Editing New Zealand Defence Force (section)

==Limited Service Volunteer programme==
Since 1993, the New Zealand Defence Force has run a six-week residential training course called the '''Limited Service Volunteer''' (LSV) programme in partnership with the [[Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand)|Ministry of Social Development]] (MSD) and [[New Zealand Police]]. The programme focuses on life skills, health and fitness, workforce skills development and financial management.<ref>{{cite web |title=Limited Service Volunteer course |url=https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/work/get-ready-to-work/training-study-and-qualifications/limited-service-volunteer/index.html |website=Work and Income |publisher=[[Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand)|Ministry of Social Development]] |access-date=12 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241114003139/https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/work/get-ready-to-work/training-study-and-qualifications/limited-service-volunteer/index.html |archive-date=14 November 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MSD 2015 evaluation report">{{cite web |title=Effectiveness of the Limited Service Volunteer programme in 2014/15 – Evaluation report |url=https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/evaluation/lsv-effectiveness/index.html |publisher=[[Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand)|Ministry of Social Development]] |access-date=12 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241118232745/https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/evaluation/lsv-effectiveness/index.html |archive-date=18 November 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, an MSD evaluation report found that the LSV course improved participants' workforce participation, income, higher educational participation, and reduced incarceration rates.<ref name="MSD 2015 evaluation report" /> 

In June 2019, the Government established a new NZ$11 million facility at [[Whenuapai Airbase]] in Auckland to support plans to raise the cohort of LSV trainees to 1,600 in 2020. Wing Commander Tua Atkinson estimated that 80% of LSV participants completed the course.<ref>{{cite news |title=Limited Service Volunteer programme: Boot camps for young people set to double in size |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/394649/limited-service-volunteer-programme-boot-camps-for-young-people-set-to-double-in-size |access-date=12 January 2025 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=18 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216094841/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/394649/limited-service-volunteer-programme-boot-camps-for-young-people-set-to-double-in-size |archive-date=16 December 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In late June 2024, an NZDF briefing paper reported an increase in behavioural issues among LSV participants, physical assaults on staff and decreased morale, well-being and retention among NZDF staff involved in the LSV course.<ref>{{cite news |title=NZDF documents reveal serious concerns about youth offender boot camps |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/06/30/nzdf-documents-reveal-serious-concerns-about-youth-offender-boot-camps/ |access-date=12 January 2025 |work=[[1News]] |date=30 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926051330/https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/06/30/nzdf-documents-reveal-serious-concerns-about-youth-offender-boot-camps/ |archive-date=26 September 2024}}</ref> The briefing paper estimated that 60% of youths participating in the LSV course in 2022–2023 had complex needs. It also reported that NZDF staff were overwhelmed by participants' behavioural problems, with at least ten personnel experiencing serious mental harm including suicide ideation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCulloch |first1=Craig |title=Defence staff suffer 'serious mental harm' from running course cited as boot camp blueprint |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/520918/defence-staff-suffer-serious-mental-harm-from-running-course-cited-as-boot-camp-blueprint |access-date=12 January 2025 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=1 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216224844/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/520918/defence-staff-suffer-serious-mental-harm-from-running-course-cited-as-boot-camp-blueprint |archive-date=16 December 2024}}</ref>