Can serving people have Qualifying Operational Service? Flight Sergeant Wai-O-Rahiri Paenga, Missions Manager

Wai-O-Rahiri Paenga’s deployments have given her Qualifying Operational Service.

Wai deployed on Op KORU (TG MANU 3/4) in Timor Leste between October 2007 and March 2008, in charge of the ADF/RNZAF Fuel team. That team was made up of ADF petroleum operators, ground crew and RNZAF Aviation Refuellers refuelling ADF Blackhawk and RNZAF Iroquois helicopters.

She then deployed on Op ARIKI (TG CRIB 14) in Afghanistan from April to October 2009. There Wai was the sole refueller deployed to Bamiyan to manage the fuel farm and fuel Coalition aircraft.

If you are still serving, it’s worth checking to see if you have Qualifying Operational Service (QOS). It is related to the deployment/s that you have been on.

While you are still in service the NZDF will provide you with primary health care, wellbeing support, and injury cover under the NZDF Accredited Employer Partnership (AEP) programme, but when you leave NZDF you may be able to access support for service-related conditions from Veterans’ Affairs. You are eligible to receive an annual health assessment by your GP for the first three years. veteransaffairs.mil.nz/check

About Qualifying Service

Veterans’ Affairs can support ex-service personnel with Qualifying Routine Service or Qualifying Operational Service.

Those with Qualifying Routine Service (QRS) served in the NZ Armed Forces before 1 April 1974 – either in New Zealand or overseas. Qualifying Routine Service recognises that before 1 April 1974, service members were not covered for work-related injuries or illnesses. Because of this, we provide support to all those that served in the NZ Armed Forces during this time.

QRS stopped on 1 April 1974 with the introduction of ACC which supports all New Zealanders who suffer work-related injuries.

This coverage has more recently been provided by the NZDF Accredited Employer Partnership (AEP) programme.

Before and after 1 April 1974, service personnel who deployed on operations covered by a Ministerial Declaration of Qualifying Service, gained Qualifying Operational Service. Declarations made under the previous legislation now come under the Veterans’ Support Act 2014.

To make a declaration, the Minister for Veterans must be satisfied that the deployment poses a significant risk of harm. The Directorate of Strategic Commitments, NZDF, provides the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) with information with information about the likely risk posed to those deployed, and then the CDF briefs the Minister. Veterans’ Affairs doesn’t make that determination.