CAF's Christmas message to the Air Force team

Well another year has nearly gone. I don’t know about you, but 2007 seems to have flown by. The speed of its passing is probably a function of my advancing age, but it is also a reflection of our Air Force’s busy tempo. It is timely to take a breather and reflect on our achievements, celebrate our many successes, enjoy some social time with our workmates, and plan to take a good long holiday with our family and friends.

I do not have the space in this column to document all of the excellent things that have happened this year. There are simply too many - which in itself is an accolade to all of you. Importantly, we have finalised our planning in order to best cope with the introduction of entirely new capabilities across our operational fleet as well as advancing plans for new pilot training aircraft and helicopters.

The exciting phase will start next year as first the modified Boeing 757s are introduced, followed by the first of the upgraded C130 Hercules, and later in 2008 the first P3K2 Orion will return to New Zealand from Texas. The helicopters will follow in turn. Incredible amounts of work from within all areas of our Air Force have contributed to the preparation for this. Included is the establishment and manning of a new Squadron – Integrated Mission Support Squadron – which among other things heralds the introduction of an Intelligence specialisation in the RNZAF for the first time.

Concurrent with all of this activity, we have been continuing to perform our normal business – training, supporting and conducting military air operations in New Zealand and all over the world. I am extraordinarily proud of the way you have delivered an exceptional service throughout 2007, often in demanding conditions and with relatively meagre resources. We currently have a 3 Squadron detachment deployed to Timor Leste, and other operations and training have continued apace from Antarctica to Afghanistan, throughout Asia and the Pacific, and in the UK, North America, and Europe.

The key to this output is you - our willing, committed and loyal people. A lot of thought and work this year has gone into improving how we recruit, train and support our people. Our people are the reason we are so successful and we must continually look for better ways to support you and your families. This is a job for all of us, not just Warrant Officers and Officers. We can do much more in this regard, and I intend continuing putting most of my energy into providing better leadership at all levels in order to be able to treat the ‘right people’ the way they want to be treated. We have incredible talent right across our Air Force and we must continue to look for better ways of using it. I know that if we treat our people right, they will get the task done in the best way possible.

I trust that all of you can look back on 2007 and be proud of what you have achieved individually and as part of our Air Force team. Our uniformed people, our civilians, our families, and our contractors, and our supporters in our communities make up the RNZAF team, and we should acknowledge all of them as we head into the Christmas holiday period. I would particularly like to recognise the role our families play in our Air Force. I know I could not do what I do without the staunch support, advice, and tolerance of Dianne and my family. I ask that you take the time to acknowledge and thank your families for their RNZAF service too.

I trust that most of you can have a relaxing and fun holiday with your family and friends – you deserve it. Our thoughts will be with those of you who cannot and are on duty and away from your loved ones.

Once again, thank you for your commitment and valued service throughout 2007. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.