MODEL PLATOONS

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 89, 12 October 1920, Page 10

MODEL PLATOONS

FOR SENIOR CADETS

IMPORTANT NEW SCHEME

PROVIDING FUTURE OFFICERS.

A highly important innovation in trie defence training scheme, which is likely to arouse great interest throughout the country, and which promises the best results, is about to be introduced by the Defence Department. It will take the form of creating special training platoons with a view to providing sufficient trained officers and n.c.o.'s for the Territorial Force and Senior Cadets. These special draining platoons will be formed on the lines of the Officers' Training Corps at Home and of the "Model Platoon" at Sling Camp which set such a. fine example to members of th« New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the war. QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING. In the official memorandum announcing the scheme it is explained that special training platoons will be formed at secondary schools and at group and area, headquarters, comprising selected volunteers from the various Cadet units. Membership is to be confined to those •Cadets who :—(1) Have had at least two years' efficient service in the Senior Cadets. (2) Have passed an efficient test for entrance to the special training platoon. (3) Are prepared to attend parades of the special training platoon in addition to those of their Cadet unit, and only those Cadets fulfilling the above conditions, whose bearing, ability, character, and enthusiasm are such as to justify their being trained for commissioned and non-commissioned ranks.

Where special platoons are formed every endeavour will be made to attract the right stamp of lad, and it will be impressed upon all Cadets, and especially those selected to undergo the advanced training, that to belong to a unit of this description is a great honour and privilege. In order to maintain the efficiency of such'units, any member found at any time to be unsatisfactory in any way or unsuitable for higher training will) without delay, be returned to his Cadet unit.

Platoons formed at secondary schools will not exceed 15 per cent, of the total strength of the school contingent, and in the case of platoons formed at area and group headquarters npt more than 10 per cent, of any Cadet unit in the area or group may be allowed to join the special training unit. ' ' The subjects to be taught in the special training platoons are: —

(a) Practical.—(l) Mutual instruction in physical training. (2) Mutual instruction, in squad and company training and words of command.

(3) Mutual instruction in musketry subjects. v . • (4) Instruction in, preparation of and delivery of lecturettes. In drawing up a syllabus for this work the Cadet syllabus will not be adhered to, but will be taken as a guide. (b) Theoretical.—(J) Elementary Tactics. (2) Topography. (3) Military law. (4) Military engineering. (5) Musketry. (6) Sanitation. '

Where' possible, keen and efficient Territorial or Cadet officers will be selected to take charge of these units and impart a certain amount of instruction,' but the more important instruction will be given by officers and n.c.o.'s of the. Permanent Force, and in this connection, the very, best instructors will be detailed for duty with the special training platoons. ISSUE OF SPECIAL BADGES. On' the expiration of one year's service in the special training platoon, members will be entitled to sit for a qualifying examination for sergeant's rank, and on the expiration of a further year's service—maki'ig two ysars' total service in the special training platoon—members will be permitted to enter for the first appointments to commissions examination, providing they can comply with the conditions, regarding age, etc. Badge.- will be issued as under: —(a) On first selection and while a member, of the special training platoon, or until qualified for sergeant's rank: Badge with letters in,white "S.T.P."on black lozenge, to be worn. 3in below right shoulder, and above n.c.o.'s strines if worn. (b^After qualifying for seijgeant's rank and lU substitution for baMge 'in (a). Sergeant's stripes overlaid with badge with letters "S.TJ?." in scarlet on dark blue lozenge. OBJECT OF INNOVATION. It. is hoped as a result of the inno vatiop. to remedy a serious fault in the existing system which was inaugurated in 1911, and still remains in force with even the training lessons of the late war unapplied. The chief fault in the old, or rather the txisting pre-war system! •haa been that; offioer3 and n.c.o.'s have not been given sufficient opportunities of becoming efficient, and the result ha* always' been isflected on parade, the men becoming bored. With smart and, capable officers and n.c.o.'s, which the special training platoon scheme should produca, it is expected that in this direction a complete change for the better will be brought about. Another special feature of the scheme which should commend itself to the peopie of N«w Zealand is that it. provides for the future officering of our citizen defence force 3on a strictly democratic basis. To apply the officers' training corps scheme at Home to New Zealand would mean thiirofficers would be drawn almost solely from universities' and secondary schools. Under the New Zealand scheme special training platoons will be established for both secondary school and. non-secondary school- cadet units, and in this connection it. is pointed, out that the. tatter comprise some--1 thing like three-fourths of, the total, strength of the Senior Cadet Force, in the Dominion.