WOAF Column
Mid-Year Reflection
W/O Keith Gell
By W/O Keith Gell, Warrant Officer Air Force
As we are half way through the year, I thought it appropriate to look back over the last six months. I don’t mind admitting it has been a challenging first half. However, as one wise person said to me, “There are no great men or women, only great challenges that ordinary people are forced, by circumstances, to meet.” For me, this quote reflects the first half of the year.
Here are some highlights, challenges and opportunities that have come onto my radar screen.
- Advanced Command Leadership Management Course—Great initiative. You still amaze me with your thinking.
- Antarctic landing for the B757—A great demonstration of flexibility, agility, and value for money.
- C-130 Hercules air drop over Afghanistan—Professionalism at its best. This is why we train and practice.
- Chief Engineer—We now have a pure focus for technical airworthiness. The benefit will be wide, especially technical standards. Bring it on Group Captain Andy Woods!
- Defence Transformation Programme (DTP), Headquarters re-shuffle—This place has now been re-stacked. It now looks like three Services working as one force. Synergy springs to mind.
- Directorate of Systems Evaluation and Introduction to Service teams—Very, very professional.
- DTP, Logistics—We now have a new set up. Bring it on Air Commodore Peter Guy and Group Captain Sid Collins!
- Fight Night for Charity—Five Air Force personnel slugging it out for three rounds against other corporate giants. Great commitment, fantastic night. Great support also from the 100 plus Air Force supporters. You had to be there.
- Ground Training Wing changes—Sustaining a future that we can afford.
- No. 5 SQN—A war fighting ethos is something I see in you folk. Kia kaha.
- No. 6 SQN—A time to consolidate and re-generate. Lots of support for this place.
- Ohakea infra-structure—New home for No. 3 SQN is looking outstanding. Great to have something new. Will even look better once the new platforms arrive. Kia ora to the Takitini team.
- RNZAF Marae—Coming our way, a Turangawaiwai for our Air force, our iwi, Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa.
- RNZAF Mentoring—You are all doing a great job. It’s not about what they get for it, it’s about what they become of it.
- Support Trade Rationalisation Project—It’s not the strongest that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the most adaptable. Something for all trades and branches to think about.
- Tsunami Relief—Great effort. Again, a great demonstration of the utility of Air Power, Aero-medical evacuation combined with Airlift combined with reconnaissance combined with expeditionary Support.
- Youth Development Unit Hobsonville—When I looked at the set up at the start of the year I thought impossible, however, you have made it work. Great value for money for the Ministry of Social Development.
- Voluntary Education Study Assistance—Great scheme, and 15% of our Air Force are involved. Well done to the staff who facilitates this process.
To our families, we cannot do it without you. Keep us honest for the second half of the year.
Finally, well done everyone! It has been a first half of challenges, adversity and success. It has tested our character in many ways. However, the strength of our values is what I am seeing coming through—this tells me we have belief.
Let’s look forward to the next half of the year.