Act MP joins the Army!

[Dave Homewood]

I saw on 3 News this evening that Act MP Heather Roy has joined the NZ Army Territorials, and is currently undergoingsix weeks basic training at Waiouru. There was a poll about this and about her colleague Rodney Hide spending time away from their work (he's wasting his time on yet another crock of reality TV, Dancing with the "Stars").

The poll showed 47% of those surveyed supported Roy's Army service, and 45% were against it.

I'm no fan of Act but this could be good in allowing an MP to come down from the ivory towers they live in and see what it's really like in the Defence Force.

In fact, I hope she's very successful and maybe introduces a bill that will see compulsory military service for all MP's. That might at least instill some disciline nd common sense into that unruly lot of children who attempt to run this country.

What do you think? Good idea?

Oh yeah, in the poll the majoity disagreed with the idea of Rodney dancing on TV. I concur with that result.

[corsair67]

Good on her! I think that's a wonderful thing that an MP is at least putting their money where their mouth is and getting involved in the Territorials.

Bet we won't see any of those Labour turkeys falling over themselves to join though.

The ADF runs a scheme here where MP and Senators are invited to spend a week or so with a RAN, RAAF or Army unit to see how they do things and to give them a taste of what life is like for members of the ADF. It is very popular with all involved, and it is open to all members of the House of Representatives and Senate, no matter which parties they are from.

Is there a similar program run by the NZDF? If not, then it's about time they did so.

[Dave Homewood]

Interesting scheme there Craig. I haven't heard of it occurring here though.

I forgot to add that Heather Roy has pledged all her Army wages to go straight to the RNZRSA, which is great. Poor girl has to make do with her Parliamentary wage of just $117,000.

[turboNZ]

We also won't forget that our Ms Clark was a war protester back in the 60's, so we won't see her in the Army.....

[Dave Homewood]

I don't see why, the NZDF are peacekeepers, there to prevent war. She seems perfect to go through a boot camp to me.

I was in the RNZAF and am very pro-NZ military, but I will always be against war.

[turboNZ]

Fair enough.
However, weren't our A-4's originally bought as "Peace-Keeping" aircraft and she protested against them ?

(For the record I share the same opinion as you Dave on war and military).

[Dave Homewood]

Was the term Peace Keeping used back then I wonder. I'm not sure.

I'd love to see R. Lee Ermey yelling himself hoarse as Clark is forced scrabble face down in mud and babed wire at Waiouru, etc.

The same goes for most of them actually. I'd love to see the buzz cutter getting applied to Nandos Tanchos's greasy filthy dreadlocks for a start.

I can't see some many politicians volunteering for on such a scheme, except maybe Ron Marks, and even fewer passing such a course.

[turboNZ]

ha ha ha R Lee Ermey, now that is a man with a back-bone !!!
He is so cool !!

BTW, did you install the photoshopping program from the CD I sent you?

[phil]

Well Ron Marks has done it all before.

[steve]

Just saw Heather Roy MP on "Sunday" TV1....I was really impressed with this spunky lady of 42 doing national service in our army "reserve". Defence part timers needs a lot more across party support...and all with the exceptions of the greens... are capable of more involvement...What ever happened to the airforce territorials...?

[Dave Homewood]

There are still Territorial Air Force members in the various RNZAF bands, plus the ATC officers, but I am not sure if there is much more than them left in the TAF now.

Bring back the TAF Baffins I say!