Ready Reaction Force cuts likely after budget cuts—Minister

Press, 12 September 1988, Page 3

Ready Reaction Force cuts likely after budget cuts—Minister

By

DAVE WILSON

Defence Budget cuts will probably lead to a shortage of personnel in the Army’s Burnham-based Ready Reaction Force, and consequently reduce the effectiveness of the force, says the Minister of Defence, Mr Tizard.

Other likely penalties of a cut in Army spending include a 5 per cent reduction in training days for Territorial soldiers, the cancellation - of several exercises and seminars, and cuts in maintenance expenditure, said Mr Tizard. • The Minister’s remarks were contained in a reply to a written question in Parliament by Mr Rob Munro (Nat., Invercargill).

Mr Munro, a former lieutenantcolonel in the Army, has described the Minister’s response as unacceptable and an admission that the Army’s first-response force is being blunted.

“It takes years to build up the effectiveness of a unit and if you make cuts, the real impact of them will be felt between one and five years down the track.” The Ready Reaction Force is built round the 2/1 Battalion at Burnham, a force of 120 kept at operational readiness to be New Zealand’s first response in time of hostilities.

Army sources expected the impact of personnel shortages in the

unit to become apparent in about six months.

Cuts in Defence spending were ordered by the Government after this year’s Budget effectively reduced the military vote 2.5 per cent. A number of cost-saving measures were announced last month, including a cut in the intake of Regular Force Cadets. Mr Tizard has confirmed this, saying the Regular Force Recruit intake, scheduled for last month, has been cancelled and the Regular Force Cadet intake for January will be cut from 130 to 75 cadets. Other cost-saving measures include a 40 per cent cut in the transfer of personnel between bases, travel restrictions and reductions of numerous exercises.

Asked by Mr Munro to specify the consequences of the financial cutbacks, Mr Tizard detailed these as: © A probable shortage of personnel and reduction in effectiveness of the Ready Reaction Force. ® Reduction in transfer of personnel with mainly beneficial effects and only minor disadvantages

from the reduction in the frequency of postings. • A 5 per cent reduction in Territorial Force man-days, the long-term effects of which are difficult to assess.

® Cuts in maintenance expenditure leading to a probable increase in the cost Of operational maintenance.

@ Cancellation of the annual Weapons Effects Demonstration (live-firing exercise) for the 1988-89 financial year. • Implementation of Army-wide travel restrictions resulting in cancellation of some exercises, seminars and conferences.

® Cancellation of peripheral activities associated with the 1989 Exercise Golden Fleece. Mr Munro said the reduction in the efficiency of the Army was a matter of considerable concern to New Zealand. “I believe there should be a further explanation from the Minister. The matter needs discussion and public debate; it certainly should not be glossed over.”