Territorial Force Commissioning Course and Initial Officer Training Graduation

Hon Heather Roy speech to the Territorial Force Commissioning Course and Initial Officer Training Graduation Parade; Waiouru Army Camp, Waiouru; Friday, February 19 2010.

Your Worship the Mayor of Taupo, Mr Rick Cooper and Mrs Cooper; Chief of Army Major General Rhys Jones; Land Component Commander Brigadier David Gawn; Director of Army Reserves Representative Colonel John Broadley; Commander Land Training and Doctrine Group Colonel Paul van den Broek; Australian Defence Attaché Group Captain Peter Bennett; Papua New Guinea Defence Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Michael Kuman; visiting dignitaries, families, friends and - most importantly - members of the Corps of Officer Cadets.

Tena koutou katoa; greetings.

It is a great pleasure and an honour to again be invited to review this parade. Perhaps it is indicative of the tempo of our world that it seems only a short time since I was standing here, 12 months ago, for the same ceremony. I remember very vividly the pride and excitement that I felt at marching on to my own recruit march-out parade in 2006. I also remember thinking, as I tried to follow the drill instructors' edict to gently rock from heel to toe, that I hoped the speeches would be short - knowing full well that the Manual of Drill and Ceremonial did not contain a movement called 'adopt the prone, unsupported position'.

Just think what you've achieved. From around 1000 applicants, 115 officer cadets from every corps, regiment, ethnicity, province, age and walk of life came together at the start of this course seven weeks ago. 29 of you are graduating today as Officers of the Territorial Force of the New Zealand Army. For a further 80 of you, today marks the end of your initial officer training and opens the door to more advanced study which will culminate in graduation at the end of the year or, depending on your chosen study path, somewhat longer. However, regardless of the nature of your officer training, you leave here as one - one more thread in the raranga of Ngati Tumatauenga.

The richness of your tukutuku reflects that of contemporary New Zealand. On parade today, Kiwis who were born here with ethnic background as diverse as NZ European, Maori, the Cook Islands, Chile, China, Germany, India, Korea, the Netherlands, Samoa, and the US proudly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Cadets from Australia, Great Britain, Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea, and Tonga. Some of you will return after graduation to your own Defence Forces. Many more will take up newfound responsibilities in defence of your adopted homeland, New Zealand.

There is no group in the world that can be compared to the profession of arms. We hear frequent comment in society on the need for more leaders. In making the choice you have, you have answered this call. You have chosen the path less travelled. It is one of personal sacrifice - of service to others - of putting their needs and the greater good above your own interest. It is a life based on courage, commitment, comradeship and integrity.

At this point, I wish to speak to those graduating today. Lives are remembered by key milestones, and receiving the Queen's Commission is amongst the rarest and most unique of those. To get to this point, you have already had to overcome considerable odds, including rigorous selection procedures and demanding training. You have, and will continue to, face the challenge of balancing work, family, leisure and Army time as Reserve Officers.

Your commissioning parchments use the same words that have been handed to Officers for hundreds of years and include the words "reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage, and Good Conduct". We are all here today to publicly acknowledge that we have trust and confidence in your ability to fulfil your duties as an Army Officer.

In granting you a commission, the nation is entrusting you with the safe-keeping of its reputation and with the sons and daughters of other Kiwi families just like your own. Your role as a junior officer has not changed over centuries. You have been selected and trained because of your country's belief in your ability to influence whatever situation you find yourself in by your personal presence. Lest we forget the serious nature of national security - that it may involve you losing your life in the service of your country.

It would have been impossible for you to achieve all that you have without the help of so many. From the dedicated staff of the Officer Cadet School, the seconded staff from elsewhere in the Army and the many who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep this camp and the whole Army ticking.

I also wish to acknowledge the Army's debt to the families - who also serve our nation every day - your parents who imbued the values that enabled you to choose to "Lead Wisely and Serve Proudly"; your whanau who have and will continue to speak proudly of their brother or sister or cousin in the Army; your partners and your children; for the Reservists - your employers who are a vital, but often forgotten, part of the formula of success for the NZDF. I wish to make particular note of the many parents and other relatives here today who have served in the Defence Forces here and overseas. It is a measure of the health of our Services when those who have or are wearing the uniform, entrust their own children to that same path.

Today is also a significant day for the New Zealand Army. Historically, a significant number of our officers were trained abroad. When you marched in this year, you represented 25 years since the establishment of the Corps of Officer Cadets and the Officer Cadet School of New Zealand. I congratulate the Army on its Silver Anniversary of officer training and look forward to the next logical progression of seeing the colour and pageantry when Cadets of all three services march out of their initial officer training together.

In my view, all of you are worthy of an award. However, as in battle, that cannot be the case and I congratulate those of you who will receive specific acknowledgement of your achievements today.

Margaret Thatcher noted that freedom is the most contagious of ideas and the one most destructive of tyranny. That is why tyrants of every kind have fought—still fight—so hard to destroy it. They will always fail because where freedom is the heritage of centuries, as in our country, it is tenaciously defended: and because where it is newly established, it inspires confidence and hope. Nowhere and never has it been consciously surrendered.

As members of a unique profession, we must never forget that supporting freedom is not, in itself, enough and we must all be prepared to take the field, to win and not to leave until our work is done. When I look at the quality of the young men and women, like you, who willingly take up the challenge of keeping freedom's flame alight, I am filled with hope for the future security of our world.

Regrettably, I cannot be at the graduation ball tonight but I'm sure that you will have a memorable night and General Jones' shoes will be in better condition for not having had to dance with the Minister! I hear that some of you have the 'judicial consequences of unauthorised military events' hovering over your freedom tonight. Without wishing to subvert the course of military justice but with the significance of today in mind, I encourage your staff to consider a 'stay of proceedings' for the evening so that you and your families can fully enjoy this milestone in your lives. Well done on your dress, bearing and display today. I wish you all well and look forward to meeting you and your families individually after the parade.

ONWARD!

ENDS