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a number of courses were conducted, at Army School of Instruction, Trentham, for selection purposes. As a result, 59 officers for substantive commissions and 41 officers for quartermaster commissions were accepted into the Regular Forces. Of these, 57 were former Regular other ranks and the remainder from 2 N.Z.E.F. In addition, 91 N.C.O.S and men were enlisted for instructional and administrative duties after undergoing basic training. Most of these officers and other ranks have been employed in the training of replacements for 2 N.Z.E.F. (Japan). Arrangements are well in hand for the continuance of their military education. Ages for Retirement.' —New ages for retirement have been introduced in fhe Regular Forces, for the following reasons: — (a) It is important that all Regular officers and men should be fit and qualified for active service in their peacetime rank or one rank higher. (b) Beyond the age of forty-five to forty-seven a man cannot compete with the rigours and hardships of regimental service in war. (c) The retention of large numbers of elderly officers and N.C.O.s in comparatively junior ranks tends to lower the general efficiency of the Force. ((/) Lower retiring-ages will automatically result in an increase in the reserve of ex-regular personnel available for recall in the event of mobilization. The new ages for retirement are:— Other ranks . . .. Forty-five years. Lieutenants . . . . j Captains . . . . . . [ Forty-seven years. Majors .. .. .. j Lieut.-Colonels . . . . Fifty years. Colonels and Brigadiers . . Fifty-five years. Major-General .. .. On completion of period of appointment. These new retiring-ages conform with those already in operation in other Armies of the British Commonwealth. liegradmg of Officers. —In December, 1946, a special committee was convened to review the war records of all Regular officers and to make recommendations for regradings to the Hon. the Minister of Defence. The committee consisted of the Military Members of the Army Board, together with former divisional and brigade commanders of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. As a result, a revised, gradation list for the Regular Force was issued. A similar committee met early in March, 1947, fo determine suitable tradings for officers who were being taken into the Regular Force after the qualifying course at Trentham. The Interim Army and Temporary Staff Both the Interim Army and the Temporary Staff have continued to give valuable service, in spite of decreasing numbers. Releases have been made to civil occupations, and considerable numbers of officers and men have been transferred to the Regular Force. On the Ist May, 1947, strength was 152 .officers and 1,997 other ranks.

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