THE TERRITORIALS

Southland Times, Issue 18835, 31 May 1920, Page 6

THE TERRITORIALS

TRAINING OF OFFICERS AND N.C.O.’S

WEEK’S COURSE OF INSTRUCTION. I

As already announce.'!; no Territorial camps wjl be held during the present training year. General Ileadquarti.r.-', however have laid it down that this doe- not absolve officers ami n.c offs irom at ending training for one week, inclusive of the day of entering and leaving camp. The necessity of cn surtrig that efficient officers and n.c.o.’s only shall be retained :n the Territorial Fore: and the Reserve is of vital importance, hot- this reason opportunffy will bo taker, to bring all officer- of the active and re serve lis s to an obligatory course in struction for one week. Similarly n.c.o.’. of the Territorial forces phove the rank n corporal (i.e., sergeants ami upwards) vi’i be required to perform a similar course o. instruction. At least four opportunitie ■ should be given to every officer anil n.c.o to attend these courses, but the courses will be concluded by December 15 1920. At the expiration of each course the officers attending will be reported on in the three following categories;—(a) Efficient and fit for retention on ihe active or reserve list; (bt requiring further training to become efficient and willing to attend an other course until efficient; (c) unfit and unsuitable for retention on the active or reserve lis's. N.c.o.’s attending the above course will be reported on as follow: (a) Efficient and fit for their ranks; (b) recommended for reduction to the next junior rank unless willing to attend another course of instruction; (cl unfit for n.c.o. rank. Officers anil n.c.o.’s undergoing these obligatory courses will receive pay and allowances as given when attending an ordinary Territorial camp. No excuses for non-at-tendance other than extreme ill-health certified to by a medical officer can be accepted. Every officer or n.c.o. on the active or reserve lists who fails to attend the above courses of instruction after having been given four opportunities and who cannot produce proof of ill-health will be reported on as unsuitable for retention on the active or reserve lists and recommended for cancellation of their commissions or n.c.o. rank. The whole object of holding these four separate courses is to ensure, as far as possible, that every officer and n.c.o. of the New Zealand Territorial Force and Reserve is given the opportunity of selecting and attending any one of the four courses which will be most convenient to himself and which will cause the least interference with his civil profession or avocation.