CO-OPERATION IS NECESSARY IN TRAINING SCHEME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 29, 3 May 1950, Page 7

CO-OPERATION IS NECESSARY IN TRAINING SCHEME

Confidence that the 18-year-olds who enter camp this month will look back on their training period with pleasure and pride is expressed in a message of welcome addressed to prospective recruits by the Chief of General Staff (Maj-or-General K. L. Stewart, C. 8., C.8.E., D. 5.0.). The message is contained in a booklet now being sent to all youths about to enter camp. Peopled Decision

“By decision of the people and of the Government, New Zealand is to have an Army which can play its part in the defence of our country and of the Commonwealth,” says Major-General Stewart. “You are now a recruit in that Army. In welcoming you, I want to tell you that the regular officers and n.c.o.’s in charge of your camps regard your training as the most important task they have been called upon to undertake-

“They themselves are well trained. Many are battle-tried. I feel confident that the military training scheme will be successful and that you, as a citizen-soldier will look back to your period of full-time, service vrith pleasure and with pride.

“As you know, you will be in camp for 14 weeks. You will spend the first six weeks in basic training, common to all branches of the Service. At the end of those six weeks the Army will have learned sufficient about you to enable it to determine the corps and the kind of employment you are likely to be best fitted for, and you will spend the last eight weeks, therefore, in your specialist training. Sound Background

“The object of this period of fulltime service is to provide you with a sound background of military education that will enable you to take your place in the term as an individual trained soldier. Fourteen weeks is not long in which to do that, and it is essential, therefore, that the best use should be made of the time available.

“The final point I wish to mention is Army discipline, which you will find firm, but scrupulously fair. You will be treated as an individual with the full rights of a citizen; and if you remember that a citizen has duties, too, all will be well. In discipline, as in training, your co-operation is vital.”