Army drinking culture is under attack

Driving and alcohol-related crimes accounted for most of the offences committed by Defence Force members from the Linton and Ohakea military bases.

Documents obtained by the Manawatu Standard under the Official Information Act revealed 47 Linton Army Camp soldiers and five Ohakea Air Force Base members appeared before the courts last year.

The Linton-based soldiers faced charges of excess breath alcohol, dangerous driving, sustained loss of traction, common assault, careless driving, threatening language, obstruction, speeding, domestic violence, disorderly behaviour, fighting, wilful damage, male assaults female and breaching the liquor ban.

Linton Army Camp commander Colonel Tim Keating said efforts had been made to tackle the culture of drinking at Linton.

"Alcohol is always an area of concern and I think that's an example of not trying to throw away the problems of society.

"We've done a lot to de-emphasise alcohol, but some young people make the decision to get behind the wheel."

Facilities at Linton, like the gym and pool, were now opened later to stop the army bar being the only source of late-night entertainment at the camp, he said.

"We are breaking out of a past where there was a major drinking culture and realising that maybe we were part of the problem."

There were 87 Defence Force members discharged from service throughout the country last year.

Thirty-nine of those were kicked out of the Linton Army Camp for reasons including, excess breath alcohol, drugs, theft, violence, military discipline and civil convictions.

Leadership programmes encouraging soldiers to look out for each other had seen the overall standard of behaviour improve at Linton, Col Keating said.

"You should expect an exceptionally high level of behaviour from people in the military.

"There will be a percentage of people that don't want to abide like the rest."

Most of the 39 discharged soldiers were in their early years of service, he said.

"Some people get through basic and have found themselves out very soon. We can't afford bad eggs at the front end of our business."

Just two Air Force members were discharged nationwide; one from Ohakea, for medical reasons, and the other from Auckland, for undesirable conduct.

Four Ohakea Air Force members appeared in court on excess blood alcohol charges, while one faced an assault charge

Ohakea Air Force Base wing commander Tim Walshe said the issue of discipline was taken very seriously in the Air Force.

"Discipline is one of the central core values of our culture in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and clearly across the New Zealand Defence Force. Discipline is the central foundation of the military. Without discipline, it wouldn't exist."

The Air Force sent senior officers to accompany any members facing court charges, he said. "We are citizens of New Zealand and have to face the full effect of the law, as any other citizen does."

SYSTEM TO BE CHANGED

The biggest change to New Zealand military justice in 25 years will take place in July, when the Navy, Army and Air Force align under a single internal disciplinary system.

The new system will give all Defence Force members the right to appeal summary findings and punishments, give pleas to charges and be defended by senior officers.

The Navy had used a different system to the Army and Air Force, but this will change when the new law comes in on July 1.

Another key change will see the temporary court martial system replaced by the independent and permanent Court Martial of New Zealand.

Two new negligence offences will be introduced.

- © Fairfax NZ News