This is an RNZ story and documents obtained by RNZ show that last year the Defence Force quietly removed some entry requirements for NCEA levels 1 and 2, which you would have hardly thought were the most onerous of qualifications to get.
To apply to train as an army combat specialist, an auto technician, a plumber, a Navy diver and logistics specialist, and an Air Force firefighter- among other roles - you'll now need three years of high school up to year 11, you don't have to pass Level 1 credits.
The Defence Force says the changes prompted a surge in applications in 2024, however, it's unclear whether that surge is continuing or whether it has had a marked effect on enlistment numbers. The drop in standards - because however you dress it up, that's exactly what it is - came about because people were leaving the army in droves and bosses needed to get boots on the ground however they could.
There's a great piece in North and South Magazine from 2023 looking at just this problem, the attrition within the Army and the decline in standards and the decline in it being an attractive career option. More than one in 10 military personnel left the organisation in 2023. In the interview with North and South, Chief of Defence Force Air Marshall Kevin Short, estimated that the attrition rate for the most skilled personnel was even greater, somewhere between 20 and 30 percent.
So you're losing the experienced people, those who are able to be good leaders, they're going. It's almost certainly higher now. Short said “We cannot sustain that loss.” Then defence Minister Peeni Henare said these are some of the worst rates the Defence Force has seen in its history.
The consequences of that, the Royal New Zealand Navy idled three of its nine ships for lack of people to crew them. A recent briefing to Henare explained that the NZDF was experiencing significant fragility and presumably the new Defence Minister, Judith Collins, has got that briefing as well.
When asked whether Defence Force could maintain a peacekeeping operation in the South Pacific - the organization's most important task after after civil defence - Short says it would struggle. And that's despite the most significant boost to military spending in living memory. However, the boost - that money - was all spent on new planes, ships and vehicles. Money needed to be spent on them, you couldn't keep some of those planes in the air and the dear old Manawanui was bought and that disappeared.
The problems causing the mass exodus of personnel weren't addressed. And that is the poor pay - they're about 7% to 16% percent less than civilian counterparts - substandard housing, the lack of career advancement and the lack of leadership.
So those are the problems, that is why people are leaving. They can't see any way to advance their careers. It used to be a great career option - if you wanted to get you go to university, if you wanted to learn a trade, you'd join the forces, you'd have subsidised housing, you'd put in your service to the country, and in return you'd have a great career. You'd have options after you've done your time. If you decided to leave, you could go into Civvy Street, you'd be snapped up in no time because they knew that training was great, that you'd be a benefit to any organisation.
That's just no longer there. The reason why people are leaving is the poor pay, the substandard housing, the lack of career advancement, the poor leadership. And that simply hasn't been addressed, other than to dumb down, lower and compromise standards. And we've seen what happens when you do that. Loose lips might sink ships, but so too do loose standards and loose training.
Kerre McIvor, is a journalist, radio presenter, author and columnist. Currently hosts the Kerre Woodham mornings show on Newstalk ZB - where this article was sourced.
To apply to train as an army combat specialist, an auto technician, a plumber, a Navy diver and logistics specialist, and an Air Force firefighter- among other roles - you'll now need three years of high school up to year 11, you don't have to pass Level 1 credits.
The Defence Force says the changes prompted a surge in applications in 2024, however, it's unclear whether that surge is continuing or whether it has had a marked effect on enlistment numbers. The drop in standards - because however you dress it up, that's exactly what it is - came about because people were leaving the army in droves and bosses needed to get boots on the ground however they could.
There's a great piece in North and South Magazine from 2023 looking at just this problem, the attrition within the Army and the decline in standards and the decline in it being an attractive career option. More than one in 10 military personnel left the organisation in 2023. In the interview with North and South, Chief of Defence Force Air Marshall Kevin Short, estimated that the attrition rate for the most skilled personnel was even greater, somewhere between 20 and 30 percent.
So you're losing the experienced people, those who are able to be good leaders, they're going. It's almost certainly higher now. Short said “We cannot sustain that loss.” Then defence Minister Peeni Henare said these are some of the worst rates the Defence Force has seen in its history.
The consequences of that, the Royal New Zealand Navy idled three of its nine ships for lack of people to crew them. A recent briefing to Henare explained that the NZDF was experiencing significant fragility and presumably the new Defence Minister, Judith Collins, has got that briefing as well.
When asked whether Defence Force could maintain a peacekeeping operation in the South Pacific - the organization's most important task after after civil defence - Short says it would struggle. And that's despite the most significant boost to military spending in living memory. However, the boost - that money - was all spent on new planes, ships and vehicles. Money needed to be spent on them, you couldn't keep some of those planes in the air and the dear old Manawanui was bought and that disappeared.
The problems causing the mass exodus of personnel weren't addressed. And that is the poor pay - they're about 7% to 16% percent less than civilian counterparts - substandard housing, the lack of career advancement and the lack of leadership.
So those are the problems, that is why people are leaving. They can't see any way to advance their careers. It used to be a great career option - if you wanted to get you go to university, if you wanted to learn a trade, you'd join the forces, you'd have subsidised housing, you'd put in your service to the country, and in return you'd have a great career. You'd have options after you've done your time. If you decided to leave, you could go into Civvy Street, you'd be snapped up in no time because they knew that training was great, that you'd be a benefit to any organisation.
That's just no longer there. The reason why people are leaving is the poor pay, the substandard housing, the lack of career advancement, the poor leadership. And that simply hasn't been addressed, other than to dumb down, lower and compromise standards. And we've seen what happens when you do that. Loose lips might sink ships, but so too do loose standards and loose training.
Kerre McIvor, is a journalist, radio presenter, author and columnist. Currently hosts the Kerre Woodham mornings show on Newstalk ZB - where this article was sourced.
9 comments:
I don't think this comparison is fair. The lowering of the need for qualifications applies to raw recruits who one would expect to be trained while they are on the job. Their jobs are basically manual, so NCEA isn't going to be a very good measure of the recruits suitability.
The problem with the Officer's on the Manawatu is that they didn't receive the suitable training on the job because they were promoted beyond their capabilities because of DEI and all the experienced "pale stale males" who could have mentored them had been gotten rid of under the same policy.
It's not a question of how much money is spent. Like the rest of the public service, more money spent on bad policies does not lead to a better outcome. If you want DEI you'll get diversity but not quality.
Could it be that most have observed on line shots of directed drone and other pinpoint strikes and the prospect of flying into and being in a hostile zone is now especially daunting?
As to the ship sinking, it seems incredibel that within maritime circles the similar cause of the just previous Sounds grounding was not generally known and so especial care taken. Perhaps female commanders and disouragement of the traditional boozy matey traditions stymied the flow of unofficial information.
It is "incredible" that the NZDF and RNZN lowered their standards.
But not so incredible were the results.
As much as the minister tried to deflect attention by admonishing social media comments, it was widely predicted within social media no less, as to the reason why the Manawanui sunk.
DEI policies sunk that ship - It was a miracle there was no loss of life.
Also one of the biggest causes of personal leaving a few years ago was playing security guards at MIQ hotels where the private guards were being paid a lot more than them, of seeing the percentage of Asian internees and yet your own father who was also ex military unable to gain entry stuck oversees on a ship for 311 days. He and most of his fellow diesel engineers subsequently left as all were unwilling to be used like that again. He's now left the country and trippled his wage courtesy of the training given him by the NZ taxpayer.
Kerre , I suggest that a new recruit would not be in charge of the bridge or engine room. No new recruit would be asked to release the auto pilot on the bridge or prepare to slow the engines , or order to go into reverse. that was an unfair attack on new recruits only wanting a start. You mention sub standard housing , Is all worker housing 5 star plus , NO but could be 2-3 star with some normal housekeeping . And as for the Yorkshire women captain and her wife, she should have to replace the ship because of negligence .
Having just left the military, I can tell you the radical shift to be Maori led, has not bought people along. It's why I left.
Our military has also firmly grasped the DEI mantra.
exactly..... and sunken boats and money down the drain
A miracle that most were pretty well about to walk back to shore. The boat sank in just enough water to cover it. A perfect demo of DEI stupidity. WHY was the boat there?
Let's start with WOKE. = INCOMPETENCE. As long as there were a few woman, a couple of maoris, an Asian an Indian and 2 trannies there, who needs to be able to steer a ship? My question in this overly woke incompetent country is actually why is everyone so surprised the ship sunk? I'm actually more worried about air nz going woke and DEI. What ever happened to the best and most competent person getting the job?
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