Defence rolls out ‘TED’
By Gillian Boyes, DTP Senior Communications Advisor
The New Zealand Defence Force Training and Education Directorate (TED) office in Wellington was officially opened on Wednesday 24 February by Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Tony Parr.
Speaking in his role as Human Resource Management Change Programme Sponsor, RADM Parr said, “We’ve got a whole lot of things in common—Communications and Information Systems (CIS), Physical Training Instructors training, Driver training and others. It just makes good sense to work together on training and education.”
The opening of TED—one of the first foundational structural changes rolling out as part of the Defence Transformation Programme (DTP)— was attended by Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae; Warrant Officer of the Defence Force, John Barclay; Assistant Chief of Army Personnel, Brigadier Mark Wheeler; and Deputy Assistant Chief of Air Personnel, Group Captain Alec Shariff.
Newly appointed Director of TED, Colonel Al McCone, said the senior level presence provided a ringing endorsement of the change.
“There’s some very good individual work going on in each Service. Our leaders recognise that pooling our Defence Force expertise in TED gives us the opportunity to focus on how we can do the things we all have in common, in a common way.
“Eliminating unnecessary duplication also ensures that we are delivering greater value for money,” noted COL McCone.
The TED launch date also marked the commencement of work exploring common training opportunities.
Four priorities have been established:
- Range Conducting Officer (RCO)/Shooting Coaches
- Training Systems
- Ammunitions and Explosives, and
- Driver Training.
The work will follow a common initiative already happening in CIS training, with support from DTP staff, who will be visiting camps and bases to understand in detail the key activities and processes that allow training delivery to be undertaken.
COL McCone said, “Over time the visible impact of the changes will be seen in personnel from other Services attending Air Force courses, and course administration coming from a central area with a common language to describe core concepts.
“Right now we’re at the start of this journey. We’ll be working closely with the appropriate Air Force and other Service representatives to make sure the decisions we make are the right ones for us all.”
RNZAF representative
SQNLDR Mark Brewer
Squadron Leader Mark Brewer has been working with DTP since September last year and recently moved from Training Group Headquarters (TGHQ) in Woodbourne to Wellington, to allow him to contribute more fully to the achievement of DTP outcomes.
SQNLDR Brewer is well suited to working in the joint TED environment, having previously served in the New Zealand Army for 16 years as a Communications Operator and then a Training Designer.
After transferring to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 2004 SQNLDR Brewer was instrumental in setting up the new Training and Development Officer trade and restructuring TGHQ.
SQNLDR Brewer has extensive training and front-line experience—five operational deployments, including service as a Patrol Second-in-Command with the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamiyan, Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007.