COMMISSIONS FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3036, 24 March 1917, Page 7

COMMISSIONS FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS

.■ ' NEW. EEGULATiqNS. All regulations and instructions appertaining to returned soldiers being sent back to' the- frout in the rank they hold in the Expeditionary Forco>on being invalided have been cancelled, and the following regulations substituted, to tako effect'immediately, and also to' 1 bo made' retrospective as affecting &nj ■ rcttmied soldiers jioiv in training camps:—

1. All returned soldiers on being passed by-a medical board as medically' fit for further active service, and \v;>o actually report for duty in an Expeditionary Force''.Training Camp, are to be.given the choice of tho following courses:—(a) Proceeding on active service with tho next outgoing draft with tho rank they previously held in the Expeditionary Fori}?, (b) Applying through the Camp Cor/Juiandant for appointment to a direct commission in tho lleinforcements for submission to the G.O.C. Now Zealand Expeditionary' Force for consideration, (c) Applying to be posted to a n.c.o. class for training and going through both full preliminary training period and training period; of the draft, to which posted, with rank not lower than that held in tho Expeditionary Force prior to being invalided back to New Zealand, (d) Applying at the same time 'both for direct appointment to a commission and also for posting to a non-commissioned officers' class. :

2. AJI applications made under paragraphs.! (a), (b), (c). and (d) above to be submitted to the Camp Commandant concerned within two weeks of reporting in a training camp for duty, otherwise the applications will not be considered, and the n.c.o/s or men concerned will be dealt with under provisions of paragraph 1 (a) above.

8. No commissions will be granted to returned soldiers without first reference to Hie G.O.C. New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1 (b), who will in future recommend in following order: (a) suitable for appointment to a direct commission; (b) suitable for appointment as n.c.o. only; (o )wholly unsuitable either as ,an officer or o n.eA»# (d). in possession of insufficient knowledge to recommend. i. Paragraph 3 (a) is a clear-cut issue and calls for no explanation—commissions to date in accordance with instructions issued on July 31, 1916. So also is' 3 (b), with the exception that n.c.o.'s who come 'within the latter category may be permitted to go through full preliminary, and draft training periods, if they elect to do so. In the case of 3 (o), n.c.o.'s who have been 'posted to a n.c.o. training class will forthwith be reduced to the rank thov held in the Expeditionary Force, if holding higher temporary;rank in New Zealand, and ,eent off with the next draft due to embark. 3 (d). Where the G.0.C., N.Z.E.F., is not in possession of sufficient information to recommend, the n.c.o.'s'concerned are to be permitted to go through full training periods, and also sit with others for the qualifying examination for first appointment to commissions, the passing. of which is obligatary, and, provided they pass the examination and are otherwise considered suit- • able, be appointed second liemtenants : on probation, if'high enough up in the order of recommendation, and vacancies exist, such commission to date as from date of embarkation. If not appointed to a oommission, a qualifying certificate to be issued. 5. The responsibility of not forwarding applications from undesirables—l (b)— and posting undesirables to n.c.o.'s classes 1 (c) and \d), rest with the Camp Commandant concerned, and all returned soldiers are-to be made cognisant of the fact that full records are -kept of their conduct'and shortcomings, and that the of bad conduot men for consideration under any provision of paragraph 1 will not be considered nor forwarded by the Camp Commandant. This can be'ascertained from the personal file of returned n.c.o:'s and men.