MORE PRACTICAL WORK

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 119, 15 February 1944, Page 4

MORE PRACTICAL WORK

New Training Policy For A.T.C. Cadets BETTER EQUIPMENT Almost .3000 Air Training Corps cadets have enlisted, in the Royal New Zealand Air Force since the A.T.C was formed over two years ago, more than half of them for aircrew service. Many of these young men are now on active service in various theatres of the ’war, and former A.T.C. cadets are providing valuable reinforcements for the maintenance personnel of R.N.Z.A.F. squadrons in the Pacific. Announcing these facts last evening the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, said that the Air Training Corps had produced excellent results, not only in providing first-class personnel for the Air Force, but. also in developing the physique, technical skill and general capabilities of cadets themselves. “I feel that a. tribute is due to all concerned,” said Mr. Jones, “and particularly to the cadets of the Air Training Corps, riho have made splendid progress during a period when training equipment has been in short supply, and when the A.T.C. organization itself has been more or less in the course of development, lue majority of these initial difficulties have been overcome, and with the provision of new training equipment and training facilities, it has now been found possible to revise and improve the whole of the training policy for the Air Training G °“Cadets can look forward to a much more interesting and . practical training programme, where visits to Air Force stations will be featured more for training purposes. Much more R.N.Z.A.F. equipment "will be available for practical in* structinn, and training in service subjects necessary for all branches of the R.N.Z.A.F. will be covered.” Training in All Branches. Under the new scheme all cadets will receive general basic training in. aircrew, maintenance, radio, administration ana other specialized subjects, so that they will have a wide background knowledge pt every branch of the Air Force, and in addition provision will be made tor specialist study, the Minister explained. Actual Air Force equipment will be used, and weekend parades (which will be held once a month) will be occupied by visits to Air Force stations as far as Possible. Educational training will be letained -on a voluntary basis by attendance at educational classes or by corerspondence, but this will now be organized by the Director of Educational Services, R N Z A.F. The Air Training Corps organization will be responsible for the new practical training programme, which_wi 1 be known as “Practical and Leadership Training” as distinct from purely academic training. Night parades for j al training will be held once a week, a educational classes once a week, but pro vision will be made for those who by reason of their studies or work., a.e un nhlp tn attend nipht classes. Thus in future A.T.C. training Wi l be occupied solely with P ra ®V? a L_ iast T r f uc ' tion in purely air force, subjects. It a cadet desires to specialize, say, in navigation, provision is made for him to receive additional specialist training. If he desires to improve his educational standard he may attend the classes arranged bv the Ait Department’s Directorate “of Educational Services or, if unable to attend ordinary parades or classes, he can obtain the benefit of special correspondence' courses. *ln short, P ract £ cal and leadership” training excludes all subjects which are not practical air. force subjects, and the training is based on the up - to-date methods and equipment. ' . Work on Equipment.

Under the new practical training programme cadets will, among many other things, study the organization of an R.N.Z.A.F. station, and conduct model orderly rooms; they will have aircraft engines available to strip and. assemble; they will have airframes to study, and various other items of aircraft equipment to work onj they will make aircraft models, and see many of these aircraft demonstrated in flight at air force stations; they will shoot with service rifles and automatic weapons, and engage in clay pigeon or “sheet” shooting; they will learn signalling with standard equipment; will be taught the use of tools and basic fitting; and, on air force stations, will see the whole inside working of the service. Though many of these things have been done to a limited degree previously, the new plan and the additional equipment now available will greatly increase training facilities., “I am sure,” said Mr. Jones, that this new training policy will be as interesting to cadets as it will be valuable. We are anxious to see the Air Training Corps developed to the greatest possible degree, for hot only will it provide a reserve of first-elass personnel for the air force, which we need urgently, but also it will develop the physique, technical skill, character and powers of leadership of the young men of this country.”