Major Cate Linton: Coming full circle at the LSV Company

1 August 2007
By Sarah Chandler

When Cate Linton arrived at the Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) Company in 1989 as a diffident 17 year old, she didn’t imagine that 18 years later she’d be a Major in the army, let alone the Officer Commanding of the entire Company.

Major Linton says she applied to participate in the LSV course as a teenager, because, with only school-certificate typing under her belt, she felt she “hadn’t done very much very well”.

Cate was surprised to find she excelled as a trainee at the (then twenty week long) LSV scheme, being physically capable, thriving on the various challenges and bonding well with her peers.

 “I just seemed to fit in and adjusted well to the discipline and training” she says.

Major Linton viewed those twenty weeks at the Burnham-based course as an opportunity for change, rather than as a punishment - and that remains an attitude which is encouraged within trainees today.

Although the LSV scheme has never been an army recruiting tool per se, the experience left Major Linton keen to join the army at 18, and provided good grounding for Basic Training:

“After the LSV scheme I found that Basic Training was easier than I'd expected but I think this was because I'd already been indoctrinated into the culture and systems; Basic was really then an extension of what was covered while on the LSV course and introduced the soldiering aspects'.

The LSV Scheme, in its current form, has been running since 1993. Five intakes of about 100 trainees descend on the camp each year. They are required to wear military uniform and operate within the structure of Section, Platoon and Company. Trainees are subject to tight behavioural boundaries and are subject to military law throughout the six week residential course.

Since Major Linton succeeded Major Ian ‘Latts’ Lattimore as Officer Commanding (OC) of the LSV Company in December last year, she’s made very few changes to the scheme. Some aspects of the course have been “tweaked” but she says she’s wanted to “sit on it for six months” to observe how the status quo was working

“The course is extremely effective as it is”, she says, “evidenced by the transformation of trainee attitudes and motivation throughout that six week period'.  

Statistical information provided by Work and Income also supports that, on average, 70% of trainees, move from the unemployment benefit into either full-time work or trade training courses, within two months of completing the course.

Major Linton has a Bachelor’s degree in Education and has worked for three years as the Detachment Commander at the Military Studies Institute.

Her passion for education may be why developing and nurturing the units 26 tri-Service staff is so important to her.  One of her goals as OC has been to ensure that there are professional development plans for the LSV Coy staff.  

“The staff at this unit do a tremendous job and this shows in how quickly they earn the respect of the trainees and in the results they achieve.  While here they wear many hats: disciplinarian, mentor, and instructor. They are looked upon by trainees as positive role models. It’s important that the staff have support within the unit and that their personal and professional goals can be actively pursued and achieved".

Instructors operate on a “firm but fair” basis with trainees. Repeated insubordination is not tolerated nor is fraternisation between trainees. Because the focus of the course is on developing individuals and team work, relationships forming effectively undermines what the trainers are trying to achieve. Major Linton says that it’s a fair rule “They’re only here six weeks and we’re not running a dating agency!”

The LSV Company seeks to teach the trainees valuable ‘life skills’, and lessons are held on personal presentation, budgeting, dealing with drugs and alcohol, anger management, time management and goal setting. Outdoor activities like abseiling, white water rafting and the FTX 3 (a 50 km tramp) compliment classroom-based tuition.

Major Linton observes that young men particularly tend to take very well to the course, perhaps because they respond well to environments where there are clear boundaries and rules.

Changes in trainees’ attitudes over the course is striking. Trainees often arrive at the camp with histories of abuse and/or drug and alcohol problems and many have not had positive role models in their lives.

Most leave Burnham with a real sense of self esteem and achievement. “The rewards come from seeing the trainees bond, and from seeing their confidence and hope for the further grow.  It’s a pretty awesome experience to witness”, says Major Linton.

Major Linton has faith in the trainees and in the Case Managers at Work and Income to keep the momentum going. “In six weeks we can provide the tools for change in an individual- but ultimately the onus is on that individual to move forward for his or herself”.

Background

The Limited Service Volunteer scheme is a combined Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and NZDF initiative. MSD provides the operating costs while the NZDF delivers expertise and the training personnel. To be eligible for admission to the programme a trainee must be aged between 17-26 and registered with Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ). The stated mission of the LSV is “to increase numbers of young New Zealanders entering employment or further training”. For further information about the scheme please contact Mr Peter Te Paa, National Co-ordinator LSV, Work and Income New Zealand, on 029 2463574.

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