Army News - Issue 472 PDF, 3.91MB

Transcription

armynews
courage
|
CO m m i t m e n t
w w w . a r m y. m i l . n z
Kiwi gold at Invictus Games
Nine medals in total for NZDF team
Anzac Day commemorations
We Will Remember Them
Third rotation of trainers leaves for Iraq
Helping soldiers sharpen skills
|
comradeship
|
integrity
I s s u e47 2 | M ay 2 0 1 6
NZarmy SMA.Net
news
M ay
2016
ISSUE 472
Contents
NEWS
Third Iraq contingent departs
Invictus gold
02
03
PEOPLE
Anzac Day commemorations
throughout the world
05
Scottish Colours
laid up in Otago
11
Meet your recruiting
ambassadors
12
Helping the Christchurch
community
18
TRAINING
Delta Company takes
honours in 2/1 SAA
Training to command
Land equipment safety
13
16
20
SPORT
Cycling
Training for an Ultra Triathlon
Relay for Life at Linton
27
26
28
The Army News is published for the
Regular and Territorial Force and
civilian staff of the New Zealand Army.
Editor: Judith Martin
Phone: 04-496-0227 or
DTelN: 349-7227
Fax: 04-496-0290
email: armynews@nzdf.mil.nz
Website: www.army.mil.nz
Printing: Bluestar, Petone.
Design: Vanessa Edridge,
DPA, NZDF
Editorial contributions and
letters are welcomed.
They may be sent directly to the Army News
and do not need to be forwarded through
normal command channels. Submit them to
The Editor, Army News, DPA, HQ NZDf,
Private Bag 39997, Wellington, or by email.
Deadline instructions: Army News is
published on the third Tuesday of each
month, except January. Please have all
contributions to the editor by
the first of the month.
Nothing in the Army News should be taken
as overriding any New Zealand Defence
Force regulation. Readers should refer to the
relevant service publication before acting
on any information given in this newspaper.
ISSN 1170-4411
All material is copyright, and permission to
reproduce must be sought from the editor.
COVER: Catafalque Guard members
at Queen’s Gardens, Dunedin, on
Anzac Day, Staff Sergeant Daniel
Bristow (foreground) and Lance
Corporal Lundon Williamson. Photo:
Petty Officer Chris Weissenborn.
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/officialNZArmy
By the time this edition goes to print we would have conducted our first NCO
Symposium as a platform ‘by NCOs, for NCOs’ to look at training. The theme
of ‘Prepare the Force’ was based on the premise that we, as NCOs, are the
primary trainers of an army.
Training can take many forms but at its simplest level an NCO will seize
an opportunity to train their personnel on the ground given allocated
equipment and resources. It doesn’t take big money, large stores lists or
lots of time. These opportunities present themselves everyday. Training
can range from an NCO calling in their people to highlight an issue and offer
corrective measures or revise the correct procedures. On another level an
NCO will plan and conduct BHLs within the confines of or close proximity to
camp. These training events are imaginative, targeted and measurable.
Our professional mastery as instructors is greatly enhanced through
tours of duty with formal training establishments within TAD, ACS and
LOTC. It is here that we practise our instructing craft on a range of topics.
We glean other knowledge and skills from our peers who come from a
range of cap badges and environments. The skills of coaching, revising
and fault checking are constantly required along with encouragement
and recognition.
Commanders have a big part to play in the development of the NCO
instructor and the conduct of training. Facilitating and encouraging Corps
NCOs to be released to training posts is critical to their development. In
units commanders need to create the environment which allows our NCOs
to get out and train their people. Encourage their initiative; by all means
coach and check, but above all trust them to do their job so that we can
concentrate on ours. We trust them on operations – let’s give them the
responsibility at home. Given the opportunity very few will let us down.
Sergeant Major of the Army,
WO1 Titch Mortiboy
I can think of no greater responsibility that we, as NCOs, have than to train
our people as professional leaders and warriors. We need to acquire the
instructional foundation skills and constantly practise them. We need to
keep thinking of innovative ways to train, educate and develop our people.
Challenging, realistic and constant training leads to adaptive and agile
soldiers with the fortitude to withstand the pressures of complexity, chaos
and climate. We owe it to our soldiers to be as best prepared as we can get
them. Train hard, train right, train often.
Nga Mihi – Good Soldiering.
Third Iraq
contingent
depart NZ
The third rotation of personnel to
Iraq departed Christchurch in April
for a mission readiness exercise
in Australia.
Minister of Defence, Gerry Brownlee, and Commander Joint Forces
New Zealand, Major General Tim Gall, were there to farewell the
contingent of just over 100 NZDF personnel who will deploy to Iraq
from Australia for the Building Partner Capacity training mission.
During the three-week exercise in Adelaide, Australian Defence
Force (ADF) and NZDF personnel will integrate into the single task
group that will train the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF).
The exercise will include a series of scenarios designed to ensure
the task group trainers are ready for the tasks and environment they
will face in Iraq.
Those travelling to the exercise include trainers, health, logistics
and force protection personnel, as well as headquarters staff.
“The mission readiness exercise has proved invaluable for the past
two rotations, as it enabled the task groups to integrate and build key
relationships. This meant they could hit the ground running when they
got to Taji,” said MAJGEN Gall.
Now in its 11th month of operations, Task Group Taji, the combined
Australian and New Zealand task force, is achieving good progress
and is having a tangible and positive impact on the ability of the ISF to
combat ISIL.
“Over 4000 Iraqi soldiers have completed unit-level and individual
specialty courses conducted by Task Group Taji since late-April 2015.
We expect more ISF members will be trained in coming months,
showing the Iraqi Government’s regard for the value of the training
programme and the enhanced capabilities of their trained forces,”
said MAJGEN Gall.
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee, and Leader of the Opposition,
Andrew Little, accompanied buy the Chief of the Defence Force,
Lieutenant General Tim Keating meet the troops in Iraq.
THE NZDF
COMMEMORATES THE 75TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE
BATTLE OF CRETE
Twenty-one members of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) are
representing New Zealand in multiple ceremonies commemorating
the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete.
Regular, Reserve and civilian personnel are playing key roles in
commemorations over five days.
“New Zealanders made a critical contribution to the Battle of
Crete, and we are remembering those who fought and died there
in service to their country,” says the Chief of Army, Major General
Peter Kelly.
“We are remembering other Commonwealth forces, Greek forces
and the Cretan people who fought valiantly during the conflict and
endured so much after the battle,” he said.
The Battle of Crete began on 20 May 1941, when German
paratroopers landed on the island, and continued for 12 days.
More than 7,700 New Zealanders served in the Battle of Crete;
671 died, 967 were wounded and more than 2,180 were taken as
prisoners of war. More than 340 New Zealanders are buried in Suda
Bay War Cemetery while others are buried as unknown soldiers.
Two Victoria Crosses
were won by New
Zealanders on Crete,
by Sergeant Alfred
Hulme, 23 Battalion,
and the first of two
won by Captain
Charles Upham,
20 Battalion.
Army News will
provide full
coverage of the
commemorations
in its June issue.
A Kiwi gold at Invictus Games
Former Army Private Glenn
Barnes collected New
Zealand’s first ever Invictus
Games gold medal last week
when he won the one-minute
row event as a member of the
New Zealand Defence Force
(NZDF) team at the 2016
event in Orlando, Florida.
The Kiwi Invictus team is coming home with a total of
nine medals.
Glenn, who was left a paraplegic after a private motor
vehicle accident, rowed 253 metres in the event.
He is already a champion in wheelchair tennis. “It’s an
incredibly exciting experience. This isn’t a sport I competed
in before joining the team. In fact, the win was only my
seventh time on a rowing machine.”
Although living Christchurch, Glenn calls Green Island,
Dunedin his home. His wife, Diana and daughter, Olivia
were there to share his victory.
“I couldn’t be here without their support, the support of
our team, and our sponsors back home who helped us take
part in this incredible event.
“I hope I have made them proud,” said Glenn.
On receiving his gold, the Kiwi supporters in the stands
burst into a spontaneous and celebratory haka, bringing the
arena to its feet. Indoor rowing is one of the Invictus Games’
most vocal sports, with crowds cheering loudly as virtual
boats show each competitor’s position on a giant screen
above the competition arena.
New Zealand Army Sergeant (SGT) Gareth Pratt swam his
way to bronze in the Men’s 50m Breaststroke.
SGT Pratt credits his training environment for helping him
place amid strong competition. “I’m stoked with myself
for getting a medal, but it’s the continuity of training that I
was aiming for, and that’s what paid off in the end. Joining
something and sticking to a routine has made my life a bit
more normal,” he said.
Former soldier Faamanu “Nu” Filo Leaana rowed his way to
a bronze medal.
An accident during his Army service resulted in the
Wellingtonian suffering a lower limb amputation and other
injuries. He overcame strong competition to win his medal,
rowing 354 metres in the IR5 one-minute row.
Nu, who took part in several sporting events during the
four-day competition, said it felt good just to be in Florida
and compete. “Rowing was part of my journey back, so it’s
fitting for me to come out of this with a medal.”
The Invictus Games places strong emphasis on the way
sport can help the recovery of people who have been
Glenn Barnes receives his medal
wounded, injured or have become ill while in service. The
games also recognise the support of friends and family, and
the challenges they face when a loved one is affected.
“It means a lot to have Mary here; she’s been my top
supporter since day one. I’m thrilled to have both Mary and
Brooke here as part of the Friends and Family Programme,”
said Nu.
New Zealand Army medic, Corporal (CPL) Kelly Whittle,
took out bronze for discus.
CPL Whittle won silver for the same event in the
2014 Games.
“The other competitors were much stronger this year, they
came out and smashed it!
“It’s not quite the colour I wanted, but it’s all about
participating – I’m stoked with the success,” she said.
Michelle Leonard, CPL Whittle’s mother, who was first to
greet her following her win, said, “I am so proud of Kelly. To
me, it doesn’t matter what colour the medal is, it’s about
seeing her do her best, even through her recovery.”
The NZDF Invictus Games team was sponsored by the
Auckland RSA and Christchurch Memorial RSA, BLK Sport,
Fulton Hogan, Off Limits Trust and the Fallen Heroes Trust.
Army News will have further coverage of Invictus Games in
its June issue.
CPL Kelly Whittle
Nu Leanna with fellow competitors
a
message
from
chief
of army
SGT Gareth Pratt
As I write this article for the Army News I have just finished
the day visiting the School of Guns, Exercise Hellfire and
the training of Joint Fire Teams, Combat School’s NZLAV
Familiarisation Course for young officers, All Corps SNCO
course for Reserve NCOs, TAD AARC 380 exercise and 381
range shoot. The evening concluded with a formal dinner
with Officer Cadets. While I walked around and spent the day
speaking to our soldiers and observing the training, which
I always find to be the most rewarding part of my role, it
reaffirmed a number of things in my mind.
The first is that the Waiouru Military Training Area is and
will continue to be, the most important military training
area for the NZ Army. It is world class and is the envy of
many of our partner armies around the world. There has
been commentary recently stating that the Army is closing
Waiouru, but I can assure you as the current Chief of Army
that that is not the case. As I cast forward to 2020 and
beyond I cannot foresee any possible event where the Army
would no longer need this training area. The amount of
training that goes on here all year round is significant and
there will always be NZ Army soldiers in Waiouru every day
of the year. Yes it is true that we will be drawing down the
permanent military teams posted there at some point in the
near future but Waiouru’s military and cultural importance
will continue.
Second; the strength of our Army comes from our people,
but what enables and underpins that is our professional
training system. This starts when you first join the Army and
continues throughout one’s career; we never stop learning.
Our instructors at the many schools are world class— I
saw this first hand during my visit to Waiouru. They are
passionate about what they do and have a genuine interest
in regard to improving their Army and imparting the right
skills and values to their students. Some may argue that we
do too many courses and we do need to ensure we get the
balance right between regimental training time and formal
courses. However, when our soldiers deploy overseas and
get the opportunity to benchmark themselves against our
military partners, whether on operations or exercise, they
realise that even though we are a small Army, soldier to
soldier we hold our own and are very good at what we bring
to a coalition.
Finally, this all contributes to how we perform operationally
and I would like to acknowledge the efforts of all our men
and women from across Army and the NZDF who supported
the recent humanitarian mission in Fiji. Equally, I would also
like to acknowledge the second rotation from Op Manawa
who are now on their way home having concluded their tour,
as well as all those others on missions around the world.
To you all and to the instructors that I met during my recent
visit, thanks for all you do. Your individual efforts do make a
real difference in our Army.
Onward
Major General Peter Kelly
Chief of Army
04armyMISSION
issue 472 | May 2016
NZ troops eager to
train Iraqi soldiers
by Luz Baguioro, Public Affairs Manager – Joint Forces New Zealand
The third rotation of
106 New Zealand troops
left for Iraq in early May.
They are helping Iraqi
soldiers sharpen their
warfighting skills so
they can recover parts
of their country from
the clutches of terrorist
organisation ISIL.
“Everyone is looking forward to getting to Taji and
getting on with the job. For sure, it will be a challenging
experience as this is the first deployment for many
members of our contingent,” the New Zealand Defence
Force Senior National Officer (SNO) said before the
contingent deployed to Iraq’s Camp Taji.
In preparation for their tour, the soldiers conducted
about three weeks of joint readiness training with
their Australian counterparts at the Royal Australian
Air Force Base Edinburgh in Adelaide, South Australia.
This followed five weeks of mission-specific training in
Burnham, West Melton and Tekapo training areas.
“Our soldiers applied themselves well to the training.
The past three weeks have also been a great opportunity
for us to engage and integrate with our Australian
colleagues. There is a deep culture of camaraderie
between our militaries and it did not take us long to
embrace that,” the SNO said.
“We kept things as realistic as possible during the training
to ensure a seamless transition once we get to the area
of operations. Training in Australia also allowed us to
acclimatise to relatively warmer weather before we head to
an Iraqi summer. We are aware that the heat is going to be
a challenge, especially for those who will be training the
Iraqi soldiers.”
Apart from tactical exercises in the field, New Zealand
troops learnt about the culture, terrain, climatic
conditions, and environmental and health threats in Iraq.
Task Group Taji, which is comprised of around 100 NZDF
soldiers and 300 Australian Defence Force personnel,
has so far trained over 4000 Iraqi soldiers as part of an
international effort to combat ISIL by helping to train the
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF).
Major General (MAJGEN) Tim Gall, the Commander Joint
Forces New Zealand, said the training provided by the
combined New Zealand-Australian military training force
has had a real impact in improving the effectiveness of
the ISF.
“On a number of occasions, the Iraqi government has
recognised that the quality training we are providing
has helped restore the confidence of their officers and
soldiers, and has contributed to some of the positive
outcomes on the battlefield,” said MAJGEN Gall, who
farewelled the New Zealand troops in Adelaide.
He said that “soldiers previously trained by New Zealand
and Australian troops were involved in the counter-attack
that regained Ramadi from ISIL late last year. Two other
groups we trained are supporting offensive operations in
other parts of Iraq.”
The Anzac training force provides training on weapons
handling, combat first aid, live fire training, building
clearances, obstacle breaching techniques, counter-IED
(Improvised Explosive Device), map reading, tactics and
techniques for squad through to company-level operations,
marksmanship and team leadership. All ISF members
are also taught the fundamental aspects of international
human rights law and the Law of Armed Conflict.
armyPEOPLE05
issue 472 | may 2016
Lest We Forget
These laid the world away; poured out the red
Sweet wine of youth; gave up the years to be
Of work and joy, and that unhoped serene,
That men call age; and those who would have been,
Their sons, they gave their immortality.
Inscription on Wellington Cenotaph. By Rupert Brooke
06armyPEOPLE
First World war centenary
From as far away as Sudan and Iraq, Gallipoli,
France and Somalia, New Zealand Army
personnel commemorated Anzac Day in many
different ways this year.
Services were held wherever our troops are
based. At home this special day was marked
throughout the country with dawn parades,
services and reunions.
Chunuk Bair
service attracts
capacity crowd
The annual New Zealand Memorial Service at Chunuk
Bair on the Gallipoli peninsula took place on 25 April
in perfect weather and in front of a capacity crowd of
mostly young people.
Whilst Chunuk Bair contains the graves of just eight
New Zealanders, a further 850 names are on the
‘Memorial to the Missing’ there, making it the largest
New Zealand commemorative site in Gallipoli.
The service was conducted by NZDF Chaplain Colin
Mason, the Principal Navy Chaplain. The Minister of
Defence, Gerry Brownlee, gave the commemorative
address and jointly laid a wreath with Australia’s
Minister of Veterans' Affairs, Dan Tehan. They were
followed by the Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Tony
Davies, and the Australian Chief of Army, Lieutenant
General Angus Campbell.
The reading was delivered by Second Lieutenant Nick
Hill, the NZDF Reservist of the Year for 2015, who had
the privilege of being the first to wear Nga Tapuwae
(footsteps), the recently presented NZDF cloak, or kahu
huruhuru, to be worn by people of all ranks on special
occasions (see next page).
Other highlights of the service included waiata by
the NZDF Maori Cultural Group, and the NZDF Haka,
performed by the NZDF contingent supporting this
year's Gallipoli commemorations. The contingent
comprised the Catafalque Guard, a tri-service band, the
Maori Cultural Group and a team of site liaison officers.
The Kiwis gather after the Dawn Service. Many are former NZDF. L–R: Allen Kelly; Shayne Gilbert; Kirsten Young;
Tony Wingham; Mike Laird; BRIG Ants Howie; Marcus Culley; Matt Davis; Fred Ripo; Craig Goodwin.
Recognising all involved in conflict
Over 60 people attended a traditional Dawn Service in
Mogadishu, Somalia, which was officiated by Brigadier
Ants Howie.
During his address, BRIG Howie explained the
significance of Anzac Day to New Zealanders and
Australians. He reflected on the makeup of people and
organisations involved in conflict today, all supporting
efforts to bring peace. He noted that they are a mixture of
uniformed and civilian organisations. He also noted that
they all faced many risks, and so he felt it was entirely
appropriate that they all be remembered for their service
and sacrifice.
armyPEOPLE07
A living taonga
for the NZDF
By Rebecca Quilliam
After a year in the making, a new NZDF kahu −
a magnificent living taonga − was worn for the
first time at the Anzac service at Gallipoli. The
cloak was created by weaver Warrant Officer
Class 1 Robert Jobe. It is intended to be worn
by both men and women, who work in military
or civilian roles at the NZDF.
The story of the kahu, named Nga Tapuwae, began at
the centenary commemorations of the ANZAC landings
at Gallipoli. The kahu will be regarded by all members of
the NZDF with the same reverence reserved for traditional
military battle flags and emblems, such as regimental and
corps colours, guidons and banners.
Second Lieutenant Nicholas Hill, last year’s NZDF Reservist of
the Year, wore the cloak at this year’s service at Chunuk Bair.
When he first heard he was to be the first recipient of it he
was “pretty overwhelmed”.
“It’s a pretty massive honour to wear it. I really can’t put it
into words.”
When he heard the meaning behind the design, he felt
“torn up”. “It’s a spiritual reflection of what’s gone before,”
2LT Hill said.
Nga Tapuwae means “in the footsteps” and the kahu has
been woven as a symbolic link between those who have gone
before us in the service of our nation and those who serve
today and tomorrow.
WO1 Jobe explained the meanings behind the stunning
feather and stitch work on the kahu.
“The story starts here back in New Zealand [in the bottom
right corner] with the blue travelling over different seas, going
into the lighter shores as you go into Gallipoli.
“When we got to Gallipoli, the beauty of the sea really
struck me − I thought, ‘this is such a beautiful place’ − so
Poppies from home
Uniformed personnel who have served overseas on long-term
deployments know how welcome letters and parcels from
home are.
For a while, they bridge the long distance between loved
ones, making the separation a little easier to bear, until the
next letter arrives.
As the Executive Assistant at 1 NZ Brigade Headquarters,
Amanda Compton has seen many people come and go on
Warrant Officer Class One Danny Broughton with
Amanda Compton
that's why I used a lot of vibrant colours.”
Small green feathers dotted across the blue represented
different lands the soldiers travelled across to reach the
Gallipoli shoreline, he said.
The cloak is dominated by a rich tapestry of red
feathers, which represents the vast amount of blood spilled
on those shores.
“There was so much blood that the soil turned red,” WO1
Jobe said.
The white portrays the memorials and graves that are lined
up across the land. There are 15 different white panels and,
just recently, WO1 Jobe discovered there were 15 nations
involved in the Gallipoli campaign.
Pockets of green by the graves indicated tunnels and
trenches where the soldiers fought and died in, he said.
At the top and bottom are 2721 stitches in differing patterns
to represent the number and the way the ANZACs and Turks
fell as they died. The red and white colours used were the
Turkish colours, WO1 Jobe said.
“Lastly, on the back, I decided that I'll put some poppies
on it. There are three poppies; it doesn't say it, but it's Lest
We Forget.”
One of the hidden meanings behind the cloak was that,
while it was based on Gallipoli, it could relate to other wars
where soldiers and civilians had left New Zealand and gone
overseas and died and not returned home, he said.
overseas deployments, and she currently has a loved one
overseas. She decided that it would be a good idea to send
knitted poppies overseas to deployed personnel for Anzac Day.
So, out came the knitting needles, and several weeks later
she had a pile of poppies. She knitted them as did others, who
either had relatives deployed or who just wanted to help out.
However, it soon became obvious that there wasn’t going
to be enough. Someone suggested contacting the National
Army Museum.
“They were amazing; they said straight away that they had
poppies they could give me.”
Alison Jones, of the National Army Museum, said the
museum was only too pleased to help out.
“We were delighted to donate some of the wonderful
handcrafted poppy tributes we received last year as part of
our patriotic ‘Call to Yarn’ project. On such a special day of
remembrance, it’s great to be able to also recognise the work
of our current serving personnel across the world.”
More than 700 hand-knitted poppies were sent overseas,
accompanied by a personal letter from Chief of Defence
Force, Lieutenant General Tim Keating, and Warrant Office of
the Defence Force, WO1 Danny Broughton.
Ms Compton said she wanted to show personnel overseas
that people back home were thinking of them.
“They were sent to people serving our nation, sacrificing
time away from loved ones. They are our modern Anzacs and
our modern-day heroes,” said Ms Compton.
Engineer pays respect
to tunnellers in Arras
Lance Corporal Andrew Good’s career with the
Royal New Zealand Engineers has taken him from
the Solomon Islands to Antarctica, and now to
First World War battlefields for the 2016 Anzac Day
commemorations.
As a member of the NZDF contingent, LCPL Good
completed ceremonial duties in France and Belgium.
He was selected for this year’s commemorations in
recognition of his 2015 School of Military Engineering
Instructor title.
LCPL Good was part of a small group of engineers from
the contingent that visited the grave of Sapper Michael
Tobin on the centenary of his death on 15 April 1916. He
was the first New Zealander to die on the Western Front.
SPR Tobin was a soldier of the New Zealand Tunnelling
Company, which carried out dangerous mining work,
including the creation of the extensive tunnels under the
town of Arras in northern France.
LCPL Good said it was humbling to represent New
Zealand and follow in the footsteps of the First World
War soldiers. He knew his great-grandfather fought
at Cassino in the Second World War, but has only just
been made aware of a family member who served in the
New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
“I researched First World War history when I found out
I would be going, but discovering a direct connection in
a place the contingent is visiting was a surprise,” said
LCPL Good.
LCPL Good visits the grave of SPR Tobin, the first New
Zealander killed on the Western Front in World War One.
08armyPEOPLE
Belgium
Iraq
Afghanistan
France, the guardian of the souls who rest in its soil
The following is an address given in the Wairarapa on
Anzac Day by Clarisse Gerardin, First Counsellor,
French Embassy in New Zealand.
I am very honoured that you have invited the Embassy of
France to celebrate the memory of the soldiers of the Great
War with you.
For each of us here, the First World War is both a collective
memory and an individual story: that of your grandparents or
your great grandparents, of their brothers and of their friends.
It touched you, you who have been in New Zealand over this
last century. It also touched you who are English, Scottish,
Irish, Dutch, Belgian, German, Turkish, Indian or from many
other countries, and you who have come here subsequently.
The First World War, terribly, deserves its name: it spared
only a very few countries, even those so far from Europe.
In France, we have a double memory of the war; the first
being that which is common to France and New Zealand, of
the soldiers who left, many of whom never returned. During
the war, more than seven million French people fought, 1.4
million did not return. They fought all over – one of my great
uncles fell at the Dardanelles, not far from Gallipoli, in 1915.
But France also has another memory: as well as her sons who
left to fight, France experienced so much on its land. France
saw the arrival of a whole world of soldiers who killed each
other on her ground, in her fields, in her forests. She became,
throughout a large part of her territory, a gigantic battlefield,
the most gigantic that the world, at that time, had ever
known. And that too, leaves a scar.
I would also like to share with you another memory which
comes from my father’s family, who live in the Marne.
In 1915, when the German troops had advanced, as
the French troops had first retreated then stabilised, the
battlefield was established precisely in the fields and villages
where my family lived. They had to leave, with bombs raining
down, with the army chasing people from their homes. A
part of my family, including my great-grandmother, who was
just 15, found themselves behind German lines: they were in
France, but no longer in France; roads and communication
were cut off, they no longer had land or animals.
They tried to survive, but nothing arrived anymore – no
food, no information. After weeks of wandering, underfed and
affected with typhus, the Red Cross took them under their
care and my family was evacuated to Switzerland, before
being able to return to their region, on the French side of the
frontline. They waited for the end of the war in the houses of
The Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral John Martin, the Chief of Army, Major General Peter Kelly, and the Air Component
Commander Air Commodore Darryn Webb, pay their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Wellington.
Clarisse Geradin on Anzac Day in the Wairarapa
their relatives and friends, for more than three years.
Then, in November 1918, the fighting having stopped, they
returned to their homes. For the farmers that they were, their
return was horrific; there were no longer any fields. They
were no longer any roads to drive. There were no longer any
streams, valleys, bushes. The ground was no longer level – it
was just a succession of muddy holes and unstable mounds.
There were unexploded shells, debris from trucks, guns,
helmets. There was also, far too often, the remains of men:
over four years, with each fall of the pick or the shovel working
to level the ground, and each time the plough passed, horrible
relics would resurface. Dozens of people also died from the
explosion of buried shells as they tried to re-cultivate their
fields. Maybe due to that peculiar history, people of my
villages, and of many other villages in France, felt that this war
would never really end: it should leave deep scars on human
souls as well as it left so many scars on the earth.
This is why, today, France is also a guardian: a guardian of
all the children, from all the countries, who died on French
soil and who rest there still. France is witness to the atrocity
of their death, to the atrocity of the battles, but also to the
unprecedented courage and dedication of each person.
France’s cemeteries shelter not only the children of France,
but those of all the countries who gave their life in our
homeland. We remember them. Since 1921, Armistice Day,
November 11th, has been a public holiday. It has never been
a day of victory, but a day of mourning. And we are also a
guardian of souls, through the memory of the war, to say
“never again”.
Today I am here, on New Zealand soil, which has the rare
quality of never having been hit by either bomb or shell. And
yet, you too have paid a high price for the outrageousness
of this war. The First World War showed how we could no
longer live excluded from one another, or separated from
one another. One hundred years later, this memory can be
fruitful for peace. We must hope that within ourselves, there
will develop a sense for others, a sense of the fragility of
the world and of life, but also the power of solidarity and
dedication to the common good.
This is, I think, what the bridge signifies: it symbolises
the crossing from generation to generation: that we will not
forget! It is also a passage beyond waters, beyond oceans;
your ancestors came to our home to defend our land and our
freedom. Finally, it is, I hope, a passage from war to peace, a
passage from a bloody past to a common future.
I am happy to be able to express to you here today, the
recognition and the persistence of our memories.
armyPEOPLE09
Tiny bridge an Anzac tribute
The little concrete one-way bridge over the Makakahi
River at Kaiparoro, Wairarapa on the left heading north has a
unique Anzac history.
It was designed and built by Alfred Falkner, a Mauriceville
County engineer and a resident of Kaiparoro, and opened
to traffic on 1 December 1922. The bridge served as a safe
crossing of the previously-unbridged Makakahi River,
and a war memorial to six men of the district, including
Alfred Falkner’s son Trooper Victor. A. Falkner, Auckland
Mounted Rifles, who was killed in action in Gallipoli on 28
August 1915, and his nephew Sergeant Donald. K. Pallant,
Wellington Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force
(NZEF), killed in action on 8 May 1915 in Gallipoli.
The north side of the bridge was decorated with plaques
representing local soldiers who died in World War One. The
plaques were dedicated on Anzac Day 1923 and included:
Sergeant Donald. K Pallant, Wellington Regiment, New
Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF), Killed in Action, 8 May
1915, Gallipoli, Turkey; Trooper Victor. A. Falkner, Auckland
Mounted Rifles, Killed in Action, 28 August 1915, Gallipoli,
Turkey; Private Charles G. Harvery, Wellington Regiment,
New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF), Killed in Action,
20 April 1917, Belgium; Rifleman Stephen Morgan, 3rd
Battalion, NZ Rifle Brigade, Killed in Action, 12 October 1917,
Belgium; Sapper John. H. Snell, New Zealand Engineers,
Killed in Action, 3 January 1918, Belgium; and Private
Arthur. L. Braddick, Canterbury Regiment, Killed in Action,
29 September 1918, France. After World War Two, the names
of Private Brian. C. Minett, 25th Infantry Battalion, 2NZEF,
Killed in Action, 27 November 1941, Libya, North Africa;
Private Margret. O. McAnulty, Women’s Auxiliary Army
Corps, Medical Division, NZ General Hospital (Middle East),
Died 21 October 1943, Egypt; and Pilot Officer William E.
Kewley, 44 Squadron (Lancaster), RNZAF, Killed In Action,
27 April 1944, Germany, were added.
The bridge remained in use until it was replaced in the
1950s by a two-lane bridge a few metres downstream. The
community saved the bridge from planned destruction
and since 2006 The Friends of Anzac Bridge has added
a path from Miller’s Reserve, maintained the structure,
installed a flagpole. Anzac services are held there every
year. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Friends of
Anzac Bridge a special luncheon for families and supporters
was held at the Eketahuna Community Centre on Sunday
24th April 2016. During the lunch a framed photo of the
bridge was presented to 10 Transport Company, 2 CSSB
who have had an association with Eketahuna since 1993,
and every two years assist the Friends with laying lime
Peter Bryson who is chairman of the Friends of Anzac
on the footpath and the upkeep of the bridge. After the
Bridge and great-grandson of Alfred Falkner who designed
lunch Colonel Martin Dransfield, who is on the Friends of
and built the Bridge, and Colonel Martin Dransfield,
Anzac Bridge committee, spoke of his two great uncles,
present Captain Richard Moore, XO 10 Transport Company
Private Bruce Dransfield and 2nd Lieutenant Don Bell,
and WO Colin Blakemore , CSM 10 Transport Company,
VC, who were both killed on the same day at the Battle of
with a framed picture of the Anzac Bridge.
the Somme. That infamous battle will be commemorated
later this year. He was followed by the new Patron of the
bridge, Jack Hayes, who amongst other appointments,
commanded the last 4 Troop NZSAS detachment in
Vietnam, 9 October 1970 – 28 February 1971, and is
currently an adviser in medallic policy at HQ NZDF. Jack
spoke of the role his grandfather, PTE James Hayes, along
with the New Zealand Engineers, played in cleaning up
French farms destroyed during WWI.
PTE (James) Hayes enlisted 21st August 1916, embarked
from Lyttleton with the 20th Reinforcements on 7TH
December 1916 and posted to France with 2 Cant Regt on
28 May 1917. He was posted to the Entrenching Coy and
attached to 2 Field Coy from 2nd June 1917.
Private rescues veterans
By Charlene Smart,
Senior Communications Advisor (Southern)
Anzac Day 2016 started like any other for a young private,
until a veteran collapsed at the Templeton RSA service.
Private Nick Chapman, 24, who is in his fifth year of
medical school and is also a Reserve soldier in 2/4
RNZIR, performed CPR on the man who had a heart
attack during the parade.
“I ended up alongside two nurses carrying out CPR
and maintaining his at-risk airway until an automated
external defibrillator arrived.
“It is quite uncommon for a patient’s heart to restart
without defibrillation, but in this case we were very
lucky to have his circulation return spontaneously with
compressions alone,” he said.
PTE Chapman said that the two nurses who were
alongside him were the ones who got on top of things
immediately.
“It is really a testament to the quality of nursing staff
here in New Zealand.”
At the end of the service, another veteran collapsed.
This time it was only fainting, but the veteran managed
to cut his cheek quite badly on impact.
“All that was needed was keeping him comfortable
and continuing to chat with him. His wound got a
good clean and was bandaged there, and then he just
needed a trip to the hospital for some stitches and a
tetanus booster.
“Again, I think so much credit has to be given to
all the medical professionals who lent a hand, or a
blanket, and sometimes their own personal first-aid
kits,” he said.
PTE Chapman has been a reservist in the Army for
four years at 2/4 RNZIR, and can’t recommend it highly
enough to anyone considering joining the Army Reserves.
“The environment within Army Reserves, in particular,
2/4 RNZIR, has a strong focus on comradeship
especially amongst the junior ranks. At the end of
the day, even though you are a small part of a big
organisation that has a lot of history and a lot of mana,
it is far from being just an old boys’ club,” he said.
Both veterans are well on their way to a full recovery.
More information about becoming a reservist in the
New Zealand Army can be found by visiting
www.defencecareers.mil.nz
CDF in UK
The Anzac service at Ataturk Memorial in Wellington.
The Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Tim
Keating, visited the United Kingdom in April to attend a
Chiefs of Defence conference and participate in Anzac
Day commemorations.
The conference, hosted by the Chief of Defence Staff
United Kingdom, General Sir Nick Houghton, was held
in London.
“The conference was attended by Chiefs of Defence
from defence forces being employed in the fight against
ISIL/Daesh, and it was a valuable opportunity for me
to talk to my counterparts about this issue,” says
LTGEN Keating.
While in London, LTGEN Keating also attended the
Anzac Day dawn parade at Hyde Park Corner.
10armyPEOPLE
remembering anzac day in sudan
Anzac Day 2016 will be a special memory for Op Sudden
Senior National Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mel Childs
and Military Liaison Officer (MLO), Major Wendy Wright.
The women commemorated this special day at the Anzac
Church Service in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as guests of the
New Zealand Embassy.
The congregation of approximately 150 including the
NZ Ambassador and embassy team, the Australian
Ambassador and Defence Attaché, the Turkish
Ambassador and a number of other diplomatic dignitaries
remembered New Zealand and Australia’s fallen women
and men of conflicts both historical and recent past.
The day started with a moving pre-dawn church
service which included pipers from The Royal Regiment
of Scotland, the laying of wreaths and international
participation through prayers and speeches at the
service. It concluded with a breakfast at the NZ Embassy.
Unfortunately MLO Major Frazer Winskill was on leave and
unable to attend.
Later that day a formal lunch was hosted at the NZ
Ambassador’s Residence attended by senior international
military and diplomatic women. Discussions revolved
around the challenges currently facing the Republic of
South Sudan and the represented women’s nations’ efforts
to recruit and retain more military and diplomatic women.
The visit to Addis Ababa was a short weekend away
from the team’s Area of Operations in South Sudan. Team
Op Sudden 01/16 is part of the United Nations Mission
in South Sudan (UNMISS) and has been in theatre for
two months. In this short time it has witnessed some
historical events.
South Sudan achieved independence from Sudan in 2011
and as such, is the world’s newest country. This transition
has not progressed without challenge and 2013 saw the
country thrown into crisis when the Government fractured.
The Governor General, Lieutenant General Sir Jerry
Mateparae speaks at the Wellington Dawn Service.
This resulted in massive atrocities and a humanitarian
emergency. NZDF members serving here at the time
have been recognised for their outstanding service and
response to this conflict.
Since the conflict of 2013, movement towards peace
between the two main factions has been slow and not
without continued conflict. After two and a half years the
Government and In Opposition forces have recently made a
significant step towards peace and the Transitional Security
Arrangements negotiated as part of the Agreement on the
Resolution of the Crisis in the Republic of South Sudan
(ARCSS). On 26 April 2016 the leader of the SPLA – in
Opposition, Dr Riek Machar, returned to Juba, South Sudan
for the first time since the crisis of 2013 and assumed
his position as the First Vice President. On 28 April 2016
President Salva Kiir dissolved Cabinet and formed the
Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU).
Despite continued challenges, the South Sudanese
people have a desperate desire and hope for peace. UMISS
is here to assist the Transitional Security Arrangements
across all pillars with a key mandate to provide protection
to the civilians of South Sudan.
The day is commemorated at Menin Gate, Belgium.
Scottish colours
laid up in Otago
The New Zealand Scottish
Regiment passed into history
in April as its colours were
laid up at Toitu Otago Settlers
Museum.
The laying up of the colours marked the disbandment of the
last components of the New Zealand Scottish Regiment.
Toitu OSM Director Jennifer Evans said that the laying up of
the colours was a significant event for both the regiment and
the museum.
“The New Zealand Scottish Regiment has had a Dunedin
base since it was established. We are privileged to be taking
over the care and preservation of its colours. This recognises
Dunedin’s Scottish heritage, and its connections with the New
Zealand Defence Force,” she says.
Major Kevin Williams, 2IC of Queen Alexandra’s Mounted
Rifles, says it is the end of an era for the regiment, who were
known for their distinctive highland dress and glengarry
bonnets at ceremonial events. They wore the tartan of the
famous Black Watch Regiment, with whom the unit is affiliated.
“The Scots colours were not just flags – they were unique
in their design and had brought New Zealanders of Scottish
descent together. Under these colours they trained, bonded
with each other and shared experiences since the start of
WW2. Their lineage has been recorded and the unit’s identity
is forged in these colours,” says MAJ Williams.
“There is a certain amount of sadness in laying up the colours,
but instead of being laid up in a church where they will decay,
we are pleased they are going to a museum where they will
be well preserved for ex-members of the regiment and future
generations to view.”
The New Zealand Scottish Regiment was established in
January 1939 after the New Zealand Army was lobbied, for a
number of years, to follow other Commonwealth countries
in having a kilted Scottish regiment. The attraction of the
highland uniform helped boost recruitment at a time when
the prospect of war was growing ever closer. Units of the
regiment were set up in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington
and Auckland, as part of the Territorial Army. Later in its
history, the regiment was converted from an infantry to an
armoured corps unit.
On 16 April the colours were paraded through Dunedin with
a 100-man guard made up primarily of QAMR soldiers, with
assistance from 2/4 RNZIR, as well as several New Zealand
Light Armoured Vehicles, the New Zealand Army Band, piper
and former members of the regiment.
The parade left from Queens Garden at 1315, proceeding
up Rattray Street along Princes Street to the upper Octagon,
where the NZDF was challenged by the New Zealand Police.
“Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles exercised the NZ Scottish
Regiment’s charter for the final time by marching through the
streets of Dunedin with drums beating, colours flying and
swords drawn. The charter was then returned to the Dunedin
City Council as part of the laying up of the colours ceremony,”
said MAJ Williams.
From the Octagon, the parade proceeded down Stuart Street
to Toitu OSM, where a large group of military officials and
invited guests watched the laying up of the colours ceremony.
The regiment’s colours were then taken behind the scenes at
Toitu OSM, where they will be prepared for public display at the
museum later in April.
Later that night a dinner was held at a nearby hotel, attended
by more than 130 former members of the various Scottish units
associated with the regiment over its 78-year long history.
Members spent the night reminiscing about their adventures in
the different RF and TF units and their military careers.
armyPEOPLE11
DCA, Brigadier Chris Parsons takes the salute.
12armyPEOPLE
Meet your ambassadors
Two young Army personnel have decided to take up the
challenge of becoming recruiting ambassadors so they can
interest people in an Army career.
Second Lieutenant Lauren Christie is a platoon commander
in 5 Movements Coy in Linton and says answering questions
about her job is always a pleasure.
“I’m always proud to talk about my career
and all of the exciting places it’s taken me
and the rare opportunities it’s provided me
within such a short amount of time.
Making the most of opportunities: 2LT Lauren Christie
“It’s so extraordinary to people who aren’t in the Forces.
I find that I’m surrounded by all of these cool activities,
equipment, travel and people all of the time that I’ve become
desensitised to a lot of it, so sometimes talking to someone
else about my experiences in the Army reminds me how cool
and unique my job really is.”
2LT Christie says she is surprised more people don’t know
the significant roles women can have in the Defence Force.
“It surprises me that primary school-aged children aren’t
aware that women can be
in the Defence Force. On
Anzac Day this year when
I was walking with a large
group of female soldiers to
our accommodation and a
few kids asked us where
we were from and I said we
were in the Army. I was met
with the statement “but
you’re all girls?”
Lauren says the Defence
Force is such a unique career
that she is not surprised
people don’t always
understand fully what it’s
about.
“The Army and Defence
Force really are careers like
no other and although it has
its similarities to other jobs
and experiences, I find that
it remains unique and that’s
what keeps it so interesting
to talk about.”
Lieutenant Michael Coom,
platoon commander at
2/1 Battalion, says he
feels being a recruitment
ambassador gives him the
opportunity to ‘give back’ to
the organisation.
“Taking time out of my
typical work routine was
LT Michael Coom
surprisingly rewarding. I didn’t find at all hard to speak with
genuine enthusiasm about my job.”
He says working within the infantry is unique and a challenge
and he believes a lot of young people would thrive in it.
“Although a certain degree of commitment is required to
engage yourself as a recruitment ambassador, my belief is
that it is a fun, rewarding and much-needed role”.
Lauren and Michael are just two people who have signed up
for the Recruitment Ambassador Programme, ready to make a
difference and make recruiting more personal and tailored to
individuals.
Electronics
technician
Lance Corporal Colin Slade is a rare breed.
As one of the New Zealand Army’s handful of electronics
technicians, his trade is a sought-after resource for units
throughout the Army.
He got into the trade after his recruiting officer showed
him other options in the Army that he hadn’t previously
considered.
“I have always been interested in fiddling with things,
taking things apart and putting them back together and
my recruiter steered me towards maintenance support.”
The 23-year-old said the work would interest anyone who
likes electrical equipment.
“We work on everything from optics, radios; anything
that’s battery powered.”
After completing his all-arms recruit course basic
training, LCPL Slade headed to Trentham for Logistical
Corps training, and basic and intermediate-specific
training in electronics.
Then, he studied for a diploma at WelTec (the diploma is
now run in Auckland).
After five years of training, he is now fully qualified, and
is eagerly awaiting his first overseas deployment. While
there is plenty of opportunity for electronics technicians to
deploy, only technicians who are fully qualified can go.
“Five years of training may seem like a long time but
it goes quickly; you’re always busy upskilling or doing
something.”
LCPL Slade says that ‘motivation’ is a big factor in
succeeding in the trade.
“You need to be motivated to do it, stick at it, and have
an interest in the trade. You have to be interested in the
electrical side of things and how things work. If that’s you,
then you’ll be suited for the job.”
Electronics technicians can find themselves in various
parts of the country, as there is a need for them in various
units, such as Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles, 2/1 and 1
RNZIR and the 16th Field Regiment.
“You can be in Burnham, Linton or Papakura.”
LCPL Slade says he sees his career in the Army as a longterm option.
“My plan is to stay here, as I enjoy the job and coming to
work. It’s not your normal 9 to 5 job.”
armyTRAINING13
Delta Company
takes honours in
2/1 skills competition
Members of 2/1 RNZIR Battalion contested the annual Skill at
Arms Competition over a gruelling four-day event recently.
Unlike previous years, the outcome of this year’s
competition played a significant role in the selection of
personnel for operational deployments in the next few
months. A key aspect of unit training has involved the Right
of Line contest that would determine which Company would
provide personnel for operational deployments and overseas
exercises. This year’s Skill at Arms Competition was the
culminating event for the Right of Line contest.
On the eve of the competition, only a single point separated
the top three and added a significant amount of pressure
on members of each team to win. Noteworthy efforts from
competition organisers, patrol members and supporting staff
were observed well before and during the event.
With a well-developed deception plan in play, Training Wing
was able to distract the companies and avoid the competition
events being compromised or manipulated. The Skill at Arms
involved a 40-hour operational task, which included military
planning, delivery of orders and the execution of several
tactical tasks by day and night without rest. The first 10 hours
involved the conduct of mobilisation procedures including a
Required Fitness Level test, a Combat Fitness Test, weapon
testing, armoured fighting vehicle recognition, fast rope
training and swim test. These tests would be the basis on
which the unit Top Soldier would be identified.
On completion of mobilisation procedures and delivery of
orders, each patrol was required to conduct a 30km night
patrol through some very difficult conditions. Patrols were
then expected to transition into three demanding tactical
tasks. A flotation task over a length of 500m just on first
light tested patrol members and set new standards for the
battalion. The inclusion of fast roping insertion onto an
urban objective stretched individuals and tested their
abilities. The Section Range practices tested individual skills
from 500m and included an innovative night shoot. The 40hour event culminated in the conduct of the forced march and
concourse practice which was very different in terms of
physical conditions.
Eleven Sections competed for the 2/1RNZIR Skill at Arms
which was a very close event. In the end, Corporal Couper
of Delta Company and his section were clear winners, while
Private Whareaitu from the same section was identified as
the unit Top Soldier. With consistent scores across all Right of
Line events, Delta Company was awarded the championship
for this year’s Right of Line and will spend the next few
months preparing for subsequent operational deployments.
Thanks to those members of the community across Selwyn
District and our Burnham Camp who made this event a
success. Training Wing has set a new standard in terms of
creating a challenging event and will have huge expectations
in 2017.
Winners: Delta Company
Top soldier, Private Liam Whareaitu
14our collectivepurpose
New Zealand Defence Force
assistance to Fiji’s disaster recovery
Aircraft and vessels used for the humanitarian aid operation
king air b200
HMNZS CANTERBURY
Supported the humanitarian aid operation for about
three weeks before returning to New Zealand on 28 March.
The maritime hub of New Zealand’s humanitarian aid
operation in the northern outlying islands.
380
Of aid supplies and construction materials for distressed
communities in Vanuabalavu and Yacata islands.
tonnes
180
Transfers on her landing craft to support the
aid operation.
NH90 x 2
HMNZS Wellington
160
Offshore patrol vessel HMNZS WELLINGTON – operated in
northern Lau for almost three weeks before returning to New
Zealand on 16 March.
70
The helicopters flew almost 160 hours
of relief missions on their first overseas
operation. They delivered essential aid
hours supplies, shelter kits, water purification
equipment, food and sacks of seeds and plant cuttings to cycloneravaged communities. They also transported New Zealand medical
volunteers, NZ Defence Force personnel and Fiji government staff
to Fiji’s remote communities and far-flung islands.
Of aid supplies delivered to communities in
northern Lau.
tonnes
The King Air transported Fiji government staff and civilian
volunteers from non-governmental organisations such as the Red
Cross to remote islands devastated by the cyclone so they can
assess the outstanding needs in these communities. It also conducted
aerial reconnaissance flights for Fiji Roads Authority, among other Fiji
government agencies.
Identified route and anchorage into Vanuabalavu lagoon that
HMNZS CANTERBURY used and beaches for her landing
craft operations.
seasprite
P-3k2 orion
70
Conducted aerial surveys less than 24 hours after category five
Tropical Cyclone Winston pummelled Fiji on 20 February.
Information from the aerial surveys provided Fijian officials
with a clearer picture of the damage it caused, saved them
days of on-site damage assessments and enabled them to
immediately secure international aid for relief efforts.
C-130 hercules
120
military vehicles x 45
Used to support the NZDF’s humanitarian aid operation in
northern Lau.
Helped deliver close to 120 tonnes of aid
from New Zealand.
tonnes
boeing 757
1050
CANTERBURY’s Seasprite helicopter
completed around 70 hours of relief
missions, transporting aid supplies as
hours well as New Zealand medical volunteers,
NZ Defence Force personnel and Fiji government staff from
Vanuabalavu to outlying islands in northern Lau.
landing craft x 2
Aid supplies were offloaded from CANTERBURY using her
landing craft and distributed to the affected communities in
northern Lau.
Brought the advance group of 37 combat engineers and
1050 water containers to Fiji on 24 February.
timeline
Tropical Cyclone Winston
pummels Fiji
F eb r ua r y
20
A RNZAF P-3K2 Orion aircraft
conducts aerial surveillance
of cyclone-hit areas
Almost 13 tonnes of NZ aid
supplies and a joint inter-agency
response team arrive in Suva on
board a RNZAF C-130 HERCULES
An advance group of 37 NZ
Army engineers arrive in Suva
HMNZS WELLINGTON
brings more aid and
personnel to Fiji
21
22
24
28
our collectivepurpose15
efforts
NZDF ships and
helicopters delivered
hundreds of tonnes of aid
supplies to disaster-struck
communities across Fiji, from
northern Lau in the east to
the Yasawa islands, which
make up Fiji’s western
border.
Yasawa
Vanuabalavu
northern lau
around
60
SUVA
viti levu
New Zealand Army carpenters,
electricians, plumbers, plant
operators and engineers worked
alongside soldiers from the Republic
of Fiji Military Forces to repair dozens
of schools, medical centres and
community buildings on the
main island of Viti Levu and in
the remote northern Lau
archipelago.
Combined Joint Task
Force Headquarters – liaised
and engaged with the National
Disaster Management Office
and the Republic of Fiji Military
Forces; managed relationships
with Fiji government agencies;
supported the New Zealand
High Commission.
Number of civilian and
military personnel deployed
for this operation
New Zealand Army
engineers also set up
a water desalination station
that converted seawater into
drinking water at Lomaloma
village on Vanuabalavu Island. Up
to 10,000 litres of potable drinking
water were produced each day
to support the New Zealand
contingent and villages on
Vanuabalavu.
Aid supplies funded by the NZ Aid Programme
that were delivered by NZDF aircraft and vessels
530
chainsaw
packs
generators
About 530 engineers, carpenters, electricians, plant operators,
plumbers, sailors and aircrew were deployed to Fiji, making it one
of the NZDF’s largest peacetime deployments to the Pacific.
toolkits
tarpaulins
food
mosquito nets
and blankets
water
latrines
containers
garden tools
solar-powered
lamps
tents
water tanks
bottled water
building materials,
including
corrugated iron
electrical supplies
medical supplies
emergency kits and
insect repellents
ladders
what the fijians say
We’ve been left with nothing
and we don’t know what the
future holds. So we are grateful
that New Zealand and other
countries are helping us.
23-year-old Eseta Kaitani from Nasau
village on Koro Island, 106 km north
of the Fijian capital of Suva.
We were overwhelmed and our
resources were stretched. And
with inadequate capabilities, it’s
hard to imagine how we would
have coped with demands for
relief without New Zealand’s
assistance.
Minister for Agriculture and National
Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu
HMNZS CANTERBURY arrives from
New Zealand with 106 tonnes of
aid, 2 NH90 helicopters, 1 Seasprite
helicopter and 45 military vehicles
march
03
All this rebuilding is helping bring
back smiles and hope to people
in affected areas. The pace of
work is quite fast. Those schools
that were repaired by the NZDF
are among the first to reopen.
Republic of Fiji Military Forces
Commander Rear Admiral Viliame
Naupoto
I was happy and excited to
go back to school again.
The New Zealand soldiers
did a good job in fixing our
classrooms.
Lynette Emline, Year 8 student at
Navunisea District School in Silana,
a coastal village 62 km north of Suva.
Without the Orion, we would
have to physically visit the
likely affected areas to assess
the damage. That is how we
did it in the past and that
took days to carry out in a
scattered archipelago like Fiji.
Lieutenant Colonel Ilai Moceica,
Chief of Operations Planning for
the Republic of Fiji Military Forces
A RNZAF NH90 helicopter conducted the
first mercy flight to Koro Island.
HMNZS CANTERBURY anchors off
Lomaloma village on Vanuabalavu Island
in the remote northern Lau archipelago
04
Residents of Vanuabalavu
Island farewell NZDF
personnel
april
13
Around 300 members of the
NZDF sail back to New Zealand
on board HMNZS CANTERBURY
17
16armyTRAINING
Training
to command
It was a return to the familiar Waiouru landscape for most
of the participants of the 2016 Regular Force Rifle Platoon
Commanders course recently.
The aim of the course was to train selected combat corps
officers and non-commissioned officers in the command of a
rifle platoon.
For the majority of the 13 officers who took part, the course
represented the first significant activity of their 12-month
Post Commissioning Course. A further seven junior noncommissioned Officers from 2/1 and 1 RNZIR, a junior officer
from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and another officer
from the Timor Leste Defence Force brought the course total
to 22 students. In addition, 50 soldiers from the infantry
battalions and the Army Reserve joined the course as section
members and OPFOR.
The course began with a period of classroom-based theory
and revision before deploying to the Kaimanawa Forest
for the first of the two major exercises. Each student was
assessed in their ability to conduct full battle procedure,
their conduct of a patrol and post-patrol procedures. Prior to
the final exercise the course was exposed to the challenges
of command in an urban environment during a short FIBUA
package. A two-day live field firing activity further prepared
students by focusing specifically on platoon battle drills and
quick battle orders.
The final testing phase saw the students prepare an open
country defensive position and maintain an intensive patrol
programme. Typically this is the most challenging aspect of
the course, testing the students both mentally and physically.
Both platoons conducted the full range of conventional
patrolling tasks by day and night including ambushing, AO
clearances, deliberate attacks and standing patrols before
conducting a short advance to contact phase to complete the
exercise.
CPL Maiotaki Bevan was the course Top Student and was
presented with the Chief Instructor’s Rifle for attaining the
highest aggregate grades overall. 2LT Brady Cutting was
presented the Captain Dan Thompson Memorial Trophy
for displaying, in the opinion of his peers, the qualities of
integrity, moral and physical courage, camaraderie and
selflessness. This award was gifted to the combat school
in 2015 by CAPT Thompson’s parents Graeme and Angela
Thompson in memory of their son who died in February 2015
while serving as the Dismounted Operations Wing Senior
Instructor. The students and staff were grateful to have CAPT
Thompson’s sister Rosie and father Graeme attend the final
function to present this award.
armynews17
Historic gun relocated
By Captain Richard Moore, 2IC 10 Tpt Coy, 2 CSS Bn
An historic 8-inch Armstrong ‘disappearing’ coastal defence
gun was relocated to Trentham, Upper Hutt by members
of the 10th Transport Company, of 2 CSS Bn. The gun was
recovered in 2013 from Miramar Peninsula, in Wellington, and
was featured in the #441 Army News. During the nearly threeyear interim, it was being restored at the Vintage Aviator, in
Kilbirnie, Wellington.
LCPL Lawrence Andrew was tasked to determine whether
the gun and carriage could be safely loaded onto the
Mercedes Benz heavy equipment transporter (HET). As it
could not be safely negotiated onto the HET trailer using
conventional means, a civilian crane was hired to lift the gun
and carriage onto the HET, and to offload it at Trentham.
On 24 March, LCPL Hamiora Toia and PTE Lawrance Prasad
arrived at the Vintage Aviator premises in the HET. Titan
Cranes provided the crane, the loading task was completed in
minutes, and after an uneventful journey to Trentham the gun
was successfully unloaded.
The gun will remain in Trentham until its final resting place
is decided.
The rare, historic artillery gun was discovered on the
Miramar Peninsula, in Wellington, in March 2012, where it
had been buried for nearly 90 years.
It was discovered by Department of Conservation staff,
who were not sure whether it was an artillery barrel or
just part of an old water pipe.
The NZDF heritage advisor identified it as an eight-inch
Armstrong ‘disappearing’ coastal defence gun, which was
emplaced at Fort Gordon, as part of New Zealand’s coastal
defence network during the late-19th and early-20th
centuries. The disappearing guns were designed to recoil
downwards into a protected pit after firing. This allowed
them to be reloaded out of the view of enemy vessels.
According to records, the gun was first proof fired in place
in 1895. It was capable of firing 95kg projectiles out to a
range of six kilometres. The barrel alone weighed in at
13.5 tonnes.
The barrel was found lying down a steep slope
overgrown with vegetation. Because the barrel and its
site are historically and culturally significant, heavy
cranes or earthmovers could not be used to recover it. Its
slow, painstakingly careful removal from the site was a
team effort from the Directorate of Land Equipment (DLE),
and personnel from HQ NZDF, 2 Workshop Coy, 2 Engineer
Regiment and Logistics Command (Land), as well as
archaeologists from DOC and the Historic Places Trust.
FORUM16
MENTORING – BE THE DIFFERENCE
Hosted by AMPLIFY
What to look forward to at the
Army Leadership Forum
Guest speakers include:
• Rt Hon Dame Jenny Shipley
• Una Jagose, Solicitor-General
• COL Ruth Putze
• WO Stef Cyr from the Canadian Armed Forces
A range of mentoring focused
workshops will be conducted to
develop your mentoring repertoire
Other presentation topics include:
• Tona Korero
• Mentoring in Action
• UNSCR 1325 Overview
• The Army Mentoring Programme
CHALLENGE 2016
18armyPEOPLE
2/1 RNZIR soldiers are surrounded by the families, staff
and children of Ronald McDonald House South Island.
The Army Innovation Challenge is all about capturing your
good ideas, implementing them and looking at how we can
share or celebrate them.
GREAT PRIZES TO BE WON
Judging will take place at HQ 1 (NZ) Bde.
(Pre-Judging 01 August 2016. Final Judging 08-12 August 2016.)
CATEGORY ONE:
CATEGORY TWO:
EQUIPMENT INNOVATION
PROCESS INNOVATION
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enhancement or replacement of NZDF equipment, and
adaptation or re-rolling to achieve either quantifiable
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recommends new processes/procedures that will
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Helping the community one mattress at a time
CATEGORY FOUR:
CATEGORY THREE:
By Charlene Smart
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NZDF in their support of the project.
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armyHEALTH AND SAFETY19
Train Safe
Train Safe Case Study 39
Train Safe Case Study 40
An unsafe act is sometimes described as ‘an error or a violation committed in the
presence of a potential hazard.’ Violations are defined as ‘a deliberate deviation
from standard operating procedures, or rules.’ Violations are sometimes caused by
hazardous attitudes (risk taking, carelessness, short cuts).
‘I know this is wrong, but I am going to do it anyway!’
All personnel must be effectively trained to operate the Charge Directional
Fragmentation (CDF) under conditions to be expected operationally. Effective training
and repeated practice during individual training gives our personnel the necessary
knowledge and skills to handle the CDF safely and with increasing efficiency and
effectiveness. Developing this into repetitive practice under realistic operational
conditions is necessary to develop the levels of performance required on combat
operations. The operator must be responsible and aware of the state of the CDF
readiness at all times.
The Incident
xx A unit was conducting live field firing section assaults in Zone 1 of the Waiouru
Military Training Area.
xx During the assault the section commander ordered two members of the section to
throw their grenades.
xx The two throwers called ‘Grenade’, and the safety supervisor gave the
command ‘Down’.
xx The members of the section, including the safety staff, took cover.
xx The section commander adopted the kneeling position in a small depression that
was covered with approximately 20cm of snow.
xx He was struck in the shoulder by a piece of shrapnel.
The Incident
xx A unit was conducting a range week in the Waiouru Military Training Area.
xx The activities included a live field firing lane culminating in the live field firing
of the CDF.
xx A Young Officer (YO) who was operating the ammunition point, decided to base test
the M57 Electric Firing Device (EFD) and M4 Detonator Assembly.
xx The detonator fired and the YO suffered shrapnel wounds and third degree burns to
his left arm and chest.
xx He was treated at the scene, evacuated to the Waiouru Military Treatment Centre
(MTC), and subsequently moved to Palmerston North Hospital.
Facts
xx The section commander informed
the safety staff that he had been hit
by shrapnel.
xx A cursory inspection of his outer
clothing was conducted and
revealed no entry hole.
xx The exercise continued through a
second assault phase before the
activity was finally stopped.
xx On further examination of the
section commander, a small piece
of shrapnel was discovered in his
shoulder.
xx Approximately 40 minutes later,
after attempts to contact the
Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO)
were unsuccessful, the exercise
was recommenced.
xx The activity was recommenced
without the appropriate authority.
Facts
xx The activity was an approved
activity and all safety staff were
qualified for their appointments.
xx The YO was employed to assist with
the training although he did not
have a particular task to carry out.
xx He was instructed by the Range
Conducting Officer (RCO) to assist
at the ammunition point and to
check the CDF to ensure they had
all their associated parts.
xx At no stage was he directed to base
test the M57 EFD and M4 Detonator
Assembly.
Findings
xx The section commander was not
behind adequate cover.
xx The activity was not stopped when
the incident was first notified to the
safety staff.
xx The Commanding Officer (CO) was
not informed immediately of the
incident.
xx A number of procedural concerns
were identified and called into
question the competence of the
Range Conducting Officer (RCO) and
safety staff.
xx The correct post incident action
was not taken after the accident.
xx The exercise continued despite the
lack of adequate communications.
Conclusion – Fault Checking and Individual Responsibility
xx What do you think?
xx The OC and the RCO both received written censures for their respective actions
consequential to the accident.
xx It was recommended that the NZP2 be amended to provide more thorough
guidance regarding the requirements of the RCO and safety supervisors.
xx The recommendation was not endorsed, if the NZP2 was complied with, this
incident may not have occurred.
xx Had the RCO and safety staff been more diligent in the performance of their duties
they may have prevented the incident from occurring.
xx Non compliance with Safety in Training Policy and Training Policies and Procedures
is not permissible under any circumstances.
‘Do what is right, not what is easy.’
This case study is based on real events.
Some details have been omitted to protect privacy.
Findings
xx The cause of the injuries was a
result of incorrect procedure carried
out by the lieutenant when base
testing the M57 EFD and the M4
Detonator Assembly.
xx He carried out the test that he was
not directed to conduct.
xx The M40 Test Set Electric (TSE)
was not connected between the
M4 Detonator Assembly and the
M57 EFD.
xx He had not been instructed on how
to base test the M57 EFD and M4
Detonator Assembly.
xx The detonator was under his left
arm when it was initiated.
Conclusion – Fault Checking and Individual Responsibility
xx What do you think?
xx This incident occurred as a result of an unauthorised action by the YO and not the
result of procedural or training deficiencies.
xx The detonator functioned as it was designed to and the incident was caused by an
error of drill.
xx All post incident procedures were conducted in accordance with the appropriate
primary references and there was no requirement to amend any training or
supervision requirements for this type of activity.
xx If you are not trained or qualified to operate any type of weapon system, leave
it alone.
‘If one tries to navigate unknown waters one runs
the risk of shipwreck.’
This case study is based on real events.
Some details have been omitted to protect privacy.
20armyTRAINING
Fresh eyes on land
equipment safety
By Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Baker,
Director of Land Engineering
The Directorate of Land Engineering’s (DLE) primary
role is to ensure that all in-service land equipment is
fit for purpose, has engineering integrity, and is safe
to operate. The DLE is accountable to the Chief of Army
for providing this technical assurance, but how can this
declaration be confidently given? To learn what we’re
doing within the Logistics Command (Land) (LC(L)) to
support this assurance, read on:
The LC(L) has excellent systems, procedures and
documentation to ensure our equipment is managed
and maintained to a high standard. However, with
up to 1500 different types of land equipment being
overseen at any one time, issues can sometimes fall
between the cracks.
To explore this challenge, the Land Equipment Safety
Assessment (LESA) team was established. It carries out
detailed safety assessments of prioritised equipment
within the six fleets, managed by the Directorate of
Land Equipment Management (DLEM), also within
Logistics Command (Land). This allows fresh,
independent sets of eyes to review this equipment
across the full range of technical documentation,
training, maintenance and stakeholder engagement
with all levels of personnel.
The team were told to take nothing at face value.
When exploring a matter, if “why?” gets asked more
than five times, invariably the root cause(s) can be
identified. Often these issues lie in the ‘seams’ between
two separate sets of responsibilities, and can only be
unearthed by robustly interrogating the problem.
During the last six months, the LESA team has
completed safety assessments on a wide variety of
equipment, including the MHOV HIAB crane, tactical
field kitchen, quarry rock crusher, laser night aiming
devices, and so forth. This analysis has provided
excellent information for the LC(L) and Capability
Branch teams to address. In line with the new Health
and Safety at Work Act 2015, these assessments
give the ‘equipment management groups’ a holistic
understanding of the safety issues with an equipment
type; validate the concerns with the stakeholders; and
then prioritise the corrective actions across a range
of interventions, from training through to engineering
change. This mechanism provides a clear record of
evidence and enables the organisation to be able to
demonstrate a professional depth of risk understanding,
the decisions made to address those risks, and the
issues we are willing to accept and manage.
So, if you are concerned about a piece of equipment
you are using and feel it could be a fleet-wide issue,
follow the process and raise a Report of Defective Or
Unsatisfactory Materiel (RODUM) IAW DFO (A) Vol 4,
Pt 2, Chap 8, Sect 11. This will inform the equipment
managers within LC(L), and your equipment could be
the next to go under the microscope. Together, we can
make our gear safer and ensure the risk to you and your
mates is minimised, if not eliminated.
Health and safety isn’t about compliance; it’s about
ensuring everyone gets to go home safe after each and
every activity.
LC(L) kit check
When it goes wrong, who looks at the kit?
By Geoff Walsh, SO2 MROR LC(L)
There are a lot of mantras in the NZ Army, like ‘train hard,
fight easy’, which often means that we take ourselves and
our kit to the limit, and sometimes beyond.
When we go beyond those limits, and an accident or
incident occurs, the organisation utilises some very
thorough procedures to establish what happened and try
to avoid making the same errors in the future. But there
does seem to be a gap in how we look at the kit involved in
the event and how it played its part.
As an example, what do we do when a vehicle goes over?
Check for causalities: ensure that any stores are secured
and accounted for; any environmental damage caused by
leaking fluids (fuel, coolant, power steering fluid, etc) is
minimised; call for recovery assistance to get the vehicle
back on its wheels as quickly as possible; complete the
required SRS, VICARS, INTREP, NOTICAS reports. Does this
cover everything that we need to do?
When we are trying to do all those things, do we always
consider what part the kit played in the event? Although we
should have done an operator check/first parade before
we used it, have we got the skills to look at the kit and
determine that it was serviceable and safe prior to the
event occurring? What if there is a common fault in the
equipment that isn’t detectable in the normal operator
checks? Without performing a technical check after an
event, are we actually putting our mates at risk? Could
a similar event occur because that equipment fleet has
an issue that needs to be rectified and the equipment
managers just aren’t aware of it?
To that end, LC(L) is standing up a technical investigative
framework across the NZ Army to be able to do just that!
But why LC(L) and not your unit or formation, I hear you
ask? Well, LC(L) is responsible to CA and LCC for land
logistics. Part of that job includes the management of
equipment and LC(L) needs to be able to inform CA and LCC
of the technical worthiness of that equipment.
This investigative framework concept originated from
a Landworthiness Board (LWB) held early last year. From
there, the tried and true Military Appreciation Process
kicked in.
Mission analysis:
Winch operator behind protective screen on the MAN HX77
As an organisation, we need to know what risks we are
taking when we train. This was addressed last year with
the advent of the LWB, which was overseen by CA. The
LWB takes a critical look at different activities, to ensure
the risks associated are more clearly defined, mitigated,
and understood. This allows commanders and trainers
to be better informed and therefore provide a safer
environment while these activities are being conducted.
The LWB identified the need for an enhanced technical
investigation ability.
Course of action development:
One LWB member is the Director of Land Engineering (DLE),
who serves as the Technical Worthiness Authority and
resides within LC(L). A directed task that DLE has IAW DFO
(A) Vol 4. Part 2 is the conduct of engineering/technical
investigations when there is a question of misuse and
neglect, fitness-for-service, safety or environmental risk,
related to specific land equipment. Therefore, the enhanced
framework is being built around this appointment and its
ability to influence land equipment engineering integrity
and safety.
Course of action analysis:
To ensure that the technical investigation process is
consistent across all trade and equipment groups, the
investigations need to be conducted using common
methodologies. The NZDF Directorate of Safety has
endorsed the incident cause analysis methodology
(ICAM) for conducting any type of investigation. ICAM is a
systematic approach to incident investigations, finding the
root causes of the event and having a process in place to
ensure that the corrective actions are effective in preventing
a reoccurrence.
Decision and execution:
LC(L) wants to maintain a scalable ‘plug and play’
investigative response across the organisation, where the
senior trade specialists are able to respond depending
on the severity of the event. To ensure transparency
and integrity, the equipment will not be inspected by
tradespeople who are normally responsible for the repair
and maintenance of the equipment (ie, not from the same
unit). Since this is solely looking at the technical aspects of
the equipment, any information resulting from this technical
investigation will also help anyone else performing an
investigation into the same event.
So Army is now enabling a number of senior tradespeople
from LC(L), TRADOC, and 1 (NZ) Bde to be trained in ICAM
so that the investigative framework can be implemented
across the organisation. Thus, when the next accident/
incident occurs, we have the right people in place to
perform an informed ‘kit check’ and ensure that our gear is
safe, or address any issues that need to be corrected.
armyPEOPLE21
NZ cadet shines
in Singapore
By WO1 WD McAsey, RSM ACS
The Army Command School engages with a wide range
of countries to develop the relationships necessary for
operational success.
One example is our exchange with Singapore, through the
Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute. In this reciprocal
exchange, a Singaporean student is sent to New Zealand to
join the New Zealand Commissioning Course (NZCC) class,
in the snow. In return, one of our own completes the
challenging 10-month commissioning course in the tropical
heat of Singapore.
Second Lieutenant Kaden Luiten (then an officer cadet)
was chosen from the 2015 NZCC to attend the intense
course. During the course, cadets are taught and tested
on their ability to assimilate the wide range of skills that
are necessary to lead soldiers in complex situations and
environments. Training in Singapore offers many advantages,
including the opportunity to work with a far larger army’s
equipment and technology.
The New Zealand student also gets a complete immersion in
a foreign culture and environment. It provides graduates with
a class cohort that, in the future, will no doubt work together
either on exercise, disaster-relief activities or operations.
The Comd TRADOC, Colonel Bliss, and myself joined 2LT
Luiten’s family attending the graduation ceremony on 9
April. There were 340 graduates on parade. 2LT Luiten had
the distinct honour of being the first foreign student to be
awarded a ‘Sword of Merit’ for his performance during the
course. Earlier in the course, he had been awarded the prize
for top student on the ‘Jungle Confidence Course’.
2LT Luiten, RNZIR, is an excellent example of the New
Zealand warrior achieving excellence and enhancing NZDF’s
reputation on the world stage. He will now return to Waiouru
under the Post-Commissioning Programme, to conduct
further coursing before joining his future unit.
The next candidate to deploy to Singapore has already been
selected by the Army Command School. For that individual,
the pressure is already on − 2LT Luien has laid down quite a
challenge through his achievements.
There is no doubt, however, that our Singaporean friends
will provide the same warm welcome and challenging
professional development, that enhances the high standards
of our New Zealand graduates.
UN Special Service Medal presented to
former NZ Army officer in Somalia
Brigadier Ants Howie has been deployed to Somalia since 2011, with the UN Assistance
Mission. During his time, UK forces have started to provide some military staff to the
mission. One such officer is Lieutenant Colonel Mike Brown, currently of the UK Royal
Logistics Corps, but formerly an NZ Army officer with RNZALC.
LTCOL Brown has been with the British Army for eight years, and has just has completed
a short tour of duty with the UN in Somalia. For his service in Somalia, BRIG Howie, the UN
senior officer within the mission, presented him with the UN Special Service Medal.
BRIG Howie finished his assignment with the UN in Somalia at the end of April,
completing four-and-a-half years’ service there.
POSITION VACANT
Can you interact with people from all walks of society?
Could you assess a person’s suitability to enter into a sensitive
information sharing relationship?
Could you shape these relationships to safeguard operations?
Can you work in small team under Operational conditions?
Can you identify risks and apply strategies to mitigate
the risks?
Can you deal with a number of complex issues at any one time?
Do you understand the global security situation?
Are you able to obtain a Top Secret security clearance?
BRIG Howie presents the UN Special Service Medal and certificate to LTCOL Mike Brown.
EMAIL: FH.Recruiting@nzdf.mil.nz
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NO
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22armyPEOPLE
The
recipe
for
shooting
success
By LCPL James Burtin
The shooting culture
within 5/7 Battalion
has gone from strength
to strength since the
5/7 team originally won
the Freyberg and inaugural
Army Shooting Competition
in 2012, breaking a
25-year drought.
This was hugely significant as it had been 25 years since
a reservist unit had won the competition. Prior to 2012
however, 5/7 had some very notable individual successes
with two Queens Medalists and a few individuals who had
been heavily involved in the Army shooting team and had
won medals and trophies overseas. Since then the team has
won the Freyberg and overall Army Shooting Competition in
2012, 2015 and 2016, and came a very close 2nd in 2014.
Further to this, 5/7 has every year since contributed a
large amount of firers to the Army Shooting team who have
competed internationally and have regularly come back with
multiple medals and trophies. More importantly though, the
experience gained from competing internationally has been
very successfully used to further grow our shooting capability
within 5/7 and go full circle. This has occurred as a result of
the culmination of three major factors which all make up a
successful shooting culture: coaching, training and support.
Coaching
The coaching culture includes carefully pairing experienced
firers, who are keen and willing to pass on their experience,
with junior firers, who are also keen to learn and apply
themselves. This system benefits both firers where they
develop through the interaction with one another: The
junior learns to master the basics of marksmanship from the
coach, and the senior firer broadens their repertoire in how
to effectively coach. Using this approach we have learnt that
some techniques for shooting may or may not work for
individual firers and some coaching techniques may or
may not work for individuals.
Training
The training culture of a successful shooting team is also
paramount to success. It all starts well in advance of firers
stepping up to the mound with comprehensive battleprep. This is done by the HQ, the shooting management
team and senior firers, and includes booking ranges,
sorting ammo, stores, communications, shooting aides,
drumming up interest at AWQs and getting soldiers
interested and keen to develop their shooting.
By the time the team arrives in Waiouru to start the
build-up training, they hit the ground running: everything
is ready to go, junior and senior firers are paired off, jobs
are assigned, equipment is handed out, Point-of-Aim books
are fresh and ready to go. Everyone in the team has their
role to play to ensure the team functions as effectively as
it can, with a strong focus on quality training, as opposed
to quantity. Where applicable, every shot fired is disked
or observed, marked and recorded, building on the want
to continuously improve individual shooting as well as
coaching effectiveness, rather than trying to smash
people through the practice – as with anything, if you
practice doing it wrong, you will only reinforce the wrong
way to do it! Each firer strives to better their counterparts
armyPEOPLE23
in every practice, and it is common to see little individual
competitions occurring between firers. This also helps in
instilling the competitive drive needed to succeed during the
competition.
Support
The support from the unit is the third key aspect that
enables a successful team.
This encompasses having strong support from HQ to
provide the appropriate resources to allow the team to train
and compete to the best of their ability.
A supportive culture within the team is also a standard
and crucial component for success, with everyone
working collaboratively towards the common goal of being
professionals in the discipline of shooting and winning the
Army Shooting competition. 5/7 shooting team members
always look out for each other. It is clearly communicated
and understood that it is a “champion team that will win
and not a team of champions”. To further facilitate this, a
calm and respectful environment is created and maintained
during training by the coaching and management team,
so that the normal yelling and hurrying up of firers to get
through the serials is not the default but the rare exception.
This reflects itself in the high standard of professionalism
that is instilled into the team and is always commented on
by high-ranking officials during the competition itself.
Summary
Overall, the combination of good coaching, quality training
and consistent support are essentially what has enabled
the 5/7 team’s consistent success in marksmanship.
Looking forward, 5/7 is making continued efforts to support
the ongoing success of the 5/7 shooting culture by growing
it within the battalion so that it becomes a norm across the
unit, rather than being confined to the shooting team.
This is well on its way now. It can be seen during AWQs
where individuals of all ranks who have been on the
shooting team are on the line coaching, running the butts,
and passing on their knowledge. The key emphasis and
outcome desired is quality training not just getting a pass,
and this is again the key principle for training. The proof
that the culture is growing and effective is in the results
that the soldiers of 5/7 are achieving in their AWQ scores,
and that ex members of 5/7 now posted to other areas are
actively making themselves available to come back and
coach in their free time. The soldiers are becoming actively
interested in improving their shooting as opposed to just
wanting to get a tick in the box and forget about it until
next year, and all are improving on their previous shooting
scores significantly. The combination of the little changes in
behaviours eventually all add up across the unit and create
the overall successful culture.
For the strong shooting capability that 5/7 has developed
to be sustained in the future, it will be essential that the
coaching, training and support aspects are maintained,
and that the culture is allowed to continue to grow and
thrive. Further to this, the active use and combination of the
coaching training and support should also be applied
to all training aspects to further enhance the success the
unit overall.
Army Band provides Queen Elizabeth
with personal recital
The New Zealand Army Band has just performed before
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and HRH Prince Philip up
at Windsor Castle as part of the Queen’s 90th birthday
celebrations.
Band Director of Music Major Graham Hickman said the
Queen remembered enjoying the band’s performances
from the 2012 Royal Windsor Horse Show when the New
Zealanders were in the United Kingdom for the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
“This week however her schedule won't allow her to
attend our daily performances – so she requested a
special private performance of our long marching display
yesterday morning. We were escorted up to Windsor Castle
and performed on the front lawn, finishing the display just
metres from the Queen and Prince Phillip who were seated
under a tree.
“After the performance they both chatted informally with
the band for a few minutes prior to departing. This was an
unprecedented highlight for us and the troops were elated
by the experience.”
During the days the band performed a longer marching
display for the public at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. It
also performed a concert at a 90th birthday celebration
event on The Long Walk just west of Windsor Castle On
the Saturday and Sunday evenings, after the Pageant, the
band’s Dance Band and New Orleans Band performed at
the Global Village Cast Bar to all the Pageant participants.
24armynews
Book reviews
THE ANZAC EXPERIENCE
New Zealand, Australia and Empire
in the First World War
By Christopher Pugsley
“The Anzac Experience” is yet another fine publication
written by Christopher Pugsley and is the 2016 edition of
the original book that was first published in 2004 and then
reprinted in 2016. One of the hallmarks of Chris’s books
is his clear and concise technique of writing. The reader
can immediately identify that he would have researched
the subject fully. In “The Anzac Experience”, by his own
admission, he walked “every New Zealand battlefield on
Gallipoli and the Western Front”, and that is no mean feat
for anyone. He certainly lives by the adage of “walking the
walk” and “talking the talk”.
In the book, Pugsley has traced the evolution of the New
Zealand Army, as well as the Australian Imperial Force and
the Canadian Corps, from the Anglo/Boer War of 1899-1902
and up to the conclusion of the First World War. It tells
the story of how our poorly trained and lead New Zealand
Expeditionary Force was able to learn from the trials and
errors of those eight months on the Gallipoli Peninsula,
and applied the lessons learned to their actions on the
Western Front to create a New Zealand Division that was
reported to be one of the ‘best Allied fighting forces’ on the
battlefield.
“The Anzac Experience” examines our involvement in
the war in South Africa and then through the Great War
of 1914–1918. Much of the book, understandably, deals
with what the term “Anzac” means to both Australia and
New Zealand – and how different both nations, and its
peoples, view the acronym. If the reader of “The Anzac
Experience” gained nothing else from a study of the
pages in this brilliant work by Chris, other than to learn
how both Australia and New Zealand see and use the
term so differently, then much can be gained. For a start,
the Australians consider the term “Anzac” to just mean
‘Australians’. We, in New Zealand, see it for what it really
means – “Australia and New Zealand”. Even “Anzac Day”
is seen differently by both nations. In Australia, Anzac Day
PACIFIC STAR
By reg newell
focuses on those who went to war but in New
Zealand the focus has always been on the
cost of war and the names of the too many
dead on our memorials.
But there is just so much more to “The
Anzac Experience” than how both nations
viewed the term “Anzac”. The Anglo/Boer
War gets a chapter of its own; German
Samoa gets less. Understandably, New
Zealand’s involvement on Gallipoli is well
reported on as well as the New Zealand
Mounted Rifle Brigade and their outstanding
achievements in the Sinai and Palestine
campaigns. A comprehensive chapter on the
discipline and morale of the New Zealand
Expeditionary Force has been crafted by
“Pugs” to trace the evolution of the New
Zealand Expeditionary Force into the
professional fighting force that it became.
Pugsley also included a chapter on the
Canadian experience on the Western Front
and coming to the conclusion that their
“most brilliant Corps Commander, Lieutenant
General Sir Arthur Currie” was the catalyst
for their performance. This chapter was then
followed by an excellent chapter on both the
Australian Corps Commander, Major General
Monash, and New Zealand’s Major General
Sir Andrew Russell, and suggested that it
was Russell’s intent that all of his soldiers
were considered as his “most valuable asset” and that he
would never send his soldiers into battle unless they were
fully trained and that their plan of action ensured success.
In summary, an excellent book. Having just commemorated
the 101st anniversary of the coming ashore at Anzac Cove in
1915 and now the centennial of the first Anzac Day, this is the
Over many years of studying New Zealand’s involvement
in the Second World War, one doesn’t need to be a ‘rocket
scientist’ to come to the realisation that, generally, military
historians saw New Zealand’s involvement in the Pacific
conflict as being greatly inferior to those
hard-fought battles of Greece and Crete,
El Alamein, North Africa, Cassino, and
the like. Even many of our World War Two
veterans from the conflict in the Middle
East, North Africa and Italy appeared to
hold similar views. At long last, this myth
can be now discarded. Reg Newell, in his
excellent book “Pacific Star” has finally
put it right.
“Pacific Star”, as a result of detailed
research by Newell, which included
interviewing many Pacific War veterans,
and embellished by very clear maps and
over 50 photographs, tells a different
story. It accurately records the fight
against a ruthless enemy who was
determined to fight on until there was no
man left standing. It tells the story of the
fight in appalling conditions – the heat –
the rain – and the hostile flora and fauna
that they were against. It also clearly
describes the difficulties our soldiers in
the 3rd Division had in having to master
the tactics, techniques and procedures
required to be engaged in amphibious
warfare. And superimposed over all
these difficulties were the strained
relationships that the Division had with
their American allies.
“Pacific Star” is a ‘one-stop shop’. The
book covers their initial deployment
to Fiji and then into New Caledonia
and describes the major battles that
the Division fought in the Solomons –
Vella Lavella, the Treasury Islands and
Green Island. In telling these stories it
ideal book for the reader to learn a lot more on the trials
and tribulations of what “Grandad” (or Great Grandad) did
during that Great War. It also accurately depicts the “lovehate” relationship that has ensued between Australia and
ourselves for the last 101 years. “The Anzac Experience”
must take a prominent place in our annals of history.
Reviewed by Colonel (Rtd) Ray Seymour
is describing some of the most gruelling warfare that was
encountered by New Zealand soldiers in World War Two. It
also deals with the involvement of our Navy and particularly,
our Air Force, in this Pacific theatre of war.
Well done Reg Newell in providing us with this longoverdue detailed account of this war in the Pacific. There
can now be no doubt that the 3rd Division fought a most
difficult war and the results they obtained were not at a
large human cost. Approximately 20,000 New Zealand
men and women served in the Pacific, resulting in 94 being
killed in action; 189 being wounded in action and a further
50 died as a result of tropical illnesses and non-combat
related incidents.
“Pacific Star” is a “must read” for all our Servicemen and
women today, because of the importance that New Zealand
places on the Pacific. Just having the knowledge of difficult
environment, as described in “Pacific Star” will greatly
assist anyone who finds they are suddenly called upon to
deploy to the region, for activities such as the recent aid
mission to Fiji. In addition, “Pacific Star” needs to adorn the
shelves of every public and school library, for it finally tells
the true story of our involvement in this War.
As a final postscript, Reg Newell (on page 188) appears
to take issue of the fact that a “Valentine Mark V” tank
of the 3 New Zealand Division Tank Squadron, that once
“stood guard” at the National Army Museum, “is no longer
on display”. He is absolutely correct. But then again, nor
is 93 percent of the remainder of the collection on display.
However, as the Director of the Museum at the time of the
tank’s departure, having determined the importance of this
tank in the history of the 3rd Division’s Pacific involvement,
it was considered to be too great a taonga to have all and
sundry clambering over it in the challenging weather of
Waiouru, and the decision was made to completely restore
the vehicle and display it on special occasions. This tank,
and its crew, were involved in the rescue of a wounded
New Zealand soldier, in the face of the enemy. Fortunately,
the soldier survived – and the tank is now an important
treasure in the Museum’s iconic collection.
Reviewed by Colonel (Rtd) Ray Seymour
armyPEOPLE25
Leadership from beside,
from below, from within
As the 2016 recipient of
the highly contested 2016
University of Auckland Alumni
Leadership Fellowship,
Lieutenant Colonel Esther
Harrop will hone her
leadership skills under a
different paradigm.
The fellowship, a joint initiative between the New Zealand
Leadership Institute (NZLI) and the University of Auckland’s
Alumni Relations and Development office, provides a
funded place on the NZLI Leadership Mindset Programme.
Focusing on real-life issues, the prestigious programme helps
participants to better engage others in leadership within their
organisations.
Dr Fiona Kennedy, NZLI senior leadership facilitator,
says, “What stood out in Esther’s application and phone
interview was not only her past and current work, but, more
importantly, her willingness to think about leadership in
new ways, and to learn from those who have leadership
experience in diverse organisations. We are delighted to
welcome Esther into the programme.”
The programme began in March and will finish at the end of
June. Each month, for three months, 24 participants gather in
Auckland for two days of intensive leadership workshops. They
go armed with examples of real-life leadership challenges, and
having worked their way through a reading list.
The participants come from a wide range of organisations,
and diverse personal backgrounds. During the programme
they question common assumptions about leadership and
management; understand the link between assumptions,
worldviews and actions; discover new ways of influencing
that go beyond role and positional authority; and develop
and build new leadership practices. Participants are
encouraged to be reflective and self-critical.
At the first workshop, LTCOL Harrop had her first ‘aha
moment’: that you can lead from a position of support, rather
than the front; that you can be a leader who leads from
beside, or underneath, or within.
She says that while ‘command and control’-style
leadership works effectively during operations, in a
turbulent, uncertain environment, leadership means asking
the hard questions, and making the tough calls, and “you
don’t have to be the big boss”.
“We are taught to get out and lead from the
front, and you have to sometimes. In certain
environments, you just want the person to
bash through the door and do what they’re
told, but when we’re operating in a more
complex uncertain environment, we need to
everyone to exercise their own leadership.”
She said that, historically, a leader was thought of as
a person imbued with innate traits, and they led with
confidence and conviction, and with great oratory skills that
inspired others.
“Which is cool, I reckon. You can take bits of both. But
this programme is the complete opposite of that; it’s about
leadership as a ‘mindset’ – leadership as work. And what is
the work of leadership? It’s about seeking out options to make
a change in a difficult and turbulent environment, providing
solutions and asking questions that are going to help when
there is no obvious or easy option.
The second workshop in May focused on boundaries
to leadership and ‘the authenticity paradox’, as well as a
session focussed on real life examples of where adopting
a leadership mindset contributed to real positive change
in organisations. “The speakers they have are fantastic –
people who are actually really passionate about a leadership
mindset – really curious about a way to make things better,
to making their organisation better. I am also learning a
great deal about the other people on the programme – on
how they are adopting a leadership mindset and how that is
helping them in the challenging situations they face in their
work – whether that be as the boss of a hospital emergency
department, head of a sales team for a big corporate, or HR
manager for an IT company.”
During her 22 years in the NZ Army, LTCOL Harrop has had
a lot of experience in challenging situations. She has held
leadership roles in human resources; training and logistics at
the tactical, operational and strategic levels; and has worked
in Capability Branch and at the Ministry of Defence delivering
new equipment and capability into the NZDF. She was made
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her service
as supply platoon commander and later patrol commander
in Bougainville, and she has also served with the Canadian
Forces managing their LAV fleet both in Canada, and on
operations in Afghanistan.
In her current role as Director of Land Equipment
Management, she is responsible for all NZDF equipment
– clothing, vehicles, weapons, communication equipment
– used in the land environment both in New Zealand and
overseas, on operations.
Burnham’s changing landscape
By Charlene Smart
If you have visited Burnham Camp recently, you may have noticed that some trees have
gone − its ‘landscape regeneration project’ is in full swing.
During a violent storm in 2013, Burnham lost a large number
of trees. Many of the remaining trees, mainly blue gum, were
also found to be unstable or laden with rot.
Recently, fires at West Melton and along Two Chain Road,
close to camp, also demonstrated that the shelter belts
posed a significant fire hazard.
We were concerned that, if another storm rolled in, more
trees would be blown down, risking damage to the camp’s
infrastructure, and potentially, loss of life. If a fire occurred,
the trees could spread the fire and ignite adjacent buildings.
A risk analysis of Burnham’s landscape identified many
serious, tree-related hazards and risks. We needed to
determine the best course of action to protect the safety of
the people operating within the camp.
The Burnham Landscape Regeneration project is about
managing risk to life, property and security, while increasing
the biodiversity value and ‘sense of place’ associated with
the camp.
In 2015, 6000 native trees were planted in Coronation
Park, near the rugby field and the 189 paddock. This
year, an estimated 20,000 native trees will be planted
in and around camp. NZDF is working with Rolleston
Prison to supply the trees.
NZDF Regional Facilities Manager Southern, Rob
Ansell, said the new plants will come from a variety of
native species, originating from the Canterbury plains.
“This will provide for a healthy sustainable plant
community, matching Burnham’s soil and climate
conditions, and supporting insect and bird life.
That, in turn, supports a healthy, low-maintenance
environment for the plants,” he said.
While this project is still in its early stages, the
community may be able to help with the replanting.
Keep an eye out to find out how you can help and
get involved.
26armySPORT
Ultraman Australia
a challenge to be reckoned with
Major John Humphries has
been training for the Ultraman
Australia event to raise funds
for the New Zealand Fallen
Heroes Trust. Completing an
Ironman of 226 kms can be
a daunting task in anyone’s
eyes, but an Ultraman event
of 515 kms over three days, he
writes, would certainly test
his limits.
When I was serving in Timor-Leste I planned my leave around
Ironman New Zealand in 2014. On my return a book called
‘Finding Ultra’ by ‘Rich Roll’ caught my eye, so I made the
purchase and started reading it. It was about this time I
was thinking of getting a coach, as I wanted to improve my
finishing times. After reading the book I contacted Army PTI
Ray Boardman and asked him if he could help me. I made it
clear that my ultimate goal was to consider doing an Ultraman.
Ray was more excited about the venture than me, but as I knew
they only accepted 40 athletes, it would be a wish list at best.
We planned for the 2016 event, knowing full well we
wouldn’t know if I would get accepted until late 2015. When
nominations opened I placed my registration of interest
with a brief resume of my previous endurance efforts, listing
Ironman and half Ironman events, marathons, etc. Come
the day we knew we would find out if accepted in November
of 2015, Ray was texting me as I was eagerly watching the
Australian time-zones click over. I logged on during midmorning to see if an email had arrived. It had and I didn’t
want to open it. After reading the email from Ultraman
Australia I rang Ray and said “We’re in”. Ray said our focus
would be to continue training for my next Ironman then step
up the training from there.
I have been often asked how I train for these events. Before I
got a coach I self-trained, but in reality I had no idea what I was
doing, I just thought it was all about distance. Being coached
by Ray I soon learnt it was all about training ‘smarter’. The
bonus is I also have had less injuries and a better recovery
rate. But it’s a two-way street. A coach will set out the week’s
training programme and the client has to be committed to it. If
you are going to give it a half attempt you’re not only wasting
your coach’s time, but more importantly you are wasting your
time. On reflection, I haven’t missed a single training session
under Ray’s guidance. I have had to swap the odd session
around between days due to other commitments of either a
work or personal nature, but these are few and far between.
The best thing with having a coach is you will receive feedback,
which keeps you focused on your ‘aim’ which is your training,
and focused on your ‘goal’ which are your events.
The road to Ultraman has seen me training eight times a
week. I train twice a day on a Monday and Tuesday swimming
and cycling one day and swimming and running the next
day. A brick session for a couple of hours of cycling on a
Wednesday followed immediately with running, a stretching
session and sports massage on a Thursday. It has been
swimming only on a Friday, with the weekends being the big
cycling and running sessions.
Easter and Anzac weekends saw long sessions on each of
the days of more than six hours on the bike, running over
Marathon distances and swimming further than I have ever
swam before. If the weather is wet, it’s simple ‘get over it’,
if it is raining or blowing a gale on race day, you still have to
get out there and do it, so therefore train for it. There are four
disciplines to focus on for Ironman and Ultraman events—
swimming, cycling and running, and nutrition. The latter
is often over-looked or people getting it wrong (including
myself). The two most common mistakes to get wrong are to
not eat or drink enough during your events. The other mistake
is trying something new on race day. Race day is not the time
to find out if some nutrition upsets your digestive system and
can cause you to DNF (Did Not Finish).
Once I was accepted for Ultraman, I knew I needed a
support crew as it is compulsory to have at least two. My
Coach Ray was obviously my first choice with his background
in endurance sports and I know he knows what he is doing. I
brought on board LT COL Derrick McMillan and LT COL Scott
Cordwell from within my work environment at Army GS. After
they agreed to it, I told them that for the double marathon on
Day 3 they would be playing tag at running beside me.
I have also learnt it is a bit of a logistical nightmare to get
everything ready and signed off. Ironman is a fully catered
course, and the beauty of it being in Taupo is everything is
pretty much there. You load the car up and turn up a few
days before and if planned correctly not too much should
go wrong. But with Ultraman, it is sourcing everything from
accommodation, support crew vehicles, arranging bike
inspections, airline tickets from different parts of New Zealand,
insurance, consulting with Ultraman Australia regarding their
various needs, medical checks, and the list goes on.
I know I have said this before, but if anyone is thinking
of doing either an Ironman or Ultraman or other endurance
event, make sure you get your family on-board. The time and
commitment is huge and they make as much a sacrifice as
the athlete does.
Even before I knew I was accepted for Ultraman Australia, I
had been thinking of using the event as an opportunity for the
Fallen. The acronym to describe it best is KIWI = Killed, Injured,
Wounded and Ill of the NZDF. So I have chosen this opportunity
to fundraise for them on my ‘givealittle’ page I have set up
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4ultrahumps of which
all the funds will go to the cause, as I am completely selffunding my attendance at the event myself. I want to maintain
the awareness of the New Zealand Fallen Heroes. Our killed,
injured, wounded and ill personnel should not be forgotten
and should be fully supported, including the families that are
left behind. It is something close to my heart, and it’s about an
opportunity to give something back to the organisation that
has given me many opportunities since I was a teenager.
To follow my progress at Ultraman Australia go to
https://facebook.com/ultrahumps
• As Army News went to print, Major Humphries
successfully completed the Ultraman.
armySPORT27
Inter-regional
cycling
Army cyclists gathered at Woodbourne in April to contest the
Inter-Regional Road and Mountain Biking trophies.
The popular ‘Grape Ride’ competition was this year’s
road race. On a drizzly Saturday morning, participants
completed 100km alongside some 2000 civilian cyclists.
The Army team’s distinctive red and black uniform stood
out amongst the crowd, with military riders also displaying
leadership and positive encouragement to those around
them. Wet conditions made the course rather slippery,
and a few were caught out by that; however, Army riders
generally go better in the wet as they are not afraid of the
rain − waterproof skin, you see!
Major Brett Grieve, Southern, entered the Elite
competition. After riding in a breakaway with the road
national champion for 80km, he picked up 9th overall
and was placed 2nd in men 34−44 years, representing the
jersey well.
The Inter-Service Road Race was won by Sapper Andrew
Simpson, followed closely by Lieutenant Ian Eagle, both of
Central. Third place went to Mr Steve Melton, of Southern.
The next event was a criterion held on the Blenheim
Go-Kart track. It proved to be physically and technically
challenging, but it provided great learning opportunities.
It was held under perfect conditions and was thoroughly
enjoyed by all.
The MTB side of the competition had a new format that was
hugely popular with riders, consisting of timed uphill and
downhill runs at Wither Hills MTB Park. The terrain was
challenging yet achievable for all levels of riders. WO2 Grant
Nisbet took the day with his combination of determined
climbing and skilful descending.
The final day was sabotaged by an untimely Unimog
breakdown, making the downhill competition at Whites Bay
logistically unviable. This created new opportunities; an
impromptu training day was conducted with three smaller
groups: Downhill, Cross Country MTB and Road. This was
a great chance for riders of all regions to train together
and pass on knowledge, while enjoying the beautiful
Marlborough countryside.
The regionals were capped with a formal awards ceremony,
with excellent catering from ESS Woodbourne. This was
conducted in a relaxed manner, celebrating success and
building on new friendships formed. The Army cycling
committee wish to acknowledge the leadership of Corporal
Zeb Lennon-Voice (MTB) and Staff Sergeant Wayne Anderson
(Road), and the first-rate medical coverage provided
by Captain Rose Fraser. RNZAF Base Woodbourne were
excellent hosts, making a great mix of social and barrack
facilities available.
The committee warmly congratulate the following riders/
teams for their achievements:
MTB 1st region:
Central
Road 1st region:
Southern
Overall 1st region:
Southern
2016 Road Team:
1.
SPR A Simpson
2 ER
2.
LT I Eagle
QAMR
3.
PTE G Bell
DHO
4.
SSGT W Anderson
2/4 RNZIR
5.
WO2 J Jessop
2/4 RNZIR
6.
SSGT R Kokko
2 CSS Bn
7.
WO2 G Nisbet
HQ JFNZ
8.
Mr T Hirst
LC(L)
9.
Mr S Melton
CIS
10.
MAJ B Grieve
3 CSS Bn
1.
MAJ R Te Moana
HQ JFNZ
2.
Mr S Stallard
ILD
3.
LT E O’Brien
MI Coy
1.
WO2 G Nisbet
HQ JFNZ
2.
SPR A Simpson
2 ER
3.
LT D Hare
2 CSS Bn
4.
Mr M Reid
3 HSC
5.
Mr O Smith
DLE
6.
Mr S Melton
CIS
7.
Mr K Pittams
DLC
8.
PTE S Avery
3 CSS Bn
Reserves:
2016 MTB Team:
Army pockets were awarded to the following riders for
representing Army in the November 2015 inter-service
competition in Taupo:
1.
Mr S Melton
CIS
2.
SSGT W Anderson
2/4 RNZIR
3.
LT I Eagle
QAMR
4.
SSGT R Kokko
2 CSS Bn
28armySPORT
Celebrate, remember, fight back!
Whakanui, maumaharatia, tu atu!
Sporting red poppies woven
into harakeke sashes, a
team from Linton Camp ran
in this year’s Relay for Life –
Manawatu.
The annual event supports the Cancer Society, in its fight
against a disease that affects almost everyone in one way
or another.
Team manager SGT Sally Reid took the reins with the help
of our health and safety advisor, Mr Selwyn Ponga-Davis. We
received donations and support camp units such as LRSC,
2CSSB and Defence Careers − just to name a few.
The command team decided on a theme; each runner
would sport a harakeke (flax) sash with poppies woven
into it, much like the mokowaewae worn by SNCOs. This
sash, created by SGT Reid, supports us on our journey in
remembering our veterans, our fallen, and those who have
fought back to overcome.
A collection at the camp gates helped to raise over $600 –
and even a few foreign coins and a car wash token. We would
like to thank those who dug deep and gave what they could.
The team consisted of Regular Force, civilians and
dependants: the young, the not-so young, and even a sevenmonth-old baby took to the track. CPL Robyn Williams made
the call to gather in some stronger legs from our the School
of Sigs students and from the MILNOC. Our target was to
support the cause, foremost, and to enjoy the day.
There were plenty of visitors throughout the day, and when
DCA, BRIG Parsons, called in, we couldn’t help asking him
to join us. Of course, he was already prepared to run at a
moment’s notice. Although I think he drew the short straw
when paired up with WO1 Rapana and then did all the running
for the next hour − only to be timed by our PTI representative,
CPL Aroha Maiden, on his final lap.
The night brought a candle ceremony, with a minute’s
silence, followed by prayers, music and live entertainment
through to fireworks at midnight. Cheering and singing kept
those of us on the graveyard shift entertained and motivated.
The morning routine began with tai chi, and some rather
entertaining Zumba efforts from the crowd. The Rotary Club
provided a sensational breakfast to boost the energy levels.
On the last hour, we discovered that we were doing
reasonably well. To secure a respectful placing, we picked up
the ante. “Operation Final Dash” was put in place; the last
remaining members dug deep and pushed out some final
laps. As tired as we were from the night before, everyone
made an excellent effort, placing 18th from 115 teams.
Palmerston North Boys High School took 1st place.
Overall, $300,000 was fundraised for the Relay for Life –
Manawatu.
When it was finished there were high-fives all round, a
speedy and seamless pack down, then each of us dispersed
towards a well-deserved sleep. Well done to all participants
and the command element. We will be looking for another
team for next year’s event!

Army News - Issue 472 PDF, 3.91MB

Transcription

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