NEW SYSTEM

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21370, 14 March 1941, Page 7

NEW SYSTEM

TERRITORIAL FORCES FILLING UP RANKS MARRIED VOLUNTEERS The acceptance of married men for service on a voluntary basis and the lowering of the medical standard are the chief changes which have been made in the system of filling the ranks of the Territorial Force, according to instructions which have just been issued by the Army Department. It is stated that no men between the ages of 20 and 40, who are medically graded as class 1., except those exempted from overseas service, are to be posted to the Territorial Force or be called up for intensive training. In future Territorial Force requirements are to be obtained from the following sources:— By Ballot (a) Single men, medically graded as class 1., la. or 11., who have reached 19 years of age but who have not attained the age of 20. (b) Single men, graded medically as class la. or 11., between the ages of 20 and 40. Such men are to be called up immediately. (c) Single men, graded medically as class 1., la. or 11., who have reached the age of 41 but who have not attained the age of 46. (d) Single men, graded medically as class 1., la., or 11., between the ages of 21 and 40, who have been exempted from overseas service and ordered by Appeal Boards to render alternative service in the Territorial Force. These men also are to be called up immediately. By Voluntary Enlistment (a) Single men between the ages of 19 and 45 and married men between the same ages with not more than three dependent children under 16, who volunteered for service in either the Territorial Force or the Expeditionary Force prior to July 22, 1940, and who have been graded medically as class Ia or 11. This class also will be called up immediately. (b) Married men between the ages of 19 and 45 with no more than three dependent children under 16, who, in future, volunteer for service in the Territorial Force and are graded medically as class 1., la., or 11. Personnel from these categories are needed immediately to bring units up to establishment. A list of men in the ballot groups (a) and (c), who are being called for service, is to appear in the Gazette on March 26. These men will be medically examined as soon as possible. Military districts have been instructed to arrange for recruits to be despatched to camps in monthly drafts. The period of training is to be 12 weeks and the pay will be at Home Defence rates.