Improving Leadership Training in

In a turbulent world beset by irregular military conflicts, terrorists and failing belligerent dictatorial regimes it is an unfortunate necessity that each nation must take active defence precautions. For New Zealand, a small island trading nation in the South Pacific, such precautions focus on the maintenance of a small but well prepared military able to work within multinational alliances. Part of the preparation for such a force is the development of the military leadership. No longer is it sufficient that such leaders are proficient in arms and tactics, in the new order they must be as fleet of mind as of foot. To ensure that the minds are prepared for the challenges of the constantly changing world military forces have been forced to recognise the value and importance of education, as distinct from training. For the New Zealand Army this requires a, long overdue, careful review of its current process for officer development. In particular it needs to ensure that education is progressive, integrated and challenging. This paper examines ways the current New Zealand Army policy and practise for military education can be improved