Territorial officer cadets quizzed

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 31, 19 January 1988, Page 3

Territorial officer cadets quizzed

The January intake of the Territorial Forces Officer Cadet commissioning course at A r m y Training Group, Waiouru was the highest recorded since its commencement last year. Three women and thirtyone men from as far away as Invercargill aged between 17-30 enrolled in the seven week course. The course aims to give students the arms knowledge and skills necessary to prepare them for service as officers in the Territorial Force of the New Zealand army and to foster the qualities on which leadership depends. The cadets are assessed through the duration of the seven v/eeks on their practical and theoretical military skills and leadership abilities. Bulletin reporter Julie Grantham got an insight into the men and women who volunteer their time to take part in the gruelling course that puts tremendous

emphasis on physical fitness, academic excellence, team work and leadership. The Bulletin will check on the progress of the two men and two women interviewed during their course up until their graduation on 27 February. The students are: Sandy Bell Age: 26 Takapuna, Auckland Occupation: Primaryschool teacher. Seven years military training; Jenny Kinloch Age:21 Burnside, Christchurch. Occupation: recently unemployed. Three years military training; Andrew Elphick. Age: 26 Greymouth. Occupation: Payroll inspector, Inland Revenue. Civilian; Iwi Te Moana. Age: 28 New Plymouth. Occupation: Linesman. Two years territorial training. Bulletin: What were your reasons for taking part in this course?

Bell: "There was provision for specialised skills in my military position - the course provides the practical skills I need." Kinloch: "Stupidity" (then more seriously,) "Intellectual stimulus - I wanted an opportunity to use my brain." Elphick: "For management supervisory experience." Te Moana: "To see just how far I can push myself." Is it an advantage 10 have had previous military training? Bell: "It has its advantagcs in the fact that you already know what to expect, discipline wise - prior knowledge gives you confidence. In other ways, we're at a disadvantage. We are all starting from scratch. "I have all the theory behind me - now there's the opportunity to put it into practice." You have been on the course for one week - how different is it from what you imagined? Kinloch: "It's just as demanding as I imagined it would be. We're all so unfit." Te Moana: "I thought basic (training) was hell - this is lower than hell." Elphick: "There's an enormous amount of psychological pressure - you just can't let it get to you. "What is important is teamwork. When you've just run five miles up a

slope of 45 degrees, you've finished 40 sit-ups and you're going into 50 pushups - the only thing that keeps you going is the encouragement of your team mates. Everyone helps each other out." Bell: "You can only give 100 percent. When you do that you feel really good - you know it's the very best you can do." What do you hope to get from the course? Kinloch"I come in last on runs and end up walking half the way, but today I ran it - I was dead, but I managed to run it. I was the last back but I gave it 100 percent. That's satisfying." Te Moana: "We're all working towards our pips (Queens commission). Once you've got those, you have a degree of authority. That means leadership of your own platoon."