By NICK LEE-FRAMPTON
WELLINGTON — Uniformed members of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) have grown to 9,035 sailors, soldiers and airmen and women, up from 8,504 in June 2013, according to an NZDF annual report. The Defence Force currently has 14,116 military and civilian staff, its highest staffing levels since 2011.
Attrition is toppling, particularly in the Navy, where attrition has fallen from almost 16 percent in June 2013 to less than 8 percent today. This is the lowest attrition rate in the Navy’s modern history, according to the report.
Nevertheless, a continuing shortage of experienced personnel in key areas meant the Navy’s two offshore patrol vessels were prioritized over the four inshore patrol vessels in terms of crewing.
Read the full story at DefenseNews