Future Army Leaders Graduate in Style

Thirty of the New Zealand Army’s newest leaders graduated at the Officer Cadet School’s (OCS) 41st graduation held at Waiouru Military Camp this week.

The officer cadets who have come from throughout New Zealand have spent the last 11 months training to be junior leaders and officers in the New Zealand Army.

Their training included around 100 days on military exercise, time in academic lectures, leadership training and learning the essential military skills required of all members of the New Zealand Army. This year the cadets had their major jungle training exercise in Brunei.

The Minister of Defence, Honourable Dr Wayne Mapp was the reviewing officer for the graduation parade. He praised the graduates' commitment to their chosen career path and the core values of the New Zealand Defence Force.

"There is no occupation in the world that can be compared to the profession of arms."

"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 the values of courage, commitment, comradeship and integrity," he said.

Chief of Army, Major General Rhys Jones also attended the parade and congratulated each newly commissioned officer.

“The New Zealand Army values its people, providing world-class education, training and leadership to provide skills for life. The young officers who graduated have shown that success comes through discipline, training, teamwork and living our ethos and values. The future leadership of the Army is in good stead.”

"These are among the best young men and women that there are in New Zealand. They have been selected not because they have academic ability or physical toughness or leadership, but because they have all three. They have then been put through one of the world's best officer training courses that has developed and extended their abilities even further. We are proud of them and they should be proud of what they have achieved."

Since 1985, OCS has graduated over 950 regular force (full-time) and over 470 territorial force officers. The graduates this year also included one cadet from Tonga, two from Papua New Guinea and two from Australia.

In January 2011 graduates will move to their chosen corps and units within the New Zealand Army for ongoing training. Many recent graduates from OCS are already on operational service that is testing their skills as military leaders in challenging and extreme environments.

The Officer Cadet School of New Zealand's aim is to develop the leadership, character and education of selected personnel in order to motivate and prepare them for commissioned service in New Zealand's Army.

ENDS

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