New Zealand Intelligence Corps


The New Zealand Intelligence Corps analyses information from a variety of sources and provides commanders with intelligence on such things as enemy locations, capabilities and intentions. Corps personnel also provide advice on Field Security on operations.
The NZIC is one of the smallest corps in the New Zealand Army. It was formed in 1942, apparently disbanded in 1947, and reformed in 1985. It has both regular and territorial members.
The NZIC school is known as the School of Military Intelligence and Security currently located in Palmerston North.
The NZIC has followed the British Army Intelligence Corps tradition in the selection of dress embellishments. The NZIC motto is "Forewarned is Forearmed".
Up until approximately 2008, soldiers 'corps changed' into the New Zealand Intelligence Corps mainly from the two regular battalions, 1 RNZIR and 2/1 RNZIR, where they had often had previously served in the battalions' intelligence sections. In mid-2008 the NZIC started to accept Direct Entrants straight from civilian street, via basic training.
Once trained, the new members of the NZIC can find a number of positions within the New Zealand Army, mainly in the disparate headquarters. The largest dedicated sub-unit within the NZIC is 1 Military Intelligence Company which is currently based in 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.

History

The Army was reorganised in 1947 and it is thought that the NZIC was not included in the new Order of Battle.
The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the New Zealand Regiment had Intelligence Sections and these served in Malaya and Borneo. These Intelligence Sections then became the Intelligence Sections 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, linguists and interrogators. The Platoon was under the command of the SO3 Intelligence on HQ 1 Infantry Brigade – Capt “Buster” Hornbrook. 2 Counter Intelligence 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. 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 organisations were spread throughout the Army and in many cases had no intelligence training.
1 Infantry Brigade Group Intelligence Platoon and 2 Counter Intelligence Platoon were also responsible for conducting intelligence courses for combat intelligence and CI at all levels.
A regimental dinner, known as the 'Red Tie Dinner', is held annually to celebrate to formation of the NZIC, usually on the weekend closest to the 'Ides of March'.

Insignia and uniforms

The NZIC cap badge adopted in 1994 consists of bronze fern crossed leaves under the Queen's Crown, with "New Zealand" and "Intelligence Corps" appearing on two separate scrolls. A green/red/French grey stable belt is authorized for certain orders of dress. Officers formerly wore a mess uniform of scarlet jacket and blue/black trousers which included French grey facings, waistcoat and trouser stripes. This has however been phased out in favor of a universal pattern army mess dress with only the distinctive NZIC collar badges retained.