Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 19, 2022 20:50:56 GMT 12
After seeing some photos of the Governor General Dame Cindy Ciro visiting Whenuapai on the RNZAF's Facebook page, and thinking back to how enthusiastic the late Dame Cath Tizard was for our Armed Forces too, I got to thinking.
It seems that the Minister of Defence - whichever it is at the time - always gets the chance to regularly get up close and personal with NZDF personnel, meet then and chat with them, see the equipment, and get to ride/fly/sail in the gear sometimes.
But thinking about the other MPs, most probably only have contact when flying on an Air Force VIP plane, and not all of them get that either.
So I wonder if the RNZAF has ever considered a scheme where they invite all the other government ministers along to the bases - in small groups, to show them around the squadrons, let them chat with the people of all ranks, let them see the important and amazing work they're doing under tough circumstances and very restrictive budgets, and gain a much better understanding of what the Air Force actually does.
As most of them these days have never had a real job, just straight into politics from university, and I strongly doubt many of them have any inkling of what the RNZAF actually does. If they were shown, made welcome and were able to get an understanding, maybe when it comes to budget time there might possibly be more support across the government to give Defence a little more. It's just a thought.
It seems that the Minister of Defence - whichever it is at the time - always gets the chance to regularly get up close and personal with NZDF personnel, meet then and chat with them, see the equipment, and get to ride/fly/sail in the gear sometimes.
But thinking about the other MPs, most probably only have contact when flying on an Air Force VIP plane, and not all of them get that either.
So I wonder if the RNZAF has ever considered a scheme where they invite all the other government ministers along to the bases - in small groups, to show them around the squadrons, let them chat with the people of all ranks, let them see the important and amazing work they're doing under tough circumstances and very restrictive budgets, and gain a much better understanding of what the Air Force actually does.
As most of them these days have never had a real job, just straight into politics from university, and I strongly doubt many of them have any inkling of what the RNZAF actually does. If they were shown, made welcome and were able to get an understanding, maybe when it comes to budget time there might possibly be more support across the government to give Defence a little more. It's just a thought.
