solved without such stratagems as using men from other units, or sending needed staff for instructing others.

Trickle Persists Since the “trickle” replacement system was superseded a few years ago, it has been the practice to replace the time-expired men in the battalion in Malaysia by a single draft of 300 fully-trained men with at least six months New Zealand experience before going overseas. There is also a “trickle," to make up losses by illness and accident, not only in Malaysia but in tile New Zealand forces in Vietnam. The point is that these replacements are not provided on a spur-of-the-moment basis. The

new men have to be recruited and trained months ahead of requirement. Previous British Commanders of the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve force, the land component of which is a brigade group, have criticised the New Zealand system of replacing its battalion by withdrawing 300 of its most experienced soldiers and replacing them with new men. once a year.

The point has been made several times that the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve is a fully-trained and mobile force, ready to move at speed against any point of emergency. It is said that the presence of an efficient armed force at this strategic point has already avoided more than one major conflict In this tight organisation, the New Zealand battalion, with its system of three months training every year to absorb the “new boys,” has already occasioned comment. There was inevitably more when a rifle company from the battalion was withdrawn and sent to Vietnam.

The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) has promised that the battalion will be made up to full-strength, but nothing has been done about this, and (what is perhaps even more important) no provision has been made in recruiting to maintain an extra company in the field. At present, and for the forseeable future, New Zealand will have an infantry battalion overseas. An infantry battalion has three rifle companies, a support company and a headquarters company. It is a small matter that one of the rifle companies is in Vietnam. The “Ceiling” It is clearly established that, at a time when there has been talk of ballottees being required to do some overseas service, and when there Is constant reference to the possible building-up of our armed services overseas, there is no positive movement to simply recruit more soldiers. Many units are below establishment. There has been some complaint because ballottees. having been warned to stand by for their training, have been deferred. This has been due, at least in part, to a shortage of instructors. The explanation, it is believed, is simple. Though there are more recruits offer-

ing (because of economic conditions) than for some years, it is harder than for some time to get into the New Zealand Army. Standards are high. There are many rejections.

When the first hints of the economic situation became, apparent it is known that’ heads of Government departments and related bodies were called together and told to keep staff recruiting down.. The reduction figure of 13' per cent on planned intakes! it is understood, was mentioned, and it was emphasised that the move was simply an economy measure.

Though there is some difference between a clerical recruit for the Post and Telegraph Department and a young man wanting to serve as a regular soldier, it is understood that the same ceiling was applied to both. Thus, for economic reasons, the “intake” of recruits has been limited. This limitation will continue, irrespective of the economic situation, the requirement overseas, or the training problems in New Zealand itself unless there is another Government direction.

While the present direction applies, any expansion of New Zealand forces overseas must be made by redeploying existing regular units. In other words, instead of building the Terendak battalion back to full strength, or sending another rifle company to Vietnam—or even (in the ultimate planning stage) building our V-force units into the New Zealand component of an Anzac Brigade, New Zealand must send from what is already there. As the review of possibilities now being undertaken by the forces will show, the immediate prospects are three in number: the 90-strong Ranger Squadron of trained jungle-fighters; the Canberra squadron which is the most modern component of our only Strike Wing; or the Iroquois helicopters which are part of No. 3 Battlefield Support Squadron. In the meantime, it is assumed that the possibility of any form of conscription has receded a long way. Before it could even be thought about. Regular Army recruiting would have to be opened up, if only to provide more instructors for the ballottees