Territorial Officers On Refresher Course

Chronicle (Levin), 4 May 1949, Page 5

Territorial Officers On Refresher Course

Representing the secolid important step toward the formation of a terri torial army in the Dominion (the first was the appointment of a commanding officer), just over 100 officers who will be trained as its nucleus, donned raui'orms yesterday for the first time since their demobilisation at the end of the war and began a week's refreshei course at Linton Military Camp. A similar course for the other half of the jersonnel will begm at tfie camp at the conclusion of the present one early next week. The course will serve severai purposes. Primarily, however, the instruc tion will refresh officers on various uspects of Ariuy training made familiar to tliem during their wartinie service and acquaint tliem with late.st develop ments in this field. At the same time the instruction wiJl convert their outloolt from the needs of wartinie to the needs of peacetime. Of lesser import anee, the soeial effeet of officers ot various units meeting one another in . the canteen or across the billiard tabhis considered to be liighly desirable. The course commandant is Brigadiei L. W. Andrew, V.C., D.S.O., officer cominaiuling the central military districi who arrived tit Linton from Wellington last night. A great deal of the organ isation was carried out by Lt.-Ooi. X. i> Oowper who was assisted by Major It B. Dawson, D.IS.O., General Btaff Ofii c*er, Central District Headquarters, whi reeently returned from service in Japan. Course adjutant is Captain E R. Firth, B.E.M. The instruction itself is indicative oi considerable modernisation in Army methods. One of the principles eni[iloved is that of di'scussion groups o: syndicates of some 12 to 15 officers pre sidftfl nvpr hv n mpTYihpr nf thp rli rppt- l

ing staff whose duty it is to guide the discussion along the right lines. Tht system is wholly demoeratie, group; comprising officers of all ranks, anv oi wliom may be called upon to take tht place of the direeting officer. In addi tion to the direeting officer, each syndi eate elects its own leader to represent it at the central discussion at which all officers are present. It is tht leader 's duty to put forward the viewt and conelusions reaehed by his own partieular group during its own inforniaj discussion. Worthwhile conelusions ari brouglit to the notice of the Department. During inilividual group discussions. which deal with such aspeets of Arm\ training as administration, staff duties, organisations, current affairs and train ing, officers are i'urni.shcd with a preci.on the partieular subject and in their informal discussions may enlarge on these, criticise thein, call for elueida tion and bring down any recommendations they niav care to put forward t> the central discussion. As far as is practicable, groups are arranged so as to include officers from various units, such as the artillery, in fantry, signallers, etc., so they can givt a more speeialised opinion on tlie_subject when the oecasion demands. In this way they are instilled with the appreciation that their own partieular units are only one integral- part of a vftst machine and accordingly view them possibly in a clearer perspective than they would if each group comprised solely officers of the same unit. The other half of the course com prises demonstrations, lectures, practical work (mainly on tactics) and other phases of military routine. Full use is made of latest instruction facilities, movie filins playing an important part in the course.