MINISTER OUTLINES PROGRAMME FOR CAMP LIFE IN 14 WEEKS OF ARMED SERVICES TRAINING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23207, 20 March 1950, Page 4

MINISTER OUTLINES PROGRAMME FOR CAMP LIFE IN 14 WEEKS OF ARMED SERVICES TRAINING

(Special)

The Minister of Defence, Mr, wars, lias been taking a close pe of the new scheme for military and he has visited all the camps the llerald representative this i scheme, which describes all plias off-duty recreations.

There will he a training period of 11 weeks. “Then, the soldier—he will no looser he a recruit" said Ihe Minister “will he exported to have n comprehensive background of military education, and to he ready to take his place In his company. squadron. or other sub-unit, ft wi'l then he the task of Territorial officers and X C.O.’s to weld their men into strong unit teams." Basic training, which will give re eruits the military grounding common to all arms, will occupy the first six weeks Sufficient would then be known about the recruits to determine the arm of the service and the kind of employment for which thev are likely to be best fitted, said the Minister. “The last eight of the 14 weeks, therefore will be spent in corns or specialist training, some of which will be held awav from the main camps. For instance. const nrtillerv recruits will train it one of the established forts and \ T orfh Ts'.and recruits to the armoured -’orns will train at Waiouru. where the Army has its A’'mowed School. “Throughout the 14 weeks of training. the weekly programme will normally be made uo of 45 periods of 45 minutes each. .This will include one period from 7 to 7.45 on three evenings a week, and un to two periods, as required, on Saturday mornings. Confidence in Weapons

“In the basic training period—that is. the first six weeks —” continued the Minister, “the emphasis will be on weapon training and fieldcraft, drill and rifle exercises, designed to give the recruit confidence in service weapons. This training will occupy 152. of the total of 251 training periods. In the last eight weeks. 266 of the total of 360 periods will be spent in teaching subiects of which the recruit will require a special knowledge in his arm of the service.’’

There is to be variety in the training. the Minister explaining that the recruit will not spend all his time on purelv military work. In each of the 14 weeks spent in camp, one period will be given over to lectures and discussions on current affairs. There will be 47 periods devoted to physical training, and sufficient time will be allocated to organised sport to permit three continu-

WELLINGTON, March 20. . Macdonald, veteran of two world rsonal interest in the organisation training of New Zealand youths, which are to be utilised. ITe gave norning details of the training ses of life in camp, including the

ous oeriods a week during the first six weeks, and three a fortnight during the last eight weeks in camp. Snorts in which recruits will take Dart, and receive instruction will include. so far as facilities permit football. hockey, swimming, cross-country running, boxing, basketball, athletics,

softball. tennis. tennis-quoits, and cricket. Competitions will be arranged between “scratch sides.” and where possible. sub-units of the camps will compete against outside teams. lectures and Discussions

The programme will also include lectures and discussions on miscelloneous military subjects, a padre's house, and ait hour with the C.O. elementary first aid and hygiene will figure among the subjects for lectures. Commanding officers of the camps will set apart a regular period to meet the recruits, to discuss administrative matters and any personal problems the trainees wish to put forward. Officers or n.c.o.’s of the Army Education Welfare Service are to be available in all camps to assist trainees who wish to continue their studies. Well equipped libraries and reading rooms are promised, and there are to be film programmes and other entertainments as well as facilities to follow a wide range of hobbies, such as wood-work-ing," metal-work, leather-work, drama, music, discussions and debates.

Three territorial chaplains are to be stationed at Papakura and at Burnham, the principal training centres, and there will be at least one chaplain at Linton, and at Pahiatua. The Y.M.C.A. will have recreation huts at Papakura, Linton and Burnham; the Church Army will provide similar facilities at Linton and Burnham, and the Salvation Army will operate at a recreation hut in Pahiatua.

All young men in the Northern Military District —the most southerly counties are Waitomo, Taupo, Whakatane, and Opotiki—will train at Papakura. The first intake of trainees in May next will be divided.

Those from the Central Military District, which embraces tne rest of the North Island will be distributed between Waiouru, where wartime huts are being renovated as a temporary measure to house 700 men, and some at Linton. All South Island men will have their basic training at Burnham.