NEW POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27387, 12 May 1950, Page 6

NEW POLICY

Long-term Engagements RNZAF GROUND TRADES PA WELLINGTON, May 11. A change in the basis for granting long-term engagements in the ground trades of the RNZAF was announced today by the Minister of Defence, Mr Macdonald. The Minister -said the proportion of long-term engagements to date had been restricted by the need for a large number of serving personnel on short-term engagements for the ultimate purpose of building up a trained reserve to meet any emergency. However, with the introduction of the compulsory military training scheme and the consequent provision of personnel for the nonregular air force, it was possible to grant a larger proportion of longterm engagements to regular airmen than hitherto. This measure would, in addition, assist in stabilising the manning of the regular air force on a sound basis and provide a more attractive career from the viewpoint of the individual. The revised plan, he said, covered personnel already serving in the ground trades of the RNZAF and also recruits from outside the service. There were of necessity some qualifications regarding eligibility that must be satisfied before long-term engagements could be granted. Personnel would normally be required to be able to complete a total of 24 years’ service before reaching the age of 50 and be fit for overseas service. Recruits would be enlisted in the first instance for a term of either five or eight years, depending upon the trade in which they were to serve. On attainment of the rank of leading aircraftman, and on completion of three years’ satisfactory service, all airmen otherwise able to comply with the standards of selection for permanent service would, on application, be granted a permanent engagement, said the Minister. The new terms of service provided an excellent career in all respects, with superannuation on completion of a long-term engagement, and recruiting would be on a more selective basis. New recruits would then be in a position, both educationally and with regard to trade ability, to qualify for long-term engagement upon completion of a minimum of three years’ service. This would-not mean that a recruit witn an educational standard slightly below that required for the skilled trades would be rejected for service .in the RNZAF. He would be required, however, to enter one of the semi-skilled trades in the first instance and remain there until such time as the educational facilities of the service could bring him up to the required standard. The new policy would continue until the ground trades of the RNZAF were fully manned on a stable basis, concluded the Minister.