Defence Force workers find out fate today

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Hundreds of Defence Forces staff will learn today whether they still have jobs.

The cuts are the first of a series intended to remove 1000 uniformed personnel and replace them with 500 civilian staff.

The Defence Force will advertise 324 civilian positions now held by 512 staff from tomorrow, Radio New Zealand reported today.

An email detailing the first round of cuts will be sent out today.

A similar exercise is expected later in the year - resulting in almost 400 job cuts in total.

Returned and Services Association national president Don McIvor told Radio New Zealand he did not want the capability of the armed forces to be compromised and the RSA would be watching closely.

- NZPA