New Zealand Intelligence Corps
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The New Zealand Intelligence Corps (NZIC) analyses information from a variety of sources and provides commanders with intelligence on such things as enemy locations, capabilities and intentions. The NZIC is one of the smallest corps in the New Zealand Army. It has both regular and territorial members. The corps school is known as the School of Military Intelligence and Security and is located in Waiouru army camp.
The corps has followed British Intelligence corps tradition in the selection of dress embellishments. The corps motto is "forewarned is forearmed".
Soldiers for the Intelligence corps are mainly drawn from the two regular force battalions, 1 RNZIR and 2/1 RNZIR. Where they often spend some time in the Intelligence sections there. Once trained and with some experience behind them, the new members of the corps can find a number of positions within the army mainly in the different headquarters. The largest dedicated intelligence unit within the intelligence corp is the 1 (NZ) Military Intelligence Company (formerly the Force Intelligence Group) which is based in the Trentham Military Camp.
The corps association is known as Sub Rosa and has a mix of both current and retired members that have served within intelligence positions.
[edit] History
1907 A report to the House of Representatives indicate that Volunteer Intelligence Officers were responsible for collecting data for mobilization purposes and updating maps. This activity is consistent with what the British intelligence organization was undertaking at the time.
1909 Defence Act. Director of Military Operations and Intelligence created in the Army Staff.
1917 Intelligence Officer post created in the NZ Division in the Middle East. It is also believed that New Zealand personnel were involved in Field Security during the First World War.
1940 2 New Zealand Division Intelligence Section, NZ Intelligence Corps formed as part of the 1st Echelon NZ Expeditionary Forces. This Section consisted of two officers and 10 other ranks. During the Second World War the intelligence function was expanded to meet the requirements of 2 (NZ) Div and later 3 (NZ) Div. The following is a summary of the sections raised:
1942 The NZIC was officially formed as a TF unit in NZ 1 Jan 1942. Each Military District was requested to provide a suggested design for a badge for the NZIC. The Southern Military District design was adopted and is the basis of the present NZIC badge. The badge was made in brass and bronze. In line with the practice at the time the bronze badge would have been for officers and the brass badge for other ranks (ORs).
The Army was reorganised in 1947 and it is thought that the NZIC was not included in the new Order of Battle (ORBAT).
The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the New Zealand Regiment had Intelligence Section and these served in Malaya and Borneo. These Intelligence Section became the Intelligence Section for 1 RNZIR and 2/1 RNZIR on their formation in 1964. The 1964 Army reorganisation also saw the formation of the 1 Infantry Brigade Intelligence Platoon at Papakura. The Intelligence Platoon was a multi-intelligence discipline organisation with intelligence operators, Photo Interpreters (PI), linguists and interrogators. The Platoon was under the command of the SO3 Intelligence on HQ 1 Infantry Brigade – Capt “Buster” Hornbrook. 2 Counter Intelligence (CI) Platoon was formed the Platoon Commander, Capt Bruce Jamieson in the post of GSO2 SD at Headquarters Home Command. The CI Platoon was established as part of the Logistics Support Group (LSG). Both the 1 Infantry Brigade Group Intelligence Platoon and 2 CI Platoon were never fully manned by permanent staff rather they operated on the loan back system. The Platoons therefore, only came together for Annual Camps and some training. The major draw back to the system was that personnel posted to both organizations were spread throughout the Army and in many cases had no intelligence training.
1 Infantry Brigade Group Intelligence Platoon and 2 Counter Intelligence (CI) Platoon were also responsible for conducting intelligence course for combat intelligence and CI at all levels.
1959 The concept of intelligence platoons was taken from the British who formed Intelligence Platoons with each of their brigades in 1959, with this system lasting to 1966 when it was replaced with Intelligence and Security Companies. NZ personnel served with the 28 Commonwealth and then the ANZUK Bde Intelligence and Security Company in Singapore.
1975 The New Zealand Army Intelligence Centre was formed at Papakura on 24 Mar 1975 under the command of Major Kim Hoskin. Maj Hoskin had long argued the draw backs of the old intelligence platoon system. In 1973 an intelligence committee, headed by Maj. A.L Birks, was set up to look at the development of Army intelligence. This Committee recommended the formation of the Intelligence Centre but stopped short of endorsing the formation of an Intelligence Corps. The Intelligence Centre had a small, Regular Force (RF) staff, that were responsible for conducting intelligence courses and providing intelligence support to HQ NZLF for major Command Post Exercises (CPX) and Field Training Exercises (FTXs). Between 1978 and 1986 the Officers Commanding the Intelligence Centre argued for the formation of multi discipline Intelligence Unit based on a Division Intelligence Company to support the NZLF. In 1983 the Intelligence Centre establishment was increased to allow for an extra 12 Territorial Force (TF) to provide for extra intelligence staff for HQ NZLF. The idea of a Divisional Intelligence Company was resisted.
Maj Kim Hoskin requested permission from the British Director Military Intelligence (DMI) at Ashford during a course in 1975 for NZ intelligence personnel to wear the British Intelligence Corps stable belt. This request was approved and agreed to by the Chief of General Staff.
1987, The ANZUS Rift in 1985 created a unique opportunity for the Army intelligence community. Maj Graham Beddie, Officer Commanding (OC) the Intelligence Centre was directed to raise a proposal to form a rounded intelligence unit to support the Ready Reaction Force (RRF) and IEF. This proposal resulted in the reorganisation of the Intelligence Centre into a Training and Support Wing (Intelligence School) and the Force Intelligence Group. This reorganisation also created the post of Director Military Intelligence (DMI) and Officer Commanding Intelligence Centre was accredited to AGS as a Corps Director.
The NZ Intelligence Corps was formed on 15 March 1987. Major Beddie was then directed to conduct an Intelligence Review with the aim of recommending a new organisation for the NZ Army intelligence community. Maj Beddie was not able to complete this review and it was completed by Major Kevin Arlidge in March 1989. This Review was accepted as the way ahead for the NZ Intelligence Corps by the APCC in 1990. The Force Intelligence Group (ForInt) and School of Military Intelligence and Security (SMIS) were established as recommended on 14 November 1990. In January 1992 SMIS moved to Waiouru on the direction of Army General Staff.
In April 1992 the Force Intelligence Group moved from Papakura Camp to HQ Land Force (LF) Command, then located in Byron Avenue, Takapuna, as part of the relocation of units from Papakura as part of the closure of Papakura Camp. The Force Intelligence Group moved again, in early 1998, on the closure of Land Force Command to Trentham Military Camp
The British Intelligence Corps Insignia were worn by the NZIC from March 1991 till NZIC badges were issued in 1994. This arrangement was agreed to by the Colonel Commandants of both corps and CGS Maj Gen B. Meldrum. The design of the present badge was taken from the 1942 NZIC cap badge.
Another Review of Army Intelligence was completed in 1992 which did little to change the organisation of the NZIC or its capabilities.
