Big number leaving the Armed Forces

Press, 1 July 1985, Page 9

Big number leaving the Armed Forces

By LINDA HARRISON Almost a quarter of the Royal New Zealand Navy and about a fifth of the New Zealand Army will leave the services this year alone, if trends set in the first part of this year continue. If the figures of the number of servicemen who have left in the first five months of 1985 are extended to the remainder of the calendar year they show that 22.4 per cent will leave the Navy, 19.9 per cent will leave the Army, and 14 per cent will leave the Air Force.

A naval spokesman said that 307 release applications had been received this year from naval officers and ratings. By the end of May 258 had actually left, from an average paid strength in the Navy of 2765. Already in the Navy there is an officer shortfall of 47 and a ratings shortfall of 154.

In March last year three officers and 12 ratings applied for release from the Navy. In March this year applications were made by 12 officers and 54 ratings — more than four times the number of the previous March. In April last year two officers and 20 ratings notified their departure, compared with four officers and 44 ratings this April, double the figures of the previous. April. The naval spokesman said that a number of the applications would be from servicemen who had completed their engagements and who were signifying their intention to leave. The A.N.Z.U.S. situation and discontent over inadequate pay are also believed to account for. some of the departures. The naval spokesman said there was no intention at this stage to declare the manning situation in the Navy critical, as has been done in certain areas of the Air Force. “The situation is such that we can cope with it,” the spokesman said. The civilian-manned dockyard at Devonport also has a staff problem at the

moment, with numbers down from 1200 to about 900.

“They are highly skilled tradesmen and the vast majority (of departures) have left for higher paid civilian, jobs,” the naval spokesman said. He said “think big” projects such as Marsden Point and the Glenbrook Steel project were among the attractions. The naval spokesman said that the present shortages were a problem but it was hoped that things would stabilise before it had a drastic effect on naval operations. Amongst senior ratings, the greatest shortfalls are in the technical areas of hydrographics and electronic warfare, while for junior ratings the shortfalls are in radio, medical and writing (secretarial) areas. Seamen and engineering officers are most in demand.

Almost twice as many servicemen in the Army sought discharge over the first three months of this year, as did in the same period last year. During the- months of January, February and March last year 99 servicemen sought discharge from the Army, while for the corresponding period this year 193 sought to leave — an increase of 95 per cent. An Army spokesman said that the increases were not substantial when looked at in the context of the total number in the Regular Force and the numbers being recruited to take their places. He said that most of the Army losses were in the middle ranking officer and N.C.O. areas. He attributed the increase in those seeking discharge to two main factors; the desire for “location stability” and the decision to make an early start in a second career.

“They have been in for about 12 years and now have to decide whether to go on for 20 years or leave now and start a second career. In the Army you are

not going to have a great deal of locational stability with three-yearly moves. Often after about 12 years the serviceman is married, and his wife has a good job. He is seeking stability for his family and his work,” the spokesman said.

“I don’t think that A.N.Z.U.S. has anything to do with it in any great numbers,” he said. Servicemen had marketable skills, the spokesman said, but no particular areas were being affected by discharges. The Royal New Zealand Air Force has not escaped the services exodus either with the training officers’ mess and the warrant officers’ mess at Wigram both being closed temporarily because there are not enough chefs to work the kitchen that serves them. The servicemen who normally use the two messes are being catered for from the airmen’s mess kitchen.

An Air Force spokesman said that the situation was recovering slowly and it was expected that the messes would be able to reopen early this month. Initially, they will be able to provide only restricted catering. “They are in demand outside,” the spokesman said of the chefs. “They always have been. They are very skilled people and industry in New Zealand is always looking for chefs.” However, the spokesman said that recruiting had been buoyant and intakes were on a par with last year. Asked to comment on the numbers leaving the Armed Forces this year, and particularly the Navy, the Minister of Defence, Mr O’Flynn, said the situation was “worrying.” “During the last six months the rate of application for release from the Navy has been considerably higher than that experienced during similar periods for the previous two or three years,” Mr O’Flynn said. “The problem is not

peculiar to the Navy but, at present, the rate of turnover in that service is somewhat higher than in the Army or Air Force. Equally it is fair to say that it is not special to the Armed Forces, as figures recently published for other State servants show.”

The number leaving the services now is the highest since the open-ended engagement policy was introduced in September, 1976, resulting in a noticeable increase in releases immediately after, followed by a settling down period. Mr O’Flynn said he would not like to make a definite forecast about what part of the Navy would turn over this year. “It is enough to say that the figure will be higher than I would like,” he said. ‘The Chief of Naval Staff advises me that he has under consideration a number of options for coping, but that the declaration of a state of critical manning is definitely not one of them. “If the present rate of turnover continues for much longer it may be necessary to accept shortfalls in the manning of support units ashore to keep ships running. In the worst case we may even have to tie up a ship for a time but we have not yet got to that point and will do everything possible to avoid it,” Mr O’Flynn said.

Mr O’Flynn said the high turnover meant that a higher percentage of the total naval strength was under training and not available for effective duties, increasing pressure on trained manpower. “Care must be taken not to impose unnecessary tasks upon them.”

Most critical losses would also occur in those branches of the Navy which have technical qualifications in high demand outside the services.

“Again special attention must be given to employing such people to best effect and not overloading them so heavily that they too are inclined to look elsewhere,” Mr O’Flynn said. Improved opportunities for employment leading to greater movement between jobs was one reason put forward by the Minister to explain the high release rate at present. “It is likely that one reason for the exceptionally high retention rates in all three services over the last few years has been the lack of good opportunities elsewhere. Some servicemen who might otherwise have moved on earlier are now doing so and that probably causes a surge,” Mr O’ Flynn said. “Another reason might be anxiety over the recent disagreement with America over nuclear issues and the changes this may require in some aspects of our defence policies. Changes are disturbing and there will always be some who prefer to move on rather than adapt when change ig needed.” “Measures to improve retention in all three services are now under study,” said Mr O’Flynn. He said some particular matters of dissatisfaction to servicemen were now being looked at, though he declined to be more specific, ”in case I raise false expectations.”

“the members of the Armed Forces as well as the public can be assured, however, that I am concerned about the recent rates of release application and am determined to do everything reasonable and possible to encourage them to stay on and help us strengthen New Zealand’s stability and welfare of our region. I am confident that those who do so will enjoy very satisfying careers and conditions of service comparable with anything available outside the services,” Mr O’Flynn said.