AIR FORCE TRAINING PLANS FOR RECRUITS ARE FULLY EXPLAINED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27274, 28 December 1949, Page 4

AIR FORCE TRAINING PLANS FOR RECRUITS ARE FULLY EXPLAINED

Special Correspondent

WELLINGTON, Dec. 27. Plans for compulsory military training in the RNZAF are largely related to the development and consolidation of squadrons of the Territorial Air Force established at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. For this reason, only those who volunteer to serve the training period prescribed for the Territorial Air Force will be taken into the RNZAF for compulsory military training. Because of the high standard of skill required in the technical trades and in aircrew, territorial service is for five years compared with the compulsory requirements under the Military Training Act of four years’ training. The reserve obligation without training following service in the Territorial Air Force is five years against six years’ reserve service following completion of compulsory military training. The five years’ territorial service will date from the commencement of 14 weeks’ whole time training.

As the major objective is the development of territorial squadrons, volunteers for RNZAF training in ground trades will be drawn initially from the four main centres. It is realised, however, that there is a valuable source of ground crew outside the main centres and consideration is being given to selecting a small number from elsewhere.

years. Those who wish to be selected for pilot training should join an ATC school or town unit if they have not already done so. To fit in with the Territorial Air Fprce training pr<> gramme, pilot trainees of the ATC should register for compulsory training with the air force as soon as possible after reaching 71* years of age as is provided for under the Military Training Act. During the 14 weeks whole-time period, pilots will complete basic training in both flying and ground subjects. From those who qualify, selections will be made to fill vacancies in the territorial squadrons, for which modern types of aircraft will be becoming available. Pilots who qualify, but who cannot be accepted into squadrons due to location or lack of vacancies, will be posted to the Territorial Air Force special list. They will be required to attend an annual camp of 14 days for refresher training in ground subjects and a further six days annually will be taken up by 10 hours’ refresher flying training with aero clubs. They will not progress beyond the basic stage. Pilot trainees who at the end of the 14 weeks’ period are assessed as unsuitable for further flying training will normally be remustered to ground trades.

While selection is open to all who volunteer, preference will be given to members and ex-members of the Air Training Corps. Pilots will normally be drawn from those who have passed through the Air Training Corps flying training scheme which provides pilot training in a number of aero clubs throughout the country. A small number of navigators will be selected for the No. 1 (Auckland) TAF Squadron only, but navigators for the regular -air force will be accepted from anywhere in New Zealand as before. . , „ The numbers to be taken into the RNZAF annually for compulsory military training in ground trades will be. governed by the vacancies occurring in the territorial air force squadrons and facilities for training those who. for any reason, cannot be trained as full members of the squadrons. It is estimated that up to 350 men per annum may be accepted for training in technical and other ground trades for the territorial air force after reaching the age of 18 years. On call up for service they will receive 14 weeks’ whole time training in a selected air force trade. Trades will include aero engines, air frames, armament, electrical instruments, radio. Clerical and supply. At the end of the whole-time training, trainees wilt be transferred to the territorial air force in a trade according to their ability and will be posted in most cases, to the squadron in their home centre. Where trainees have been drawn from localities outside the four main centres or where no immediate vacancies exist in the appropriate TAF squadron, trainees will be called up for annual training on air force stations and mav be asked to assist in air training corps units. Non-ac-ceptance as a full-member of a territorial squadron will not absolve the trainee from territorial air force training obligations which he accepted on volunteering for the air force. The general standards for entry are high and the system of selection will ensure that the applicants are of the required educational and medical standards before being accepted for training. As far as practicable, in order that full advantage can be derived from air force training, trainees for technical and other ground trades will be selected from those in similar civilian employment. All pilots who successfully pass through the Air Training Corps flying training scheme, estimated at 150 per annum, will be accepted for compulsory military training by the air force. Thorough ATC ab initio training is given by aero clubs to selected air. cadets after reaching the age of 17 years. This is the first step in the overall training of pilots and will usually conclude between 17£ and 18

Applicants for training as navigators for No. 1 (Auckland) TAF Squadron or for the regular air force should register at the same age as for pilots. Navigator training will begin normally at the age of 18 years with 14 weeks whole-time ground training in navigation and allied subjects. Selection will then be made for entry into the Auckland squadron or the regular Air Force as applicable. Any trainees in the TAF group who qualify, but are not selected, will be posted to the Territorial Air Force special list and will attend camp for up to 20 days annually for further navigator training. Any trainees who do not qualify will normally be remustered to ground trades.

Applicants for both pilot and navigator training should have passed the university entrance examination, but in special cases those who have the school certificate, including mathematics, English, and science, will be considered.

Pilots and navigators selected for territorial squadrons will be considered for appointment to commissioned rank. If not appointed on entry they will be reconsidered later. Opportunities will be provided for appointment to commissions for those in ground trades who display during their squadron service the high qualifications necessary. At the end of the whole-time training period, applications will be received from all those in the ground trades or aircrew who wish to join the regular air force.

The Military Training Act provides that trainees will be granted leave of absence from employment for the purpose of fulfilling both compulsory and voluntary training obligations within the limits of the Act and that they will be re-employed at the end of each period of service.