Striking the Balance
Mr Ian Brunton, Assistant Chief of Air Force Plans
Our challenge over the next decade is to introduce 30 new or upgraded aircraft across six different fleets, grow by 250 people, and consolidate at Ohakea while we continue to provide military air operations across our full range of capabilities. Somehow we need to find a way of balancing our resources to meet the competing needs of being fit for today while at the same time building for tomorrow.
In last month’s issue of the Air Force News a copy of our Strategic Plan was included to ensure everyone knows not only the long term end we want to achieve - which has been signalled for some time - but also the ways and means of getting there. Strategic Plan wall charts have also been distributed widely throughout the Air Force which set out the objectives, initiatives, and targets that underpin our four strategic goals. An on-line version of the new Strategic Plan is available on the NZDF Intranet.
Fit for today, building for tomorrow
One of the foundation stones in our Strategic Plan is continuous improvement. In this vein, the members of the Air Force Leadership Board (AFLB) spent four days at Ohakea last month to find ways and means of improving individual and group leadership effectiveness. Cascading from this event and over the next few weeks, the senior leadership team of the RNZAF will refine Action Plans that describe how we will go about achieving the four Strategic Goals. These Action Plans will be published on-line and in the RNZAF Annual Plan (NZAP701A). The Action Plans will provide the 'strategy-to-task' backbone of tomorrow.
We all need to become thoroughly familiar in the way we are going to get there, in particular the activities at all levels that support the initiatives necessary to achieve the objectives to reach our four Strategic Goals. These Action Plans must be used regularly to remind ourselves of the things we will have to, the initiatives we will need to take, and the innovations and improvements we will have to continue to make to effect positive change throughout the Service. In addition to which, I would encourage you all to take a moment to have a look at the new Strategic Plan and start thinking about actions you can take to help achieve our long term goals.
I would encourage you all to take a moment to have a look at the new Strategic Plan and start thinking about actions you can take to help achieve our long term goals.
The air power tenet of flexibility remains true in the application of all these plans, insofar as priorities outlined within them can, and often will be changed. The focus of RNZAF plans must be on the future in addition to meeting the needs of today. The senior leadership team needs your involvement in order to strike the balance.