Army short of staff to run new vehicles

By SCOTT MacLEOD

The first of the Army's new light-armoured vehicles will arrive in Auckland today, amid concerns there are too few soldiers to man them.

Defence papers obtained under the Official Information Act suggest the vehicles will further expose the Army's staffing crisis and skimpy training resources.

Defence Minister Mark Burton's office says its latest advice is that the Army is on track to fully crew the vehicles.

But the staffing woes mentioned in the Defence papers are backed by figures which show the number of regular Defence Force staff dropped in the year to June, from 8778 to 8604.

The first seven of the 105 Canadian-built Lav III vehicles are due today with the others to arrive by November next year.

The latest price tag of $671 million is more than three times the $212 million budgeted by the previous Government.

The Defence Force papers, which outlined retention problems, said the Army was particularly concerned about shortages of crewmen, mechanics and electronic technicians for the Lavs.

"There are already shortages in these trades and the nature and complexity of the Lav will exacerbate them," the papers said.

There would also be an "additional burden on training establishments" and "an increased requirement to retain experienced personnel" for the Lavs.

The problems are not confined to the Lavs. The Army is 30 per cent short of corporals and sergeants in half of its trades.

New Zealand First defence spokesman Ron Mark, a former soldier, said the Lavs needed three crew, compared with two in the M113s they will replace. They also needed specialist mechanics and highly trained support personnel. "They need good drivers in battle conditions and you cannot underestimate the level of competence needed to do that," he said. "That is learned behind the wheel and it takes years."

Army spokesman Major Murray Brown said a "targeted recruitment plan" during the next three to five years would meet any staffing shortfalls for the Lavs.

Existing staff would be trained during the next two years.

A spokeswoman for Mr Burton said an Army briefing two weeks ago showed it was on track for personnel.

Training on the Lavs would start from late next month.

A company of 14 Lavs should be ready for deployment by December next year, with a full battalion of up to 51 ready a year later.

Fifty will be based at Linton, 40 in Burnham, 10 at the Army training group in Waiouru and five at the trade training school in Trentham.

Mr Burton said the Lavs offered the best mix of mobility and armour available and could be upgraded to give 25 years' service.