𝐑𝐅𝐌𝐅 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩

A two days Senior Warrant Officer (WO) leadership workshop began at the WO and Sergeants Mess in Queen Elizabeth Barracks today (16th February 2023). The workshop is focused on creating an intensive educational experience and is aimed to enhance knowledge on leadership development and the roles and responsibilities of WOs in the RFMF.

New Zealand Defence Force Defence Attaché Commander (CDR) Sarah Bamfield while opening the workshop stated that she was honored to deliver the opening address and emphasized the important role of Warrant Officers in a Defence force.

“Your cohort is an extremely valuable asset within any military. You have the experience and you know. You have a lot to offer your COs (Commanding-Officers), OCs (Officer-Commanding), soldiers, and sailors . . . Providing the ground truth to your superior isn’t always easy, and sometimes you’ll strike those who simply don’t want to hear it,” CDR Bamfield said.

“Please remember that you are responsible for ensuring the commanders maintain situational awareness and that you are the voice for the junior NCO and senior NCO cohort that is viewed by command, what you say and what you don’t say, shapes the command . . . and you need to be clear on your role because your action or inaction in that regard will have an impact.”

Furthermore, CDR Bamfield also mentioned that their role also included understanding people and the need to identify weaknesses and areas of development. She said that combining these traits would empower soldiers and sailors to believe in themselves which will develop the institution as a whole.

CDR Bamfield urged the participants to use their time throughout the workshop to broaden their knowledge and extend their network to assist in achieving the strategic vision of the RFMF.