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Feedback: Re: Max Bradford In A Fantasy World
Feedback: Re: Max Bradford living In A Fantasy World
Dear Editor,
I would like to add a few comments of my own following Major General (retired) Piers Reid's Press Release dated 21 September 2001
He is quite right to state that Max Bradford is firing a cheap shot in order to gain some short term political points. The officers mentioned: Major General Martyn Dunne, Brigadier Lou Gardiner and Brigadier Jerry Mateparae are worthy of their promotions. In fact I served under at least one of the afore mentioned officers. The other two having a good reputation for leadership during my time in the army. Their promotions are reflect their abilities.
The Army's promotion system is not based upon the whims of individuals but consist of boards, conferences and/or committees that meet to assess soldier suitability for promotion and command. This procedure is basically the same at all levels of ranks and command. That is from the lowest Non-Commissioned Officer rank of Lance Corporal/Lance Bombardier through to the highest NZ Army Commissioned Officer rank of Lieutenant General. For promotion to Lance Corporal/Lance Bombardier it is a unit level conference. Promotions to Brigadiers and above include Cabinet and Governor General involvement. Promotion is a serious business because both Non-Commissioned Officers and Commissioned Officers are required to make decisions that in an active theatre such as East Timor, have life and death consequences.
Max Bradford, who claimed a number of years ago, in a current affairs programme on Sky with Leighton Smith as the anchor Stated that: "defence is a sacred duty". His recent Press Realise appears to indicate that he has learnt nothing about that "sacred duty".
It makes me wonder just what he did while he was Minister of Defence.
Les Gee
lmwgee@paradise.net.nz
Scoop
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