Territorial Officers graduate

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 42, 7 April 1987, Page 7

Territorial Officers graduate

More than 20 civilians became Territorial Force Army officers at Waiouru recently. The first graduation of the Army's new training programme for TF officers was celebrated with a marching out parade which was reviewed by the Minister of Defence, Mr Frank O'Flynn. The ceremony where new officers received their graduation certificates from Mr O'Flynn brought to an end seven weeks of hard military training. Twenty-one men and two women from all over New Zealand swapped their normal civilian lifestyles for two months of soiid military training to become the first class to graduate from the re-designed Territorial Force Commissioning. Course run by the Army's Officer Cadet School.

The course gives officer cadets the knowledge and practical skills necessary to prepare them for their Territorial Force careers. Three special trophies were awarded at the graduation ceremony. Newly graduated Second Lieutenant Craig Whitford of Hamilton received the Charles Upham Sword. He won the prize for best displaying the qualities of leadership, motivation and was assessed as having the greatest potential as a Territorial Force Army Officer. Second Lieutenant Rota Carrington of Auckland won the Territorial Force Adviser's Prize for being the cadet whose performance and contribution to the course best deserved recognition.