June 2006, Issue 71 [pdf 2.8mb, 40 - Royal New Zealand Air Force

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THE FIRST WORD
WGCDR DAVE GREEN
COMMANDING OFFICER AIR BASE WING WOODBOURNE
I vividly recall the first time I set foot on RNZAF Woodbourne.
It was September 1976, minus 2 degrees, dark and raining. We
arrived in the back of a DC3, directly off Number 100 Airman
Recruit Course Grad Parade. We were rounded up and organised
by a screaming NCO (we thought we had left all these
behind at GSTS!). Rescuing our green canvas kit bags (2 each,
for the use of) containing all our worldly possessions, from
the puddles in which the thoughtful Movements Staff neatly
stacked them, we set off on a 6 mile route march. Crossing
the main highway (no tunnels in 1976, but not much traffic
then either) we marched into the Barrack Warden where some
kindly gent with the disposition of Attila the Hun issued us
blankets, grey, 5, sheets, white, 2, pillow, rock hard, 1, and case
pillow, 1. In a gesture of humanity, noting the burdens we had
to carry he offered to wait until morning to issue Counterpane,
1 each. What a guy.
From the Barrack Warden we marched round several barrack
blocks, ensuring that everything was completely saturated.
Eventually we arrived at our designated accommodation block
(Transit) told to find a bed (sprung wire base, foam mattress)
for the night. ‘Don’t unpack too much – you’ll be moving
tomorrow.’ Our kindly NCO then advised us that we had missed
out on dinner as nobody had been told that we were arriving
and the Mess was closed. No one asked how the Barrack
Warden and the Corporal knew about us; you just didn’t do
that sort of thing. Welcome to Woodbourne!
Our little group was sent to Woodbourne for Basic Engineering
training. Most adult recruits went to Hobsonville for
this course. We must have been special because we got to do
Basic Engineering with Airman Cadets at 4TTS. Taking up my
latest posting as CO Base Wing at Woodbourne I vow to resist
the urge to bring back the ‘Good Old Days’. It just wouldn’t
be the same without rain soaked Battle Dress, starched
PT whites, and Bata Bullets. But it is worth reflecting on
just how far we have all come within my own 30 year
career span. In the past three months since returning to
Woodbourne one issue flashes like a beacon, and it centres
on vacuum cleaners. ‘CO, will you approve the purchase of
an additional dozen vacuum cleaners please. We have to
put vacuum cleaners on each floor of the flats. It’s an OSH
issue – people might get hurt carrying the vacuums up the
stairs.’ I declined this request in the politest manner I could
at the time.
The Air Force of today is often accused of being softer
and less robust than it was in years gone by. Softened by
OSH, by EEO, reduced personnel numbers, Human Rights,
Bike Pants, and duvets on beds instead of blankets. Not
to mention Snow Freeze and Coke dispensing machines
in Airman’s Messes. Yet in the same breath as these
accusations are made, we are in an almost constant cycle
of supporting operational deployments. Individually we
have to work smarter in order to achieve our outputs with
reduced resources. We have to be better managers, cover
an increasing range of functions, meet greater compliance
issues. And here is the real gem – we achieve the results.
We do this and still make time to enjoy what we do.
When I joined the RNZAF 30 years ago, I thought that it
was a great organisation with a real sense of family to it.
Today’s RNZAF is not the same as it was then, but 30 years
later I think that I have seen enough to be able to say, with
unshakeable confidence, ‘This is a great little Air Force.’
AFN71 JUNE 06 www.airforce.mil.nz