Limited Service Volunteer Company

SGT Dianne White had been working in various supply jobs at Whenuapai when she put her hand up to be considered as an instructor at the Limited Service Volunteer Company (LSV COY) held at Burnham camp near Christchurch. After 16 years in the Air Force, Dianne was seeking a ‘change of scene’ and was also considering a move to the South Island.

Right Image: LSV COY trainees perform a haka at their graduation ceremony in June at Burnham Camp.

The LSV COY is a combined initiative between the NZDF and the Ministry of Social Development providing a six week course for five annual intakes of about 100 civilian trainees. It is restricted to those aged between 17 and 25 and is based on the original 1645 British army model in which trainees wear military uniform and operate within a structure of section, platoon and company. The six week residential course commits trainees to a tight schedule between 5.30am and 10.30pm. Their days are filled with classroom-based tuition and outdoor pursuits. Outdoor activities include white water rafting, abseiling and a three day tramp, while classroom tuition focuses on improving ‘life skills’ through goal setting, dress and grooming, dealing with drug and alcohol issues, anger management, and budgeting.

While the LSV scheme is carried out in the spirit of the Army values of comradeship, courage, commitment and integrity, its 22 instructors hail from all three Services, comprising 50 percent Army and 25 percent each from Air Force and Navy. As a Platoon Sergeant, SGT White is responsible for administration, discipline and ensuring the welfare of a ‘Platoon’ of about 30 trainees. She also manages four junior NCO instructors.

SGT White is relatively new to the LSV Company, having arrived in January this year. Trainees often describe the LSV routine ‘a shock to the system’ and SGT White says she was in for a few surprises herself, being ‘thrown in the deep end’ with just a week of staff training before the first of the trainees descended on the camp

‘It was very different to how I’d imagined! Being based at Burnham, it’s naturally quite Army driven. So … after 16 years in the Air Force I had to very quickly learn Army terminology and the Army ways of doing things – from wearing fatigues to a different drill.’

SGT White credits her time at the LSV COY as being good for building her confidence and enhancing her skills as a teacher. ‘Staff must be innovative to keep the trainees interested. Our trainees aren’t used to sitting for long periods in a class room situation. I try to make my classes as interesting as possible to keep them focused – for example I’ll do something like dress up as Bob the Builder for a team building exercise.’

Clear boundaries around acceptable behaviour are spelled out for the trainees at the outset of the course but the rules are consistent and fair:

‘They know from day one what the boundaries are and these boundaries don’t change.’

Most trainees arrive at the LSV COY with a variety of problems, including low self esteem and histories of drugs and alcohol abuse. ‘I came here wearing rose-tinted glasses,’ Dianne says. ‘Then I woke up to the fact that everyone doesn’t have the same upbringing. Not everyone grows up loved and nurtured.’

Some trainees have had anger management problems and brushes with the law, however the LSV COY’s focus is on presenting options for a better future - not looking at the past.

‘Staff don’t look at what the trainees have done before they come here. They arrive with a clean slate as far as we are concerned,’ she said.

SGT White says her job can be very challenging but she also finds it rewarding watching her trainees ‘march out’ at the graduation ceremony at the conclusion of the course, Most she says, leave the camp with greatly improved self esteem and motivation for a better future.

Limited Service Volunteer scheme (LSV)

The Limited Service Volunteer scheme is a combined Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and NZDF initiative. MSD provides the operating costs (about $2,800 is allocated to each trainee for 6 weeks) and the NZDF delivers expertise and the training personnel. To be eligible for admission to the programme a trainee should be aged between17-25 and registered with Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ).

Left image: SGT Dianne White (centre) RNZAF with trainees.

The stated mission of the LSV is ‘to increase numbers of young New Zealanders entering employment or further training’. It is estimated that 70% of trainees find employment or go on to further training within two months of completing the LSV course. For further information about the scheme please contact Mr Peter Te Paa, National Co-ordinator LSV, Work and Income New Zealand, on 029 2463574.