CADETSHIPS OFFERED BOYS IN N.Z. ARMY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22620, 24 April 1948, Page 3

CADETSHIPS OFFERED BOYS IN N.Z. ARMY

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 24. In addition to young men of 18 and over, from whom enlistments are normally accepted, boys between the ages of 16 and 17 years 11 months are now to have the opportunity to join the regular Army. As regular force cadets, these boys will train in a special school at Trentham. Most of them, joining the army for an initial term of eight years, will train not only as soldiers but as experts in one of a wide variety of trades. The remainder, signing on for five years at first, will learn to be army instructors. This development in army policy was announced yesterday by the Minister of Defence, Mr. F. Jones. Mr. Jones said the army would be offering regular force cadetships annually. For the first quota, which was 100, applications would close on June 1. Chances for Military Career "As the Government's recent statement on defence policy made it clear,’’ Mr. Jones said, ‘‘the regular force is to be a small one. It will organise, train and equip a Territorial Force and provide the nucleus of the land forces which would be needed to defend New Zealand's interests in emergency. I "In the changed and changing world ! of today, Ihese responsibilities are greater than ever before, and so it is more important that the men in the regular force should not only be the best available but should be thoroughly trained to attract the best. "The army has improved its pay, its system of promotion, its training and its camp amenities. "It now takes another step towards more thorough training and, in doing so, offers new opportunities for young men to take up a military career. Those who. at the end of their initial engagement, do not wish to remain in the army may go out to civilian life with trade oualifications which industry will recognise and with useful working capital in gratuities and refunds of their superannuation contributions.'’ Three-Point Programme Outlining the army’s plans for training regular force cadets. Mr. Jones said the programme would be divided into three parts trade training, general education, and military training which included sport, physical and recreational training. At first the cadets would spend up to half their training time on general education. Trained teachers, with the highest academic qualifications, would see that the cadets had the opportunity of reaching at least, school certificate standard. Those who had already reached that standard on entering the army would receive special advanced instruction, based either on their particular trades or on other special interests. As well as the subjects necessary to the various trades, the general education would include courses in current affairs, history and geography, for example, which would give the cadet a better understanding of the world about him. "Cadets who show special promise will be able to continue their education

to the standard required of Duntroon cadets. Those who do so satisfactorily will have a chance to go to that college and so to become officers.” Special Trade TrainingTrade training in modern workshops, equipped with some of the most advanced plant in New Zealand, would be supervised by picked men with firstclass trade qualifications. This would take about one quarter of the cadets’ time at first and the remaining quarter would be spent on military training which would give the cadets a basic knowledge of drill and weapons and, through organised sport and physical training, a chance to become and remain physically fit. Under recent arrangements with appropriate civilian bodies, soldiers learning a trade could take out articles of apprenticeship. This meant, Mr. Jones said., that when the cadets completed their trade training they would have the status of qualified tradesmen exactly in the same way as an apprentice trained in industry. The apprenticeships could be transferred from the civilian employer to the army on the same basis as between two civilian employers. The cadets would be apprenticed as auto electricians, armourers, bricklayers, carpenters and joiners, cooks, electricians, fitters, instrument mechanics, painters and decorators, panel beaters, plasterers, telecommunication mechanics (telegraph, radio and radar), vehicle mechanics and welders. Mr. Jones said that regular force cadets would at all times be under the supervision of specially selected officers. They would live in comfortable, weil-equinped quarters separate from those of the older men and they would be placed on a special ration scale designed to give the best diet for young men of their age. Payments and Allowances When they entered the army as cadets (class 11), they would be paid at the rate of Gs per day, or £2 2s a week, plus free rations and quarters, uniform allowance and travel facilities to their homes on leaveAfter six months’ satisfactory service they would be promoted to cadets (class D at 7s a day or £2 9s a week. Upon reaching the age of 18 years, they would be reclassified and paid at the rates for personnel under 21 years —a minimum of 11s a day plus allowances. The initial issue of uniform would be free and thereafter cadets would draw a uniform upkeep allowance of £l6 a year. An out-of-camp allowance of 3s 5d a day would be payable to cadets on leave or living out of camp for other reasons. Cadets would contribute to a superannuation fund from the age of 17 and would became eligible for gratuity payments made to those who do not qualify for superannuation . after the age of 18. The minimum educational qualification required of the applicants, Mr. Jones said, was the sixth standard certificate but the army hoped to enlist boys who had some years of postprimary schooling. Boys with the school certificate, university entrance and higher qualifications, would receive preference in enlistment and in the selection of trainees for Duntroon.