INTENSIVE SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27091, 27 May 1949, Page 6

INTENSIVE SYSTEM

MILITARY TRAINING SIR HOWARD KIPPENBERGER’S SUGGESTION LONG PERIOD UNNECESSARY PA WELLINGTON. May 26. No resemblance to the old Continental type of conscription is apparent in the national military training system thought suitable for New Zealand by Major-general Sir Howard Kippenberger. He believes that 100 days’ training to start with, and about another 100 days scattered over the next five or six years, would fill the bill. “I do not know what is proposed by the Government,” said Sir Howard, “but in my view any force we may have should be ready for action quickly. It should have a fairly high standard of training, so that in the short time before being required to go into action training could be polished up. “ I should think that the sound thing to do would be to get young men in the year they turned 19 or 20 for about three months’ basic training, and after that to post them to territorial units. They should then have about 14 days’ training a year in their units, plus three or four muster parades for ceremonial occasions. “I think that the private soldier of all arms could be reasonably well trained and made fit to go into battle with that amount of training,” saici Sir Howard, “and I know other experienced soldiers who believe the same. “That is not to say that the men would be trained to perfection. In most arms you can go on training a man for a year, and he will still continue to improve. Nevertheless, the New Zealand soldier, if he has good officers, nco’s and equipment, is fit for battle after three or four months’ solid training. , “ In my opinion, officers and n.o.c. s must be very well trained,” said Sir Howard. “Most officers who had years of service in the recent war require only refresher courses, such as those of about 14 days which are now being given. Once these officers become physically fit again they are ready to command troops in battle. “ It would be well, I consider, that officers should be required to do refresher courses before they take up appointments, and then to attend an annual camp of their unit, each >of 14 days’ duration, to do a number of week-end courses, and to attend some evening classes. . . “ The younger officer,” continued Sir Howard, “should do preliminary basic training for three months in one or two annual camps, and then, perhaps. attend a special camp for two or three weeks before being commissioned. “ Some technical arms could not be trained in this fashion,” said Sir Howard, “ but in the initial stages the regular force could supply the men wanted for signals and ordnance, some artillery work, and some of the expert work required in armoured regiments. “The training given would be veryinteresting. There would be no question of anybody serving for two or three years at a time, save in the case of the regular force, members of which volunteer and make the army their career.

“ I would estimate,” concluded Sir Howard. “ that it would be sufficient if a soldier did three months’ continuous training in,the first year. In each of the next five or six years he would do about two and a-half weeks, and after that he would be posted to the reserve. ■ '

“ Including his 100 days’ continuous training in the first year, the trainee would be called upon to do about 200 days’ training in his, say, six years’ service.”