Major Amy Brosnan

“The strategy is really about improving the training we already provide. It’s not about starting something completely new. We have a well-established training infrastructure here and we want to build on it and make it even better.”

Major Amy Brosnan
Military Studies Institute Project Officer

Our literacy programmes have been developed to improve the reading, writing, maths and oral communication skills of all soldiers – regardless of where they’re at.

If a soldier needs a skills boost for promotion or to pass a trade qualification, then he or she can simply call in to the MSI and enrol in literacy training.

We’ve started with a basic entry-level programme called Communicating Effectively (Level 1).

It is a week-long programme of literacy, writing and oral communication lessons run by the MSI.

Trainees get one-on-one tutoring and work together in small groups. Lessons are based on real workplace scenarios such as developing a plan, coordinating a section and completing a specific Army task.

A mid-level programme, Communicating Effectively (Level 2), is in development, while the senior-level programme, Communicating Effectively (Level 3), has been up and running for around six months under the informal title of the Defence Paper Workshop.

The strategy is really about improving the training we already provide. It’s not about starting something completely new. We have a well-established training infrastructure here and we want to build on it and make it even better.

Sergeant Tina Grant

“ A lot of people join the Army because they’re keen on the practical side of things – but they’re not necessarily aware they need a strong basis in literacy and numeracy to be really good soldiers.”

Sergeant Tina Grant
Military Studies Institute Trainer

My job is to be the best teacher I can be for our people. I want every soldier who comes through our door to succeed in their education and training. I want them to use that training to be great soldiers and to progress in their careers.

I’m an experienced primary school teacher – so I know about good teaching. But I’ve dramatically improved what I’m doing in the classroom thanks to learning more about literacy and teaching adults.

My classes are much more interactive than they used to be and my lessons better reflect the learning needs of each individual in my class.

I can see the difference it is making. Our soldiers are more engaged learners. And, as a result, we’ve got more soldiers gaining new skills and moving up the career ladder.

We’re also starting to see a growing awareness about the link between strong literacy and numeracy skills and good-quality soldiering, as people spread the word about training.

A team of trainee medics, for example, recently completed the level 1 programme before enrolling in compulsory medical training at university.

They were anxious they didn’t have the foundation skills they needed to succeed at university. But they’d heard about the programme, went on to complete it with flying colours and now they’re all doing really well.

A lot of people join the Army because they’re keen on the practical side of things – but they are not so aware they need a strong basis in literacy and numeracy to be really good soldiers.

Sergeant Shelly Lilley

“The new literacy strategy will make sure soldiers are getting everything they can out of what they learn here and in their careers.”

Sergeant Shelly Lilley
Military Studies Institute Trainer

To me, literacy training is a no-brainer. The benefits are huge. Literacy training is like all education. It opens doors and removes barriers.

It helps people attain goals they think are outside their reach.

Workplace literacy training is a huge issue for our organisation – just like it is for armed forces all over the world.

That’s because the link between good reading, writing, maths and oral communication skills and top-quality soldiering is widely understood and accepted. The evidence backs it up.

The Army spends a lot of money training our people. The new literacy strategy will make sure it’s not a wasted investment. It will make sure soldiers are getting everything they can out of what they learn here and in their careers.

I would like all soldiers to see literacy training as one of several tools available to boost their careers. It makes sense when you think about it.

Soldiers need strong technical and maths skills to operate and maintain sophisticated machinery. Most of us live on a diet of fairly complex reading material such as manuals, policies, directives and operating procedures. All soldiers need a good foundation in literacy and numeracy to do our jobs well.

Lance Corporal Fiona So

“Every soldier needs strong oral communication skills to give orders and teach and lead others in their sections.”

Lance Corporal Fiona So
Military Studies Institute Trainee

Getting started

I joined the Army in 2007 because I wanted to do something a bit different, something a bit challenging. I certainly didn’t want a desk job. Before that I’d taken marine biology at Auckland University and worked in marketing.

I speak English as a second language and enrolled in literacy training to improve my oral communication skills and move rank from junior non-commissioned officer to lance corporal.

My story

I grew up in Hong Kong and have lived in New Zealand – off and on – since I was 10.

In New Zealand, I feel like a foreigner, with a strong Chinese accent. In Hong Kong people ask me if I’m Australian – it’s funny.

I didn’t know any English when I first arrived and there were no other Chinese students at my school on Auckland’s North Shore. It was 1993 and there weren’t many immigrants at all.

Looking back, I can specifically remember learning certain words. I remember the teacher saying: ‘Swap seats with so-and-so.’ I didn’t have a clue what he was on about until he said: ‘Exchange seats,’ and then I clicked.

I don’t think I learnt anything in those first 6 months at school – apart from English that is. By third form I’d begun to pass a few subjects, Japanese and maths. By fourth form I was a straight A student. The following year I got an A for School C English.

Impact of training

So I came to the Army with strong reading, writing and maths skills thanks to a good-quality, Kiwi high school and university education – I just needed plenty of practice speaking and presenting in English.

Every soldier needs strong oral communication skills to give orders and teach and lead others in their sections.

Literacy training was great for me. It broke everything down to its simplest components, gave me the chance to practise and built my confidence in a safe environment.

Staff Sergeant Henry Johnson

"It’s no good standing back and thinking you can’t really be bothered because it’s not that hard and it’s really nothing to be afraid of."

Staff Sergeant Henry Johnson
Ngāti Raukawa

Getting started

I did the Defence Paper Workshop level 3 for soldiers keen to move into the more senior warrant officer role.

I’d been toying with the idea of getting my service paper for a while. I knew I wouldn’t be promoted without it. But I’d hit a brick wall. That’s why I went to the MSI.

But on the course I worked alongside other people doing service papers. We bounced around ideas, set goals and generally kept one another on track.

The tutors were great. They helped me build my confidence and take ownership of my learning. From there, they worked with me on the basics of writing an academic-style essay – from structuring my ideas, expressing them in paragraphs and making a relevant and logical argument.

I learned a lot about systematically thinking through an issue based on the evidence and data in front of me.

The aim with all service papers is to write them well enough so a lay reader (with no background knowledge) can pick them up, read them and understand what you’re on about.

I looked at whether or not the New Zealand Army needs to conform to the country’s vehicle licence and road user charge legislation.

The New Zealand Army has an operational fleet of vehicles that we use here and overseas. At the moment, all diesel and heavy vehicles on New Zealand roads, which includes our fleet, must pay road user charges and have an up-to-date registration plate and licence.

I looked at the costs of our policy and compared it to that of other nations, eg, Australia and the United Kingdom, where military vehicles are exempt from the national policy on road user charges.

I looked at the cost-benefit of each system and the impact of redirecting the money spent on the New Zealand military’s road user charges, registration and licensing into other parts of the defence forces.

I looked at the issue from a safety perspective too to see what, if anything, would be compromised if we changed to a system more like that in Australia or the UK.

I started with the question, then I researched the question from all angles – staying neutral was the hardest part. But that’s an important part of the process and that’s what you need to do to be critical in your thinking.

Then you have to put it all on paper, backed up by the relevant statistics, and finish with a recommendation.

My story

I left school at 16 to join the Army. I left with two School Certificate subjects. I started with the Army as a driver, within the transport unit, and I’ve been there ever since.

You start as a driver and go on to become a driving instructor, workplace assessor and testing officer – all civilian qualifications.

I’ve gone through all of that and now I manage and supervise teams of people and advise on military and civilian transport policy.

Impact of training

I’ve learned a lot about thinking an issue through systematically based on the evidence and data in front of you – rather than coming at an issue with the answer already in mind.

I learned how to weigh up different issues and prove and justify a decision, while looking at any impact that decision is going to have on something else. I learned a lot about the possible impact of changing our policy through the research and analysis process.

If I pass the paper, I will be promoted to the rank of warrant officer (class one). It’s the equivalent of stepping up into a managerial role (within a company) and taking on responsibility for 150-odd people. It’ll mean I’ve joined the strategic level of our organisation.

The team at the MSI will give you the initial focus you need. Then they’ll help keep you on track through setting goals and so on. They’ll help you develop your confidence and take ownership of your learning.

They definitely gave me the kickstart I needed – from the first introductory lesson on day one. It’s no good standing back and thinking you can’t really be bothered because it’s not that hard and it’s really nothing to be afraid of. In fact, it can only make you stronger.