ROYAL AIR FORCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 15

ROYAL AIR FORCE

CONDITIONS OP ENTRY

RAISING CF AGE LIMIT EXTENSION OF ACTIVE SERVICE £llY TELEGRAPH —rRF.SS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Friday Changes in tho conditions of entry and service on short-service commissions and tlie general duties branch of the Royal Air Force were announced to-day by the Minister of Defence, tho Hon. F. Jones. In future direct-entry candidates l'rom New Zealand will be selected between tho ages of 17i and 28. The upper ago limit has been raised from 25 to 28 years, hut according to tho now regulations a candidate must not have attained his 28tli birthday. Before appointment to a short-service commission in tho Royal Air Force a candidato may elect to serve six years on tho active list, which is to be followed hv four years in the reserve. Under tho old conditions candidates appointed to short-service commissions served four years on tho activo list, followed by six years in the reserve. This regulation will still apply to candidates who do not elect to serve six years on tho activo list. Officers who servo six years on the activo list will ho eligible for a gratuity of £SOO. Tho gratuity for officers who serve foirr years on the active list still remains at £BOO.

It is understood that the change in conditions is duo to tho Royal Air Force expansion programme. The number of short-service commissions available to New Zealanders will not be known until the Air Ministry makes its allocation. Last year 150 directentry candidates were received from the Dominion by the Royal Air Force. In addition to these 50 candidates were trained at the flying training school at Wigram for short-servico commissions in the Royal Air Force.