Post by vgp on May 17, 2008 20:32:10 GMT 12
Territorial Forces to get pay rise
May 17, 2008 7:33 PM
The Army is banking on a pay rise to boost the ranks of its territorial forces.
The New Zealand Defence Force is set for a 10% pay increase and it's hoped that will help grow the numbers of part-time soldiers.
Depending on rank, Territorials' earn between $120 and $200 a day.
But with their numbers sitting around 2000 soldiers over the past five years, the army is banking on July's pay rise to boost its ranks.
Lieutenant Colonel Bede Fahey of the NZ Territorial Force says the boost in ranks will not just provide capability for the army.
"I think it provide capability for society as well. We're bringing these young people in, we're giving them life skills, training, self discipline".
ONE News spoke to some part-time soldiers training in an exercise called 'Joint Kiwi' and many were supportive of the increase and would be willing to stay in the army, thereby getting the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with the professionals, when they head out to overseas missions like in East Timor.
Lance Corporal Wesley Lagolago, a lab technician, considers it a privilege because not many people get a chance to go on such missions.
"&especially when they started calling up the Territorial Forces to go overseas, it was like an opportunity you really wanted to do".
Territorial soldiers have made up New Zealand's presence in the Solomon Islands for the past 18 months, with more due to head over in July.
tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1784729
May 17, 2008 7:33 PM
The Army is banking on a pay rise to boost the ranks of its territorial forces.
The New Zealand Defence Force is set for a 10% pay increase and it's hoped that will help grow the numbers of part-time soldiers.
Depending on rank, Territorials' earn between $120 and $200 a day.
But with their numbers sitting around 2000 soldiers over the past five years, the army is banking on July's pay rise to boost its ranks.
Lieutenant Colonel Bede Fahey of the NZ Territorial Force says the boost in ranks will not just provide capability for the army.
"I think it provide capability for society as well. We're bringing these young people in, we're giving them life skills, training, self discipline".
ONE News spoke to some part-time soldiers training in an exercise called 'Joint Kiwi' and many were supportive of the increase and would be willing to stay in the army, thereby getting the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with the professionals, when they head out to overseas missions like in East Timor.
Lance Corporal Wesley Lagolago, a lab technician, considers it a privilege because not many people get a chance to go on such missions.
"&especially when they started calling up the Territorial Forces to go overseas, it was like an opportunity you really wanted to do".
Territorial soldiers have made up New Zealand's presence in the Solomon Islands for the past 18 months, with more due to head over in July.
tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1784729