New Zealand Army Supply Technician
Supply Technician (Sup Tech) is the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment trade responsible for providing Supply & Quartermaster support to the New Zealand Army within New Zealand or overseas. History. The New Zealand Supply Technician Trade can trace its lineage to 30 October 1840 with the appointment of Henry Tucker as the First Colonial Storekeeper of the Colony of New Zealand. For the years leading to 1911 the provision of Supply and Quartermaster support to the New Zealand Forces would be provided by a combination of the Civil Branch of the New Zealand Defence Forces , the Defence Stores Department and Regimental Quartermasters appointed from within the ranks of the various New Zealand military units. As the Defence Forces of New Zealand transitioned to the Territorial Army system in the early twentieth century, a more modern and responsive supply and quartermaster system was required to ensure the ongoing care, maintenance and responsibility of military equipment. In November 1911 thirty young men were selected from across the various New Zealand Military Districts and undertook three weeks specialist Quartermaster Training at the Defence Stores Department in Wellington. Undergoing practical and theoretical instruction in the duties of the office  of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, the course provided instruction on; Examinations were held with records showing that at least 18 of the 30 candidates passed the exams successfully and were appointed as Regimental Quartermaster Sergeants in the New Zealand Permanent Staff under General Order 112/10. As the First World War came to a close it was found that the accounting, care, and custody of stores by New Zealand-based units had been unsatisfactory with Regimental Quartermaster Sergeants and their Staff not carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with New Zealand Military Forces Regulations. As an emergency measure Eleven NZAOC Staff Sergeants  were seconded to units to act as Quartermaster-Sergeants with units in an attempt to rectify the situation. This surge of NZAOC personnel was a success with further audits disclosing few if any deficiencies. To rectify the situation and prevent a re-occurrence, an amendment to Army regulations was published on 3 October 1918 to make the management of Quartermaster Sergeants a NZAOC responsibility. The financial constraints of the interwar years saw that the management of Quartermaster Sergeants as an NZAOC responsibility never followed through in its entirety and the Supply system of the New Zealand Army evolved into two  systems, one under the control of the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps providing 2nd to 4th line (Wholesale) support with Unit Quartermaster Stores providing 1st Line (retail) support. As a consequence of the 1993 re-balancing of the New Zealand Army, the RNZAOC Supplier trade and the All Arms Store-man trade we merged into one trade known as the Supply-Quartermaster Trade. The Supply-Quartermaster Trade was the re-branded as the Supply Technician Trade in October 2007. Trade description. Supply Technicians are tasked with ensuring that all of the supplies and services necessary for New Zealand Army operations  are available at the right place at the right time. The Supply Technician Trade is a multidisciplinary trade providing integral and close support to Army and Joint Force units with a variety of items such as food, fuel, vehicles, spare parts, stationery, clothing and field services. The principle responsibilities of New Zealand Army Supply Technicians are: New Zealand Army Supply Technicians can be found serving in all units of the New Zealand Army and Joint Forces in diverse international locations, including combat zones at forward operating bases in diverse locations such as East Timor, Iraq or Afghanistan. Training. New Zealand  Army Supply Technicians are primarily trained at the Supply Wing of Trade Training School at Trentham Camp. The Supply Wing conducts core and non core Supply Trade courses. Trade Badge. During 2009 a distinct Supply Technician badge was approved for wear by any Non-Commissioned Officer, Warrant Officer or Officer who had qualified on the Supply Technician Supply Management Course. The badge consist of a Taiaha and Brass key diagonally crossed, with the four stars of the Southern Cross between each point. Comparative trades in other New Zealand Armed Services. The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and Royal New Zealand  Air Force(RNZAF) Equivalent roles are; Comparative trades in other Armed Forces. The NZ Army Supply Technician trade is similar to the following trades in other Armed Forces;