Officer Cadet School graduation

May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.  Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is afternoon [sign].

May I then specifically greet you: Major General Rhys Jones, Chief of Army, Colonel Roger McElwain, Commander, New Zealand Land Training Doctrine Group; Lieutenant Colonel Karyn Thompson, Commandant of the Officer Cadet School of New Zealand;  Defence Attachés and Defence Advisers from the High Commissions of Australia, Malaysia and Tonga; Commanding Officers and Regimental Sergeant Majors of the major units of the NZ Army; Warrant Officer (class one)  Alan Cunningham; Sergeant Major of the Army; Your Worship Sue Morris, Mayor of Ruapehu District; Professor Glyn Harper, Director of Defence Studies, Massey University; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and I to attend this year's Graduation Parade at the Officer Cadet School of New Zealand.  As Governor-General and as Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, it was with pleasure that I accepted the invitation to be Reviewing Officer of the fortieth graduating class of the New Zealand Commissioning Course.  Having attended this ceremony in 2007, it is good to be here again today.  I would like to take this opportunity to speak of significance of today's ceremony and your forthcoming service as members of the military.

At the outset, I should like to congratulate the staff of the Officer Cadet School. Whilst the New Zealand Commissioning Course predates the establishment of the School in its current form, to host the fortieth graduation ceremony is to record a significant achievement.  The continuing involvement of officer cadets from armies in other parts of Asia and the Pacific speaks highly of the quality of the School's programme and its mission to develop the leadership, character and education of those selected for commissioned service.

Today's graduating class consists of 29 New Zealanders from the New Zealand Army, two from the Australian Army and one each from the Tongan Defence Service and the Malaysia Armed Forces. To reach this point you have undertaken rigorous training, including more than 100 days in the field, including a close country field exercise in  Samoa.

You are all physically fit and mentally and intellectually alert.  To demonstrate that you have the potential to be the future leaders of your respective defence forces, you have had to prove yourselves worthy of commissioned service.  Those qualities include courage, loyalty, initiative, integrity and the pursuit of excellence.

A key quality that binds them together is leadership or what is described in military language as "a command presence".  Yet leadership or what is colloquially described as an "x-factor" is a concept that we can all struggle with.  Like defining an elephant, we all know leadership when we see it, but trying to pin down exactly what it is, has perplexed great minds throughout time.  

Some people define leadership by results and by the means people use to achieve them. As one with an aversion to the view that the end justifies the means, I prefer instead to define leadership by reference to human values.  In doing so I differentiate between leaders and leadership qualities.  While I am sure you will aim to do your very best with your careers in your respective forces, the reality of life is that we cannot all be generals.   But everyone can display leadership qualities and some of the key qualities are trust, respect, integrity, and most importantly, courage.

As erstwhile Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief, I sign the commissions of all officers of the New Zealand Defence Force, from that of the Chief of Defence and the Chief of Army through to the New Zealanders graduating here today.  On behalf of the Queen of New Zealand, and on the advice of the Minister of Defence, a formal trust is placed in each of you.  Each commission I sign places my "trust and confidence in your loyalty, courage and good conduct" in carefully discharging your duties as an officer.  Those duties not only include following the orders and directions of your superiors but also maintaining the discipline of subordinate officers and ranks.

If so authorised, you may one day have to give orders for the men and women under your command to use deadly force against others.  The reality of active military service is that men and women under your command may be injured, or even killed, in fulfilling their duties-duties that you may have ordered them to undertake.  Two examples suffice.

As officer cadets here at Waiouru, you will all be aware of the tragic death of Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster earlier this month.  As a member of the New Zealand Defence Force explosive ordnance disposal squad, Flight Sergeant Forster had recently returned from Afghanistan, where he had served with utmost distinction.  I have written to his family but it seems fitting to take this opportunity to publicly recognise his service and to extend condolences to his family, colleagues and commanding officer.  But his death is also a timely reminder that our society does not lightly give the powers and responsibilities of command to anyone.

Those responsibilities and powers, for example, were also amply displayed in April last year when I awarded the Distinguished Service Decoration to Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell, of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment at an investiture ceremony in Wellington.  Lt O'Donnell, who had graduated from this course a couple of years before, was honoured for his service in Timor Leste in 2007, when he commanded a platoon of soldiers as a part of Australian-led International Stabilisation Force.

I can bring to mind the atmosphere in Government House-the hushed silence as his citation was read and the resounding applause as he returned to his seat.  The citation outlined how he and the soldiers under his command came to the aid of about 1000 Fretilin supporters who were returning from an election rally.   Stranded on a bridge, they came under attack from opposition supporters.  The citation continued, and I quote:  "He made a quick decision to intervene in the melee, which meant that his platoon also came under attack.  His soldiers had to fire both warning shots and aimed shots against their assailants.  Eventually, his platoon managed to push back the attackers and secure a bypass route ... for the Fretilin convoy, which safely circumnavigated the town without loss of life or serious injury.  ...  Without the decisive intervention of his platoon, it is likely that the situation could have deteriorated resulting in a number of fatalities ..."

There is an old saying that "actions speak louder than words."  The two examples I have given show that what you do in life says as much about who you are, and your commitment to those values, as what you say. Your deeds can be a positive example to others that promote change or provide inspiration to the men and women under your command.

They are also examples of courage-courage under fire and courage in undertaking work that can have dangerous and, sometimes tragic outcomes.  But there is also the courage of one's own convictions and holding fast to values such as honesty and integrity when others might place a higher value on expediency or conformity.  Courage is not only about speaking up for what you believe, but also listening to what others have to say.  Courage is the quality upon which everything else rests. As the British Prime Minister of the last century, Sir Winston Churchill, once said: "Without courage, all virtues lose their meaning."

As Lieutenants or 2nd Lieutenants and as the two examples I have given amply illustrate, you will have to shoulder the burden of command.  You must not only gain the trust and respect of the men and women under your command, but also respect the chain of command and the wealth of experience and knowledge that your superiors bring to the decisions they have to make.

With your military careers as officers about to begin, many of you will be excited.  Some will also be apprehensive.  While both are valid emotions, always remember that as leaders, the pursuit of your goals should never be at the expense of the duty to serve.

I will close with a quote from a wonderful New Zealander, the late Sir Peter Blake, an award-winning yachtsman and environmentalist and a leader of singular vision. He said:  "Whatever the area, fulfilling one's potential requires worthwhile goals, ruthlessness in setting standards and the courage to avoid the soft options that constantly present themselves."  By graduating today as officers of the New Zealand Army or your respective forces, you have signalled a clear path to that end.  If you had taken softer options, none of you would be here today.

To the New Zealanders graduating today, as your Commander-in-Chief, I wish you all the best for your future career in the New Zealand Army.  To the graduates from Australia, Tonga and Malaysia, as Governor-General of New Zealand, I wish you all the best in your respective armies.

On that note of service, I would like to close in New Zealand's first language, Māori, by offering everyone greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.  No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.

To see more images from the ceremony, click here.

To view the New Zealand Army media release, click here.