Psychology in the New Zealand Army

Background

History

Applications of psychology to the military environment date back to work done in the area of selection in the 1920s. In the New Zealand Army, the use of psychology can be traced back to the 1940s, when a need was realised for effective personnel selection and advice on training. The application of psychology grew during the following 20 years under the auspices of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and each of the armed forces.

Army Psychology Service

The New Zealand Army currently employs eight Psychologists who provide a range of services and advice, mainly in the Occupational Psychology area, to the New Zealand Army.

Currently, there are Army Psychologists in the following positions and locations:

Senior Psychologist (Army). Located in Army General Staff, Wellington, the Senior Army Psychologist is responsible for the direction of the Army Psychology Service.

Psychologist, Land Command. Located in Land Command, Trentham, Wellington, the Land Command Psychologist is responsible for the running and maintenance of Army selection boards and the coordination of psychologist support to personnel who deploy on peacekeeping activities.

Field Psychologist Northern. Located in Auckland, Field Psychologist Northern is responsible for the provision of psychological services and advice to the Northern Army region (from Taupo north).

Field Psychologist Central. Located at Linton Camp, near Palmerston North, Field Psychologist Central is responsible for the provision of psychological services and advice to the Central Army region (bottom half of the North Island).

Field Psychologist Southern. Located at Burnham Camp, near Christchurch, Field Psychologist Southern is responsible for providing psychological services to the Southern Army region (South Island).

Training and Development Psychologist. Located in Waiouru, the Training and Development Psychologist is responsible for providing advice to the Army Training Group in addition to specialist input into Training Development.

Field Psychologist Army Training Group. Located in Waiouru, Field Psychologist Army Training Group provides psychological services to the Waiouru area and conducts research into directed areas.

Army Psychologists must be prepared to serve in any of the above locations. Travel between locations occurs on a regular basis.

Psychologists in the Army are commissioned as Army Officers and are expected to shoulder the responsibilities of this role. They wear a uniform and work closely with other members of the service at all levels. This can involve a variety of non-professional duties, appointments and opportunities that psychologists in other areas would not experience.

Army Psychologists are required to work on activities around New Zealand and, occasionally, overseas. Army Psychologists are also able to attend conferences and courses in areas relevant to Army Psychology Service activities.

Role and Function

Psychologists in the New Zealand Army provide psychological services and research at all levels of the organisation. Most facets of occupational/organisational psychology are encompassed in the work, and as such the Army Psychology Service offers an unparalleled opportunity for graduates to gain experience in a professional and 'user friendly' environment. It also offers the opportunity for varied, challenging and dynamic work in a unique environment.

Psychologists provide a number of skills in both "fieldwork" and research. The following list of functions gives an indication of the variety of work inherent in the Army Psychologist role.

Personnel Selection - Army Psychologists are responsible for the coordination of procedures and/or provision of advice in the selection of:

- Regular Force and Territorial Force Officers

- New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS)

- Intelligence Operators

- Physical Training Instructors

- Military Police

- Recruiting Staff

- Ammunition Technical Officers/Ammunition Technicians

- Army Adventurous Training Centre (AATC) Instructors

Design and Validation of Selection Procedures

- Test norm development

- Development of selection measures

- Validation of tests

- Design of selection boards and systems

Support to Peacekeeping Deployments

- Conducting pre-deployment training for personnel deploying on peacekeeping missions and their partners

- Conducting post-deployment debriefs (sometimes overseas) for service personnel

- Conducting follow-up debriefs for service personnel and their partners

- Liaising with mental health professionals outside the Army

Counselling and Debriefing

- Vocational counselling

- General counselling

- Stress management

- Debriefing after "critical incidents"

- Referring to other mental health professionals outside the Army

Personnel and Psychological Research

- Validation of selection methods and test material

- Attitude Surveys

- Development of selection measures

- Manpower/retention/turnover studies

- Motivation studies

- Development of Performance Appraisal systems

- Psychological effects of peacekeeping service

- Participation in Commonwealth and overseas collaborative research programmes

- Provision of research facilities for university students

- Liaison with foreign military psychology units

Personnel Management Advice

- Performance Appraisal

- Personnel policy

- Selection

- Leadership

Assessment

- Performance difficulties

- Referrals for a variety of reasons

- Assessment of ability

Training and Training Development

- Leadership

1. Within the Army at various levels employing practical and theoretical frameworks.

2. Outside the Army providing expertise and resources to civilian firms, youth organisations, schools and community service clubs.

- Interviewing and counselling

- Recruiter training

- Assertiveness skills

- Stress Management

- Team Building workshops

- Combat Stress recognition and treatment

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This page last updated 17/01/2001, by Web Services New Zealand.