www.army.mil.nzissue498 | nov/Dec 2018

Kia Kaha Kia maia Kia manawanuiBe strong · Be Brave · Be steadfast

The army news is published for the regular and Territorial Force and civilian staff of the

new zealand army.

editor: Judith MartinPhone: 021 240 8578

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Contentsnews

Soldier of the Year 02Volunteer of the Year 03

5/7 win shooting comp 03

peopleKiwi firefighters in

Sacramento 05

Farewell MAJGEN Tim Gall 08Supporting the SAS 16

MHOV community gathers 30

operationsAntarctica 09Te Auraki 11

exerCisesAeromedical evacuation 12

Ex Whakatipu 14EOD 15

Sari Bair 31

CommemorationsThe guns fall quiet 21

Armistice in the capital 22Mono 75th marked 25

sportCycling 33

Triathlon 34Invictus 36

nov/DeC 2018

ISSUE 498

sma.netBy warrant officer class one clive Douglas

as we near year end, it is timely to do a stocktake of our private affairs. ensuring our private affairs are in order is linked to being combat ready. is my will up to date, and does it reflect my current family circumstances? am i on track for saving for my first home and for my retirement? Have i got a certificate for my miBP Tier 1 insurance and is it time to buy more insurance for myself or my partner? Do i have adequate insurance cover for my car, house or contents?The Force Financial Hub provides a range of benefits and services, aimed at enhancing the financial security of us as NZ Army members and our families, and much of this is either provided for free or at a reduced price.

You and your partner are able to obtain a free Will or to get an out of date Will updated through the Force Financial Hub. Having an up to date Will is important for all of us. In event of death it helps ensure that the MIBP insurances and any other life insurances as well as our KiwiSaver funds and other assets are paid out in accordance with our wishes, and in a timely manner. Without a Will, it may take 12 months or more to get assets paid out, and they may not go to our intended recipients.

Each month we are seeing more members using their NZDF Savings Scheme’s funds to buy their first home, and this incudes monthly purchases in the Auckland region. Members have access to a free mortgage broker service provided through the Force Financial Hub and they and their partners are able to attend one of the NZDF “financing a home” seminars provided regularly to learn more about how to go about buying a house.

For the 8,600 members of the NZDF Savings Schemes, there is

an exciting new feature which shows members how their savings are tracking to provide the funds for a comfortable retirement at age 65. This is a very useful tool, particularly for those who are established in their own home and turning their focus to saving for their retirement. Recent Massey University research reflects that a couple living in either Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington will require between $494,000 and $783,000 in savings for a comfortable retirement; those living in other locations will require between $425,000 and $494,000. These figures assume that the retiree owns their own home.

For many of us, these figures are a bit frightening. However, don’t be put off by this. The younger we start saving for our retirement the better, but it is never too late to start saving, either. Put your name down for one of the NZDF financial capability programmes to learn more about how best to accumulate savings; and look at what the NZDF KiwiSaver Scheme is able to offer.

To find out more about any of these offerings, Google the Force Financial Hub, and share the details with your partner and other family members.

SMA Jungle Tip: if you do nothing else, at the end of the year please ensure you have an up-to-date Will.

As the year ends, AJ and I would like to thank you all for the continued commitment and sacrifice you make in serving New Zealand. To those deployed overseas and those performing duties over the Christmas period our thoughts are with you and your families. Look after yourselves, support your families and I look forward to working alongside you all in 2019. Rest stand clear.

Nga mihi – see you on patrol.

one of the new zealand army’s outstanding emergency responders, cPl Tom Grant, has been selected as soldier of the year.CPL Grant (25) serves in the 2nd Engineer Regiment and is based at Waiouru Military Camp as a first responder for the Shift in Charge at 4th Emergency Response Troop.

The Soldier of the Year award citation said CPL Grant had clearly demonstrated the NZ Army’s values of courage, commitment, comradeship and integrity throughout the year. This included responding to a motor vehicle accident while off duty and providing life-saving first aid to an injured civilian – for which he received a commendation from the Chief of Army.

He is a nationally ranked Emergency Responder who competed in New Zealand’s Fire Fighter Combat Challenge contests and was selected to compete at the World Fire Fighter Combat Challenge in Sacramento, USA in October.

Earlier in the year he was in Northern California fighting fires with a group from Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), first as crew leader and then promoted to Task Force Leader in charge of six crews. That was his fourth overseas deployment as a fire fighter.

When CPL Grant left Thames High School he was looking for a challenging career that would be respectable, active and include travel. Both his grandfathers had done compulsory military training with the Army and his great grandfather served in World War 1.

He joined the Army in February 2011 and has excelled from the start, including becoming Top Student in both his Physical Training Instructors course and Senior Command and Control Firefighting course.

His day job includes equipment checks, training, fitness work and responding to civilian 111 callouts in the Waiouru/Desert Road area. Those can include car accidents, medical assists, hazardous substances and scrub fires.

He’s also on call as a first responder during military exercises

at Waiouru.“We work alongside FENZ who recognise our fire station and respond us to any 111 calls in the area,” he says. “It’s a big turnout area and we can also support the fire stations in Turangi, Ohakune, and Taihape.”

solDier of the Year CPL Tom Grant

The Chief of Army, MAJGEN John Boswell presents the Soldier of the Year trophy to CPL Grant.

a message from

Chief of armY

reservist taKes shooting honours in waiouruLance Corporal Mark Lupi, 5/7 Battalion, RNZIR won the prestigious Queen’s Medal Champion Shot from a field of 132 competitors in the 2018 New Zealand Army Shooting Competition (NZASC) in Waiouru in November.

Described by Land Component Commander Brigadier Jim Bliss as Army’s premier shooting competition the NZASC is an opportunity for soldiers from any unit to compete against each other to win both individual and team honours. The numbers in this year’s competition were the largest for some time.

Shooting is a core skill and small arms excellence, effective application of fire and accurate target engagement are critical components of survival in the contemporary operational environment.

Once again 5/7 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment took out top honours for the NZASC team trophy and also the Freyberg Trophy with 16th Field Regiment, Royal Regiment New Zealand Artillery winning the Hardham Trophy.

Chief Umpire Major Matt Tucker said a lot of work goes on behind the scenes each year to make the competition successful and this year was no different.

“The organising team do this work as well as their day jobs and they’ve done an exceptional job, as have the scorers, umpires, range control officers and all other support staff over the duration of the competition.”

Army News will have more on the shooting competition in its February issue.

nZDf volunteer of Year generous with time anD sKillsnew zealand Defence Force volunteer of the year sergeant maaka mcKinney carries four pagers – he’s on call 24/7 to coastguard Tutukaka, the rural Fire service, st John ambulance, and his local fire brigade in northland. Sergeant McKinney is employed fulltime by Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), as a trainer conducting training and development for regional and national volunteer firefighters.

He is also employed by the NZDF for Reservist training and serves as a member of the New Zealand Army’s 3/6 RNZIR, Northland Company, as the company’s weapons sergeant. He served more than 20 years in the Regular Force.

As a local volunteer, he is a Deputy Rural Fire Controller for Kaikohe District Rural Fire Force, a member of the district’s long-duration scrub and bushfire firefighting team, a volunteer ambulance officer with St John in the Whangarei/Tutukaka area, and an operator for Coastguard Tutukaka.

That strong commitment to volunteering his time and skills to benefit his local community has earned him the NZDF Volunteer of the Year award for 2018.

Sergeant McKinney also raises awareness and funding for NZDF personnel and first responders who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

In May last year he walked and cycled the length of New Zealand with no support crew, living on the side of the road, to help raise awareness for mental health.

This year he walked from his home in Tutukaka to Auckland with his dog Blaze to compete in the Sky Tower Challenge, raising money for mental health charities along the way.

“I wanted to motivate others to not be scared or embarrassed about having any form of mental health issue, to put aside that stigma and to take that step forward towards healing,” he said. “And so I decided to take a journey, walking and cycling through New Zealand with the aim of encouraging first responders and NZDF personnel to seek professional help when they need it.

“I wanted to promote awareness and normalise the emotions that come with mental health issues – not to try and hide it, but to talk about it and share it.”

as we wind up the year and look to 2019 i encourage you all to do three things. Firstly, you should all look back on your service over the past 12 months with both considerable satisfaction and pride. Kiwis by nature are an unassuming bunch and all too often we don’t give ourselves nearly as much credit as we should for what we achieve. On operations, during training here in New Zealand, and as you went about your day to day business you all have, time and again, clearly demonstrated just how capable you are. I take great pride, and am often humbled, by just how incredibly talented our people are and how professional you all are in the execution of your respective responsibilities. Can I ask you all, for a moment, to pause and take stock – if you’re honest with yourself 2018 has been an incredibly impressive year and we got a lot right.

What is also important however, in reviewing 2018, is that we should also reflect on those things we could’ve done better. As soon as we start patting ourselves on the back and claiming that “this is as good as it gets’ then we’re kidding ourselves and mediocrity will set in. This is no more stark a reality than on operations where our adversary is constantly adapting, and constantly looking to new and innovative ways to defeat us. This then is my second ask. As you wrap up the year in your units, or in slow time this summer over a beer, when you’re out for a run, or when the fish aren’t biting, challenge the way we do things and give thought to how we can be better, faster, and achieve greater effect. Only by a process of honest review will we not only continuously improve as an Army, but maintain our competitive edge.

Finally, it is really important that you all take the opportunity to enjoy your Christmas. You can’t keep performing at the pace you do, to the standards that you all are, without regularly recharging the batteries. It doesn’t matter what rank or appointment you hold the coming leave break is important – to you and to your families. Make the absolute most of your time off and look to hit 2019 with the same levels of enthusiasm and energy that you did in 2018.

In wishing you and your families a great Christmas I thank you for your continued service, and them for their continued support. Be left in absolutely no doubt it is both acknowledged, and valued.

Merry Christmas all

major General John Boswellchief of army

SGT Maaka McKinney

5/7 Top Guns with their support team.

04 armYnews

By land component commander Brigadier Jim Bliss

in the october issue of the new zealand Army News, our chief of army major General Boswell provided his vision of a modern, agile, highly adaptive, light fighting force. For those who have been in the Service for a few years, this will resonate well as it harnesses the best attributes and characteristics of the NZ soldier and how we approach the profession of arms. Our Army has always been a comparatively light force, but has punched above its weight by its resilience, adaptability and innovation, the calibre of Officers and NCOs, and the fighting spirit of its soldiers. For those new to the Service, we are at a unique point in time as we “up-gun” our operational capacity and lethality through both modernisation and integration of our weapons, vehicle and communications fleets, and we introduce and enhance capabilities to meet current and future operating environments. As the incoming Land Component Commander, perhaps the most compelling statement that struck me in CA’s article, however, were the last two words – “crack on”.

What does “cracking on” in the Land Component look like? The purpose of the Land Component is to deliver the land force of today and posture the land force for tomorrow. To me, that entails four key responsibilities to bridge the strategic direction (from Government, NZDF and CA) to the tactical actions and activities to be undertaken by 1st (NZ) Bde and TRADOC (NZ) units at home and on operations.

1. Setting the Land Training Environment.

This is about creating the environment to empower and support tactical commanders to prepare land capabilities for operations, whilst holding them accountable and responsible for outputs, performance and stewardship of their units. It also includes operationalising (and simplifying where possible) land outputs for both the Regular and Reserve Forces to prepare to. We intend to do this by the end of the year. If this sounds like mission command and directive control, then, yep, you are bang on.

2. Securing Resources and Opportunities.

Some of the resources we need to generate our wide range of land outputs reside outside of the Land Component either in other components, Services or, at times, Government departments. We also have opportunities to leverage partner military training, especially capabilities like close air support and high end collective training where platforms and larger formation activities are more readily available overseas. It is the Land Component Command’s responsibility to chase these opportunities and resources on behalf of our Formations and Units. What does this look like? Exercise Lightning Matawai (see p.6) with 25th (US) ID in Louisiana and Exercise Steel Knight with MARFORPAC in California are good examples for two of our combat units training in environments, and with capabilities, that are not readily available at home.

3. Owning the Combat Narrative.

The Land Component is responsible for the preparation of Force Elements and individuals for military operations, and in particular, combat operations. This includes training and preparing for potential mission sets that might appear outside of our stated outputs and responses. It is to the credit of our individual training system within TRADOC and our collective training environment at 1 (NZ) Bde that we have the agility to adapt to emerging and complex missions with relatively little reorientation or extra training. Our NCO and Officer promotion courses are prime examples where these skills immediately transfer into military capability such as the BPC mission in Iraq, or Coalition Staff appointments in South Sudan, Iraq, Sinai or Afghanistan. The Land Component is currently reviewing how we train and prepare for the Integrated Land Missions set; Joint Land Combat, Capacity Building, Population Protection, and Population Support. More on this later, but what we are seeking is greater alignment of the Land Tasks and METs with missions, outputs and outcomes, and ultimately more focused individual and collective training; in essence “getting better bang for our buck”.

4. Building Relationships.

One of the key responsibilities of the Land Component is to remove barriers to success. This includes championing innovation, hooking up organisational experts with the war-fighters in the unit to progress initiatives and capability integration, growing cross-component and cross-military interoperability, and shaping understanding of what the Land Component brings to the fight. We all have our part to play in this, and leveraging the power of a conversation or face to face engagement. As a visiting U.S. Army General remarked recently “we don’t want to start making friends when the shooting starts”.

One of the challenges of our Land Force is how do we grow or enhance our lethality? This is the question I put to our Formation Leadership Teams earlier this month, and one I would ask you to consider. Recent exercises Sari Bair and Phantom Major would suggest that through the combined arms effect of our combat teams (and the robustness of our combat support and combat service support elements training in complex scenarios), development of multi-mission capability forces, operational experience, and safe but challenging training environment, we are making some good progress. I would offer that even greater interaction and interoperability with the Special Operations Component, enhancing our personal and unit deployability states, and investment in innovation and technology on the fringes of our core capabilities, will help pull us toward our goal of mastery of operations in the land domain. I look forward to catching up and hearing your thoughts in the near future.

maximising our warfighting CapaBilities

armYpeople 05

Four emergency responders from 2nd engineer regiment, corps of royal new zealand engineers represented the new zealand army in the new zealand team at the world Fire Fighter combat challenge championships in sacramento, california. Team leader sergeant Dan Klaassen described it as an amazing experience.“For us to compete alongside the 16 other Kiwis showing the world’s best what New Zealand is made of was amazing.

“New Zealand Army proved to be an asset for the Kiwi contingent as we faced off against 300 other

competitors from more than 16 different countries.”He said the biggest take away for himself was being

able to bench mark on what “the best” actually looks like.“This perspective will be invaluable for future

competitors taking on the regional, national and international competitions.”

Sapper Aidan Grant ran a time equivalent to that of the top ranked NZ competitors putting him in a good position leading into next year’s regional and national events. Sapper Petra Dye-Hutchinson and Corporal Thomas Grant were on the verge of smashing Lion’s Den runs, but due to an unfamiliar course they were unable to find the fault free run they had trained so hard to achieve.

“However they have also positioned themselves in a great place leading into next season.”

SGT Klaasen said the international bonds that were made over the competition have increased exposure to the New Zealand competition platform and should see international competitors visiting New Zealand to compete over the coming years.

Kiwi fire fighters Compete in international Challenge

confirmed results for the week long competition:

category: open male

Aidan GrantPlacing: 54th Overall Time: 1:38.59

Thomas GrantPlacing: 76th Overall Time: 1:41.55

Dan KlaassenPlacing: 144th Overall Time: 2:00.08

category: open Female

Petra Dye-HutchinsonPlacing: 15th overall Time: 3:02.85

category: Tandem Female

The Blondies (Amelia Wood & Petra Dye-Hutchinson)Placing: 7th overall Time: 2:15.76

category: Tandem male

Mrs Grants Boys (Aidan Grant & Tom Grant)Placing: 15th overall Time: 1:24.90

category: co-ed Tandem

Who Wears the Pants (Petra and Aidan)Placing: 17th Time: 1:51.82

category: Team relay open

NZ Army Relay Team (Daniel, Petra, Thomas, Aidan)Placing: Not placed Time: 1:24.69

category: Team relay Female

New Zealand Female Relay Team (Kiwi Chicks) Including Petra Dye-HutchinsonPlacing: 3rd Overall Time: 1:50.56 (Fastest ever by an NZ Female relay team)

06 armYexerCise

exerCise lightning matawai 18

armYexerCise 07

By lT Jono Healey

a combat Team from 2/1 rnzir has just completed a two-week exercise with 4400 united states army soldiers in louisiana.The coalition force took part in Exercise Lightning Matawai at the Joint Readiness Training Centre (JRTC) in Fort Polk.

The exercise ranged from population protection to land combat operations, and involved an array of combat planes, helicopters and artillery, said Major Craig Thorne, the Officer Commanding of Alpha Company of 2nd/1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.

“Among the range of skills tested was our readiness to deploy quickly from New Zealand to Hawaii and then onwards to Fort Polk in the United States,” Major Thorne said.

“We tested our ability to operate with a coalition partner, as well as our skills in conducting offensive and defensive manoeuvres – from undertaking combat operations during battalion attacks to dealing with internally displaced civilians and media.”

The Combat Team travelled to Hawai’i to integrate with the 1st-27th Battalion, based at Schofield Barracks. As part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (2 IBCT) we participated in a rotation at the JRTC which is the United States Army’s brigade level testing facility.

Fort Polk in Louisiana is home to a three hundred- strong permanent opposition force and a training area

similar in size to Waiouru. Each infantry brigade in the US Army rotates through it, on an eighteen month cycle, to be evaluated for operational readiness.

The New Zealand combat team, based around Alpha Company included 140 soldiers from across 2nd/1st Battalion, a joint fires team from 16 Field Regiment, and sappers from 3 Field Squadron. It was an opportunity for both nations’ armies to practise integrating with a coalition partner in an operational setting. The rotation included an 11-day tactical exercise involving a free play conventional enemy battalion and a three day Brigade live field firing period. The tactical exercise saw Alpha Combat Team facing a mechanised battalion, armed with T-80 main battle tanks and BMP armoured fighting vehicles with a host of artillery as well as drone surveillance and attack helicopters.

It was a very different and challenging environment for the Kiwis to operate in. Alpha Combat Team traded the open alpine tussock of Tekapo and Waiouru training areas for forested swamps in the American South. They also faced an enemy with superior mobility and fire power. In this environment the combat team was forced to adapt, we went back to the basics of soldiering, avoided roads, patrolled in the tree lines and hit the enemy when they were vulnerable.

The live field firing saw the Kiwis clear an enemy town. Before the attack artillery and Apache gunships live fired onto the target area. The perimeter wire was then breached with explosives and the infantry poured through, and cleared house to house. It was a unique experience for a NZ Army unit to live fire as part of a much larger force, with divisional assets available to support our assault.

08 armYpeople

By luz Baguioro, Public affairs manager – Joint Forces new zealand

major General Tim Gall highlighted the role of the new zealand Defence Force as an enabler of new zealand’s foreign policy when he handed over command as commander Joint Forces new zealand and completed 40 years of service in the military at the end of october.“Our work not only helps New Zealanders but also people in other countries where we operate. We carry the New Zealand flag wherever we serve,” he said.

In a ceremony at Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand at Trentham, Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Kevin Short paid tribute to Major General Gall’s

commitment and service as a soldier and as a leader.“He has been tireless in his passion and energy in

the role, leading through moments that not only challenged our Defence Force but our country generally,” Air Marshal Short said.

Under Major General Gall’s command, the NZDF launched three large humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations – Vanuatu in the aftermath of Cyclone Pam in March 2015, Fiji after Cyclone Winston in February 2016, and Kaikoura in the wake of the devastating earthquake in December 2016.

Major General Gall also oversaw the start of New Zealand’s Building Partner Capacity mission in Iraq in May 2015. Together with Australian Defence Force personnel, NZDF troops have helped train more than 39,000 Iraqi soldiers and Federal Police over the past three years.

During his tenure, the NZDF expanded its contributions to the United Nations peacekeeping missions in Africa, the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission in South Korea, the mentoring mission in Afghanistan and other coalition operations in the Middle East.

In the past 18 months alone, HQJFNZ planned, supported and commanded missions in response to a devastating cyclone in Tonga, an erupting volcano in Vanuatu, a massive earthquake in Papua New Guinea, bushfires in the Chatham Islands, the Coromandel and Christchurch, floods in Canterbury and Otago, and an earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia, among many others.

“For me, there is no greater honour than to serve our country and it has been a privilege to command our joint forces,” said Major General Gall, who had served as the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand since March 2014 and is retiring after a distinguished 40-year career in the NZDF.

“Apart from managing 17 missions overseas, we at HQJFNZ are at the sharp end of the NZDF’s response to crisis in New Zealand and across the region,” he said.

“I have been privileged to serve with our men and women in uniform, our civilian staff as well as our civilian officials and coalition partners. The past 40 years have been extraordinary and I will always cherish my time in our Defence Force.”

strong nZ anD png DefenCe forCe BonDs BehinD apeC supportstory and photo by aB Kieren whiteley, aDF

From freezing in the snow together in the trenches of Waiouru to baking in the harsh Port Moresby sun, Major Ezron Dekatavara, Major Adrian Soti and Major Dominic Wylie have shared a lot in eight years.

They can now add the delivery of a safe and secure Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2018 Leaders’ Week to their list of common experiences.

Major Wylie from the New Zealand Army and his Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) counterparts, Major Dekatavara and Major Soti, formed part of a small contingent of liaison officers who worked side-by-side under the multinational Joint Task Force 658 (JTF658).

“The bonds we’ve formed over eight years or so have made for a very open and honest working environment. I think that has definitely contributed to the success we have seen at APEC,” Major Dekatavara said.

“Dominic and I have been great sounding boards for each other, and that has helped to ensure free and open communications.”

“This was the first time PNGDF personnel had worked in a headquarters of this size, so it was a great experience that was beneficial for everyone involved.”

The three officers first met at the New Zealand Army’s Officer Cadet School in Waiouru, where they instructed the commissioning course together in 2010. Their paths have since crossed numerous times throughout their careers, leading up to their most significant challenge to date – APEC 2018.

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and the PNGDF have had ongoing training commitments for many years, mainly with the Incident Response Group, to help develop niche capabilities within the PNGDF.

Major Wylie said this relationship had built lasting

bonds and laid the foundations for a well-oiled partnered task force.

“Knowing Ezron and Adrian for eight years has allowed us to communicate effectively to drive our combined task force further than anyone thought possible,” he said from the JTF658 headquarters in central Port Moresby.

“We’ve all done the same training, we all talk the same language, and this has made the Joint Task Force an enjoyable place to walk into.

“I and the other NZDF liaison officers have been in Port Moresby for several months, and the joint planning and execution would not have been possible without the strong personal relationships we all share with our

PNGDF colleagues.” JTF658, under the command of Australian Army officer, Major General Paul McLachlan, provided security support to Papua New Guinea for the hosting of APEC 2018.

Through the work of NZDF liaison officers and their counterparts from Papua New Guinea, Australia and the United States, JTF658 and Joint Task Force Kibung – the PNGDF’s contribution to the host nation’s Joint Security Task Force – ensured the largest event ever held on Papua New Guinea soil went off without a hitch.

APEC was established in 1989 to promote free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region and comprises 21 Pacific Rim member-economies.

New Zealand Army officer Major Dominic Wylie (centre) and his Papua New Guinea Defence Force counterparts Major Adrian Soti (left) and Major Ezron Dekatavara formed part of a small contingent of liaison officers who worked side-by-side as part of a multinational force protecting world leaders who attended the APEC summit.

MAJGEN Gall talks to a New Zealand Defence Force soldier helping train Iraqi troops in Camp Taji.

MAJGEN Gall and Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto during the NZDF’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operation to Fiji in March 2016.

triButes to major general tim gall’s ‘tireless passion, energY anD leaDership’

armYpeople 09

armY Chef helps plan Christmas feast in antarCtiCaby luz Baguioro, Public affairs manager – Joint Forces new zealand

christmas lunch can be stressful even for experienced cooks. But if you are a chef in antarctica, where the nearest supermarket is 4,500 km away in christchurch, preparing for the year’s most anticipated feast can be even more challenging.

“Supplies are delivered by ship to Antarctica only once a year so we have to make do with what we currently have,” said Corporal Quentin Hathaway, a New Zealand Army chef working at Scott Base, New Zealand’s permanent research support station on the continent.

“If we lack certain ingredients, it’s not as simple as popping down to a supermarket to grab a few things.”

Although fresh fruits and vegetables are flown from Christchurch every two weeks during summer, Antarctica-based chefs mainly use frozen vegetables and tinned fruit.

“We cannot have certain vegetables like leeks due to the biosecurity risks they pose. We also don’t have any meat products that contain bones to reduce on waste, which is sent back to New Zealand every year.”

To avoid a culinary crisis on Christmas Day, CPL Hathaway and the two other chefs at Scott Base have already begun planning the menu for Christmas. Turkey and champagne ham will be the centrepiece of the Christmas table, he said.

There will also be cranberry stuffing, roast potatoes and kumara, brandy snaps, pavlova, Christmas cake and pudding.

CPL Hathaway arrived in Antarctica in mid-October for a five-month posting at Scott Base. He helps prepare four meals a day – morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner – for about 85 scientists, researchers and support personnel.

“Sunday is when they get to enjoy a cooked brunch including make-your-own waffles, followed by roast,” he said.

If he is on the morning shift, CPL Hathaway clocks in at 6am and finishes at 2pm.

“The first thing I do is bake bread, which is made fresh every day. I then prepare morning tea, with sausage rolls the favourite here.”

In addition to his kitchen duties, he also forms part of the Scott Base fire crew.

On Sundays, his usual day-off, he joins other Scott Base staff to explore ice caves and historic huts, get up close with penguins and seals or experience being lowered into a crevasse.

“Two of the highlights for me so far were carrying the New Zealand flag during the Armistice Day centenary commemoration at McMurdo Station and getting up close with Emperor penguins.”

The NZDF and NZ Police have partnered in a Service Dog Breeding Programme – with success as Explosives Detector Dog Iris whelped six puppies on 15 November. EDD Iris is part of 2nd Engineer Regiment, Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers and has a highly-trained

ability to detect a range of explosives that could be a threat to NZDF personnel or civilians at home and overseas. It is hoped Iris’ puppies will themselves become Service Dogs.

The six puppies are the ‘P’ litter which means all their names will begin with the letter P (still unnamed at the time of printing). Keep a look out in future Army News editions for more stories on what we hope will become our latest four-legged capability.

CPL Quintin Hathaway

Cover Dog iris now mum-of-six

10 armYmission

the pristine puritY of an antarCtiC DeploYmentPlant operator Corporal Brendon Richards, currently working in antarctica, sees his deployment as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.We deployed south in October as part of NZDF’s Operation Antarctica in support of science carried out at Scott Base, Antarctica.

NZDF personnel at Scott Base include two air cargo handlers, four communications operators, a chef, two plant operators, and a Senior National Officer (SNO) who oversees the team at Scott Base and also a team of NZDF personnel who deploy to the American McMurdo Station 3km away at various stages of the season.

Scott Base is the staging post for New Zealand’s science and research events. Researchers come down and set up, deploy to the field etc. and are able to focus on their work, with the Base team providing the logistical and environmental survival support.

As a plant operator, we are responsible for many aspects of the support, maintenance, and upkeep of the base and science operations with the use of heavy machinery such as bulldozers, a digger, forklift, snow groomer, and a loader. The role includes removing snow build up from around the buildings and keeping the roadways open, lifting and moving equipment including delicate scientific equipment, transporting field camps to remote locations by traversing the sea ice, loading and unloading vehicles and aircraft, and processing waste for returning to New Zealand. Everything comes back, so that we keep this place pristine. We are also involved with the ship offload at the end of the season in February, when the fuel and container ships come to resupply both Scott Base and McMurdo. An icebreaker is needed to break a pathway to the bases.

Summer (October to late February) is the busy season for science, and is the period we are deployed. During this time it is continuous daylight; I never thought I would say I would be applying sunscreen at 2am as I track across the ice in a bulldozer. At the end of the summer season, only a few will remain to maintain the base during the winter. Science events do not generally happen in the winter as it is continuous darkness and the climate is less survivable.

Living on the ice is unique, every impact is kept as minimal as possible, and nothing can be left to the environment. When away from Base, all rubbish must be contained and any spills removed. Even if you need to do your ‘business’, you use a bottle or a bucket and bring it back for disposal.

Surviving the harsh climate requires a lot more preparation and thought. From first arriving, we experience average temperatures of around -35 degrees. This means just going outside is not simple; it takes time to prepare with smart layering of clothing, as any exposed skin will freeze rather quickly. Safety is high priority and every aspect of work needs to be considered before starting. Materials and equipment behave differently at these temperatures and more time is required for machinery to warm up before use, and moving around must be done slowly and carefully. Even the snow is very dry and fine like dust; it will blow into any tiny space and sets down firm, almost like concrete. This makes operating machinery here much more intricate compared to anywhere else. You may find the engine bay completely packed in with snow, or the pile of snow you push away from a structure will take the structure with it as it has solidified around it.

Due to the remote location, any medical or fire emergencies are dealt with by personnel on site, as there is no 111 call centre here. As part of pre-deployment training, all Scott Base staff train in firefighting, and there is a medic on site. However, anything more than a bump,

scratch or a sprain may need to be seen at the nearest hospital, which is in Christchurch.

I have been fortunate in that this is my second trip to the ice. I came down six years ago and always wanted to return. The place gets under your skin, and the experience is like nothing else you can get anywhere in the world. Emperor penguins at over a metre tall will walk up to you and follow you around, and you know you are standing on deep ocean with only about 1 metre of ice in some places under your feet, or in my case a 20 tonne dozer. In other places, the ice can be kilometres thick. The air smells clean, and with no traffic noise or general population, the place is silent to the point it is deafening. In the warmer months, the ice may break away in front of the base and whales will appear. I have enjoyed meeting people who come to Scott Base to work and the people who come to Antarctica to study its climate, atmosphere, oceans, life, and the ice itself.

People from various lifestyles come to work in Antarctica for the experience and provide their specialist skills. It is a close team environment at Scott Base, with everyone pitching in to help each other out as some of even the simplest tasks take more time and effort to do. The footprint of the base itself is minimal, and as everyone lives in close confines, everyone needs to get on well with each other.

We all make efforts to make the place as homely as possible, as we are away from home for five months, or 13 months for some people, and with limited comforts such as no cell phone reception, no TV (except for the news), and very little internet bandwidth (so YouTube is out). There are opportunities to go out and explore the continent and visit the historic huts from the early expeditions, our own ski field to ski or board on, bicycles for the snow, and there is even a ‘bach’ so you can get away for a break.

Antarctica is truly an amazing experience.

CPL Brendon Richards (right) with colleague LCPL Trent Puketapu.

armYmission 11

By andrew Bonallack

army Driver Herbert lester Humm and navy Telegraphist Peter James mollison have been repatriated to new zealand from Korea where they have been buried for more than 60 years.The soldier and sailor are the last of 35 New Zealand personnel to be repatriated from six countries during project Te Auraki. Humm, 24, was killed in 1955 after the truck he was a passenger in overturned. Mollison, 19, who was posted to HMNZS ROYALIST, died of influenzal meningitis in 1957.

“Te hei mauri ora!” Kaumatua Ruawhitu Pokaia’s speech easily resonates across the terminal. In comparison, the voice of General Vincent K Brooks, Commander United States Forces Korea, is quiet, but he matches the dignity and keeps it brief. “Their remains rested in Busan, among other warriors, but it was never their home. We pray for their families that they find

standing watchActing Corporal Nix Vunipola says it was an honour to be part of the vigil and bearer party for the Korean repatriation.

“It was awesome to be given the opportunity. Once I took in what it was about, it was less about an overseas trip, and more of an honour to do it. There weren’t many people getting a chance.”

She and five other army personnel, and six naval personnel, took it in turns in pairs to stand watch over the two caskets, ensuring they were never left alone throughout their process in Korea and their journey home. Much of this took place in a serene room near the mortuary at the United States’ Yongsan Garrison in Seoul. “We did shifts of six to eight hours. We were told to treat them like they were there, and not change the way we acted. We stay with them for their final journey, until they met with their families.”

the Definitive answerMajor Joanne Wallace, a Regular Forces dentist based at Ohakea, took part in tranches three and four, the England and Korean repatriations.

“I volunteered for the repatriation,” she says. “I viewed it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I knew it would be a unique and valuable experience and something that I could be called on to do in future.”

MAJ Wallace, with Major James Hannah and Lieutenant Hao Wu, all NZDF dental officers, were tasked with matching the dental records of the repatriated servicemen. There would be plenty of circumstantial evidence of a compelling nature prior to the dental examination, namely the headstone and cemetery records, but scientifically the dental examination makes a significant contribution to the identification.

“I was very impressed with the work of bio-archaeologist Dr Stuart Hawkins. Each dig was different, and he had to adapt his approach according to each situation. I found it fascinating, watching him work with the different soil conditions to confirm the outline of the grave. Watching the forensic anthropologists at work was fascinating as well – we couldn’t have done our work without them.”

She says the forensic dental identification was vital for the operation. “The archaeologists and anthropologists had a huge part to play, but it was the dental examination that proved the definitive identification. We all respected the role that each other played.”

Having three dental experts for two servicemen in Korea and two in England might have seemed more than enough, but everyone had a role to play. “James had a wealth of forensic experience and Hao’s IT abilities were invaluable to the reconciliation process. We had to all agree on each identifying feature before concluding the investigation, and this was a vital part of the team effort.

“We were then able to return these soldiers to their families, and I was proud to have a played a part in bringing their loved ones home.”

Bringing our people home

closure in returning them.” After the speeches, the Americans watch in fascination as the bearers shoulder the caskets, a completely different style to the carrying of the heavy refrigerated coffins of the more recently dead. The steps of the bearers, two-in, two-out, rather than left-right, promotes a rock-steady march out.

The walk into the cemetery is slow and measured, to a karakia from kaumatua Ruawhitu Pokaia, and proceeds gently uphill to the highest point.

Immediately to one side of Mollison is a plaque in memory to another sailor, Able Seaman Robert Marchioni, who died assaulting a North Korean gun emplacement in 1951. His body was never recovered.

Chaplain FLTLT Russell Bone asks for understanding. “We disturb them so that they may be returned to the land of Aotearoa, the land where Peter’s family longs to meet with him. We pray for his family, that they will be at peace through this process. May the Holy Spirit settle their minds and hearts. May the joy of reunion replace the natural concerns of disturbing a loved one.”

Back at the entranceway, in the sunshine, everyone seems to consciously release themselves from their own thoughts. There’s a realisation that these were the last bodies out of 35. GPCAPT Carl Nixon, who has led all four missions, congratulates the team. “Back home, the families see the ceremony, the caskets marching off, but they don’t get to see your hard work, over and over again. You have exceeded expectations, with extreme professionalism, massive integrity, and always thought about the families. It’s them we have worked for. And those we are bringing home, we haven’t considered them to be anyone else other than people.”

Māori elders, a Māori cultural group and soldiers escort the returned men across the tarmac.

12 armYtraining

The army and air Force have trained 12 new medics and nurses to prepare to deploy as part of an aeromedical evacuation (ae) team. The team has been training for NZDF AE operations such as a disaster relief missions in the South Pacific or to support civilian services in New Zealand.

The course was run by the Aviation Medical Unit from the Directorate of Air Safety and Health from the Air Force. The course students and instructors were selected from both the Army and the Air Force. Senior Instructor Officer Commanding, Northern Health Support Squadron Major David Greenhough said Aeromedical Evacuation was an essential capability for the New Zealand Defence Force. “It is another example of how Navy, Army and Air Force must work together to ensure the NZDF meets the expectations set by the government in the latest defence strategy.”

The team completed their training over three weeks at Whenuapai and Ohakea. The AE course included training with both fixed wing aircraft with 40 SQN, and rotary wing 3 SQN. This included practical training and simulation both on the ground and in the air. In the last days of the course the team flew multiple missions including evacuating mass casualties and missions by day and night.

The aim of the course is prepare NZDF health personnel for the dynamic aviation environment. AMU did this by teaching about crew recourse management, the use of flight rated AE equipment, conducting movement of the AE patient and providing clinical management. AMU is planning to run the course again early next year.

training meDiCal staff to Cope with the worst

Nursing Officer Lieutenant Lina Wei:“A scenario during our training involved the situation in ‘Tatooine’, where a natural disaster had struck. There were numerous New Zealanders amongst the casualties who needed to be repatriated. We were tasked with prioritising and retrieving these individuals.

“On arrival to Tatooine, the team walked into a scenario where it was utter chaos. There were casualties everywhere. Some crying out for help, some too unwell to call out for themselves. As one of the team leaders, pertinent information was thrown at me from every direction. “There are two priority ones!” “There is a 34 weeks pregnant woman who will require

a wheelchair!” “We will not be taking this casualty!” Everything we learnt in the classroom was leading up to this moment. How do we as a team get everyone on board, secured, and ready for take-off within the restrictive time allowance?

“The experiences I gained from this course was enlightening and invaluable. The scenario realistically simulated pandemonium and being overwhelmed with the confronted mass casualty. It tested my ability as an individual as well as a team leader. The mock scenario helped relieve the fear of the unknown so that when the scenario next turns into a real time event I am all that better prepared.”

armYexerCise 13

161 BatterY on exerCise sari BairBy second lieutenant Gary Dunseath

During exercise sari Bair, which was a combined arms combat team level exercise conducted recently, 161 Battery provided offensive support throughout through the use of the 81mm mortar and the 105mm light Gun. The exercise was an excellent opportunity for 161 Battery to train and display our ability to provide effective supporting fire to a combat team. Exercise Sari Bair was broken down into three phases in which we supported 2/1 RNZIR, 1 RNZIR and QAMR in a series of live firing scenarios over three weeks. Being able to use our skills in a live firing environment, in support of troops, provided a massive increase in training outputs by allowing us to adopt procedures that we do not often get to practise with real troops on the ground, as well as being able to access new technology such as a PUMA RPAS provided by the USMC.

The exercise tempo also allowed time for additional training such as standing patrols, fighting patrols and cordon and search tasks which provided valuable and enjoyable training. This gave the soldiers, NCO’s and officers of 161 Battery opportunity to refresh their skills

in support of the defence of a Weapon Line and improving standard operating procedures.

As well as a team from 5th ANGLICO USMC, personnel from the Royal Artillery (RA) and Royal Australian Artillery (RAA) also joined our ranks and fulfilled various positions within the Battery during the exercise. This included LT Jack Cailes from 4 Regiment, RAA and LT Robert Shaw RA, who conducted the duties of a weapons

troop commander while Sergeant Toma RA, assumed command of a gun as a Gun Sergeant.

Overall Exercise Sari Bair 2018 was an excellent opportunity for 161 Battery to develop its skills in support of troops through a live firing activity while also developing a better understanding of our own procedures across all areas as a modern, agile, adaptive, deployable light artillery battery.

14 armYexerCise

The recently held exercise whakatipu tested 3rd combat service support Battalion’s ability to provide second and third line combat service support to a light Task Group (lt TG).The exercise saw the deployment of a Combat Service Support Team (CSST) and a National Support Element into the Republic of Beccara, a fictitious Area of Operations in the South Island, dominated by the Wesso Freedom Army (WFA) an anti-government militia. It consisted of 194 Army personnel from 3 CSSB, 2 CSSB, 4 SIG SQN, 3 ER and our Five Eyes partners from Australia and the United Kingdom, and enabled inter-corps and inter-nation operations, including NEA capabilities.

Prior to the deployment into the area of operation, the CSST went through a Theatre Induction and Compliance phase based out of Tekapo Military Training Area. This phase included a New Zealand Defence Force first aid course, Combat Life Saver Course re-qualification, conduct of individual, section and platoon training and

ex whaKatipu iiBMS/Sitaware familiarisation for commanders. This was also an opportunity for Training Wing to test and continue to develop new Standard Operating Procedures for Combat Logistics Patrols through the conduct of Live Field Firing boxes. These boxes graduated soldiers through pairs fire and manoeuvre, firing from stationary and moving vehicles and culminated with Live Field Firing Battle Handling Exercises (BHEs). The BHEs saw Force Protection platoon and Combat Drivers from 3 Transport Company identifying and supressing targets out to 800 metres, conducting break contact drills and fixing targets. This capability enables logisticians to protect and defend themselves while in a kinetic environment to complete the mission. This was the first time in six years that 3 CSSB has conducted live firing from vehicles which brought new challenges to commanders and soldiers. These shooting packages ushered in new capabilities for CSS battalions that will be built upon in future exercises.

The WFA OPFOR scenario consisted of three different militia groups each with their own Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs), Command and Control (C2) structure and motivations. This complex environment was reflected in the BHEs which tested exercise participants both physically and mentally. Emphasis was placed on

the “strategic Private” mentality with the actions of individual soldiers steering scenarios down different paths. The local population also joined in some scenarios, further complicating the BHEs. Soldiers had to identify threats and OPFOR intent so commanders could identify the correct course of action to be taken in accordance with Rules of Engagement.

The exercise tempo increased as the CSST entered the tactical field phase with the fictitious Lt TG closing in on the WFA’s strategic stronghold of Dunedin. The CSST deployed into the AO with

elements including Transport, Workshops, Supply and Catering, Combat Health Support, and Force Protection, with support from 4 Sig Sqn. This phase included multiple scenarios for each functional area along with multiple re-deployments into different locations. The CSST first deployed to Cromwell for three days, followed by Roxburgh, then finally up to an area in vicinity of Kyeburn. These three deployment locations provided varied environments offering commanders the opportunity to debate the age-old logistics question of functionality versus defendability. With each deployment the CSST HQ tested different configurations ranging from old-fashioned tents and containers, to an inflatable HQ.

While conducting Support and Stability Operations the CSST conducted troop movement tasks, established distribution points to resupply forward fighting elements, conducted forward repair and recovery tasks, conducted key leadership engagements, and route reconnaissance. The route reconnaissance tasks were conducted for both in and out of exercise and were designed to test the CSST’s ability to identify alternate supply routes throughout the AO if the primary lines of communication were interdicted. This also doubled to confirm the suitability of secondary roads in support of future real time disaster relief OP AWHINA deployments. The CSST conducted battle drills triggered by the numerous contacts with the WFA using both active and passive measures. Soldiers were required to engage in conversations with exercise players and conduct a root cause analysis to de-escalate conflicts.

An organic Force Protection Platoon was deployed as part of the CSST to provide additional security as the tactical situation escalated. They provided a quick reaction force for the CSST and security to sub-elements while conducting tasks. The CSST was operating under a strict set of ROEs which the OPFOR were keen to push to the limit to test soldiers understanding of the laws of armed conflict. This helped provide realistic and relevant training to many junior soldiers who had not experienced these complex and fluid environments before.

Exercise Whakatipu 2 2018 enabled the testing of Combat Service Support to a Lt TG making use of both a CSST and a National Support Element. The exercise was a big step forward in the implementation of Combat Driver and CLP TTPs that the unit will look to build on in future training. Following on, 3 CSS Bn will look to further develop its soldier skills and SOP’s for future exercises and Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief missions.

armYtraining 15

The Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel trained recently to ensure they are well versed in dealing with all eventualities. They were tested on various scenarios they may come across in chemical, biological and radiological casualty rescues.

This was the first time the team had been tested to this level and the two days of training at Linton Military Camp threw all sorts of dynamic, multi- level, realistic scenarios at them.

EOD personnel must train for all eventualities and in all environments to ensure they are ready to deploy into any situations both at home and overseas.

eoD pers train for all eventualities

16 armYpeople

‘The beauty of being part of the sas’s support unit is that everyone earns their place, regardless if you are a badged operator, enabler or support role. This creates a solid work environment full of motivated individuals. it helps keep us honest and ensures everyone is putting their best foot forward. one of the unit’s tenets – Unrelenting pursuit of excellence – springs to mind.’That’s the view of an enabler who is part of the Support Squadron who accompanies the troopers whenever necessary.

The 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment’s Support Squadron is a multi-functional sub-unit made up of personnel from across the three Services employed over 17 different trade groups. It supports both business-as-usual and operational activities of the Regiment. As Corporal O explains, ‘A posting with the NZSAS is very rewarding and full of challenges, I tell those who ask, it’s just a different job within the realm of being within the NZDF. Not necessarily better or worse than any other role, just different!’

On posting, all individuals within Support Squadron must complete the New Zealand Special Operations Force (NZSOF) Support Enabler Special Operations Training (SESOT). This course is held over 12 days and is designed to provide individuals with the requisite skill sets to operate effectively within the Regiment. It covers a wide range of activities, from the physical barrier testing, familiarisation with NZSOF weapons and equipment, combat shooting package, refreshes medical skills, and educates individuals on 1 NZSAS Regiment processes, ethos and values.

Roles within Support Squadron are tri-Service, so for those coming from different trades that haven’t had the exposure to these different elements of training, this is a good opportunity to learn new skills and improve military proficiency. After initial introductions, individuals move into two days of physical testing which consists of the Army Required Fitness Level (2.4km run, press ups, curl ups and pull ups), a Battle Efficiency Test (8km pack walk and generic tests such a body drag, carry, wall and rope climb), 8km Battle run in Patrol Order, finishing Day One with a basic water swim test. Day Two is an 18km challenge through hilly terrain.

The rest of the course moves through an introduction to the combat shooting package, navigation, Special Operations mental agility, combat first aid, Conduct after Capture Level B, close vehicle ambush and close

1 nZsas regiment support squaDron

quarter battle, to list a few. At the completion of SESOT, enablers would have met their entry requirements, and this completion and shared achievement provides the foundation of integration in the Regiment.

Once SESOT is completed, individuals will be introduced to their workplace and job area. Those filling enabler roles such as communications, intelligence and medics will move onto more specific training to be integrated into the current Operational Squadrons. A normal day sees all personnel down at the gym at 0800 hrs for PT Monday–Friday before starting the day’s work. This can take some getting used to, but after a couple of months, your fitness will be markedly improved.

To help those thinking about a posting within NZSOF, here are some thoughts from current serving Support Squadron personnel that may help dispel any myths:

Will I be fit enough to pass Support Enablers Special Operations Training (SESOT)?

The requirements are well documented on the NZSOF recruitment page, and the standards are very achievable if you are motivated and put a bit of training in. We have had individuals posted short notice with minimal extra training show up and meet all the standards.

Are my military skills good enough?

Generally Regimental initial training and courses use the “Crawl, Walk, Run” approach to training. We have adopted the phrase within the med troop of “mastering the basics” as it’s easy in Special Operations to get wrapped up in the cool high speed skills. But if you haven’t mastered the basics how can you begin to perform the advanced skills?

Will I fit in with the team?

This is an interesting question and is difficult to generalise but, if you brook no sense of class, have a bit

of humour and a good dose of humility ingrained in your personality you will thoroughly enjoy your time within this unit. We all agree there is no “us and them” mentality up here and have all been pleasantly surprised at how welcoming and friendly all members of this unit have been to us. There has been an arms wide open approach to support personnel within the unit and as the NZSAS Regiment is well aware most SOF operations require non-SOF support.

But it’s Auckland!?

This one I can attest to as I spent much of my life in the South Island. We all imagined hours of mind-numbing traffic and latte-sipping locals saying “Auckland’s not that bad”. I have to admit (as hard as it may be) I was dead wrong. As a city there is a reason why quarter of the country’s population lives here. There is a lot to do, with vast areas of coastline and beaches to explore. Fishing and hunting areas are accessible and the summers are long and hot. Yes, buying a home might not be an option for many posting up. But there are nice modern military rental homes at a subsidised rate available. The operational accommodation regional assistance allowance has also improved this. The barracks have large rooms, and as we know no posting lasts for ever. If living in Auckland seems a deterrent it shouldn’t be.

Always searching

If you have any desire to work within the NZSOF environment regardless of service or seniority, please discuss this option with your chain of command and put this in your PDR. More information about the roles or specific training can be found on the NZSOF Website.

If an opportunity arises where you are in Papakura and want to meet up with someone within your current trade, this can be organised. There is no secret regarding supporting the NZSAS Regiment, it is a highly demanding yet equally rewarding posting. Train hard, stay safe.

armYpeople 17

part two: Command

troop Command Challenges and rewards

After passing the cycle of training I returned to a Troop in the New Year, conducted some quick coursing and then immediately deployed. I was one half of a Troop Command team working in support of our Afghan Special Police partners. My first deployments with SOF to Afghanistan remain a crucible of experience, lessons, successes and losses.

Further deployments and command positions have proven that my career has remained as challenging as it was for my first rotation. I spent a good deal of time deployed in various locations and in various roles. I was a Troop Commander (for four years), an Operations Officer, a Liaison Officer, a Team Leader and a Squadron Commander. It has been both varied and rewarding because SOF is much more than just “direct action” or “counter terrorism”. Much of what I have been responsible for is necessarily protected, but all of it makes me proud to serve New Zealand.

Importantly I have managed some great time away on my own, with friends and most importantly my wife. Though there have been occasional cancelled holidays, I have travelled extensively, ranging from sailing the Pacific to a month-long honeymoon in Africa.

Most rewarding for me has been the empowerment and mentoring I have received. I have worked for and alongside dedicated women and men, who have taught me a lot. Our regional and global responsibilities have ensured that I remain operationally focused and have

been expected to develop new tactics, capabilities and concepts. Importantly, I have then been empowered to see these through.

squadron Command Empowered expectations

In the last three years as an OC I have been involved in the evolution of our organisation as we adapt from the first 17 years’ post “9/11”. It has been inspiring to be part of a team evolving to meet operational needs so quickly. I have been held to account for the environments our team is responsible for and had a team that is driven to constantly improve. We have all pulled together and developed to a point quite different to the one I was first posted into 10 years ago. It’s that kind of thing that makes this job worthwhile – people motivated to be ready for future operations.

It is these people, and their passionate approach to their job, that has been a critical factor in remaining with Special Operations.

I always expected SOF officers to be close, and we are. The best man at my wedding works as the OC in the hangar opposite and though we are now older (he is balder), we still enjoy command in SOF. Most importantly, because we are a smaller community it allows a ‘shared consciousness’ of ideas to be generated, and then we are empowered to move those ideas forward together.

An important addition is the Senior Enlisted friends I have. SOF Officers are privileged to work with dedicated WOs, SNCOs and JNCOs who are calm in contact, measured on operations, and tenacious in preparing their teams for operations. They aren’t afraid to fight to maintain our operational drive at all levels, allowing us (as a command team of Officer Commanding and Squadron Sergeant Major) to focus on setting conditions for operations and capability development that makes a difference for New Zealand.

Overall my career as a Special Operations Officer has been much more than I first expected. Much more than just bombs and bullets – it is the times my team mates and I haven’t pulled the trigger that I am most proud of.

It has taught, and allowed, me to deliver discrete integrated and valued operational effects on behalf of the NZDF. It has been a lot of engagement across Joint, Inter-Agency and Multinational partners and has fortunately included a significant amount of time in command, with a smattering of operational staff positions. Overall my SOF career so far has been mentally and physically challenging, operationally rewarding and leaves me with a pride in the focus our team has on delivering for the NZDF.

Conclusion The only qualification prerequisite for an officer to attend selection is a commission, in any Service. Although there is no minimum rank requirements for officers to attempt selection, a good understanding of combat MAP/estimate process is preferable. Generally you get good exposure to this on Platoon Commander Courses, Intermediate promotion courses or the Grade III Staff and Tactics Course. Experience is useful, but so too is a desire to win, a good attitude and a healthy dose of guile!

What we are looking for in future Special Operations officers is people who are comfortable with uncertainty, agile thinkers, measured professionals and committed to New Zealand. Who Dares Wins.

what Does a Career as a speCial forCes offiCer looK liKe?

18 armYprofiles

sergeant arihi reihana knows all about adaptability and resilience. it makes for a better soldier and a happier person, she says.My dad was my idol and still is; he was an infantryman in 2/1 Battalion, RNZIR during the Malaya Borneo emergency 1963–1965. Growing up I would always play with his medals in our cabinet at home and wished I had had my own set.

After finishing 5th form at high school I moved to West Auckland and worked in retail for four years, after that I decided to pursue my childhood dreams and join the Army.

In 2004 aged 19, I marched into Basic AARC 328 selecting Gunner, RNZA as my primary role.

After marching out of basic training I was then posted into 43 Air Defence Battery (Lt), as a detachment member for 4 years. During this time I deployed to; Afghanistan in 2007, East Timor in 2008 as well as completing various trade progression courses.

However 43 AD Bty (Lt) was disbanded in 2009 and I was then posted into 161 Bty, one of two Field Artillery Batteries, within 16th Field Regiment as a forward observer assistant (FO Ack) now known as Joint Fires Team (JFT).

I was a JFT Assistant for four years and in that time I had conducted various trade progression courses including; NZ LAV III Gunners, Drivers and Crew Commanders course which enabled me to also be a

JFT assistant for mounted operations and command the Light Armoured Vehicle that the team operated from.

At the end of 2013 I took on a new role within the command systems trade and was then posted into 163 Battery as the Command Systems Bombardier.

In the time I have been posted to 163 Bty I have completed all trade progression courses needed which now sees me as the CS Sergeant for 163 Bty.

In 2016 I was promoted to Sergeant which brought on new challenges, such as managing soldiers and becoming a technical advisor for our young officers.

Adapting from one trade to another was challenging. As technology is constantly upgrading we are needing to accept the change and work with it. Having experienced both the JFT and CS trade gave me a better understanding around the procedures in order to operate effectively and above all else, safely.

I would say being a CS Sergeant in the field environment comes with its own challenges, conducting checks within the CP to ensure that it is safe, through to passing survey to the weapons, however the most rewarding part of the job is being able develop young soldiers and shape young officers to becoming tomorrow’s leaders.

As a Command Systems Sergeant my responsibilities include passing survey to the weapons, ensuring that the weapons are located where they should be in relation to the data system, and being the technical expert within the command post and for the Command Post Officer.

I am also the CS Troop Sergeant, coaching and managing soldiers’ development and working closely with young officers, building great cohesion towards effective command teams. There’s more to Artillery than firing guns and by exploring the three different trades there’s definitely a career path that best suits.

In my spare time I play rugby, rugby league, volleyball and football. I have represented at Army level for; rugby, rugby league, volleyball and football.

Rugby and rugby league are my favourite sports as I love playing contact and being in a team environment.

By Judith martin

Think military working dogs and alan inkpen’s name immediately springs to mind.Since arriving in New Zealand from the United Kingdom six years ago the former British Army Warrant Officer has worked tirelessly to introduce, train and maintain military working dogs for the New Zealand Army.

One of his first tasks was to introduce the Explosive Detection Dog capability to meet urgent operational needs in Afghanistan. In late 2012 he deployed to Bamyan province to conduct in-theatre certification of dogs and their handlers under significant operational pressure. This enabled Task Group Crib to field an important addition to its force protection resources at a critical time.

Since then he has become the Military Working Dog subject matter expert and has been pivotal in developing and managing this capability in New Zealand. He has spent much of his time developing and managing the interim Explosive Detection Dog capability for 2nd Engineer Regiment, and in 2013 supported the deployment of teams to Solomon Islands to assistant with clearance of explosive devices left over from World War Two. Mr Inkpen has played a significant role in enabling Special Operations Command develop the own Military Working Dog capability to support Special Force operations.

His dedication to the role has been noticed: he

was recently awarded a Chief of Defence Force Commendation for his work.

“I feel this commendation also recognises every NZ Army Military Working Dog handler past and present for their support and commitment as each capability has been developed. These individuals are the ones behind the scenes, which ensure the welfare and husbandry of the canines. This is the fundamental and most critical part of being a military working dog handler and is carried out 365 days a year, irrespective of the weather conditions. The sacrifices these handlers have made cannot be underestimated – people only see what they perceive is the fun part as the teams carry out their operational roles.

“The NZ Army’s Military Working Dogs programme is still developing and has a lot of work still to do, but the most important thing is that it is moving forward each day. In addition to this it is imperative that NZ Army and RNZAF, where practicable look at synergies between each service’s Military Working Dog capabilities, in order to develop a Joint Forces approach to New Zealand Defence Forces Military Working Dogs.”

DoggeD Devotion: Alan Inkpen

armYpeople 19

By Judith martin

with dad a mechanic, roger laing was always in tow when vehicles were being repaired. A country kid, he grew up with grease on his hands, progressing from “torch holder” to “spanner grabber” as he became more attuned to what was going on.

Those early years trailing after dad paid off – he won Gold in the Automotive Technology category at the recent World Skills New Zealand National Competition.

The 3 Workshop Company soldier lives and breathes vehicles – any sort of vehicles – and while he credits his parents with his early-sown enthusiasm, it’s the time and effort the Army puts into training him that he says is mostly behind his success.

After five years at a Wairarapa boarding school he found barrack life easy. And when he began his trade training he was certainly more than familiar with the basics.

“From working with dad I sort of had a good bit of experience with it all, also a bit of a passion for four wheel driving. Being out in the bush and having something break is never ideal! So you occasionally end up with some, “temporary unorthodox” repairs just to get you home.”

The best bit about his job, he says, is sorting out problems. “Especially when you’re away from the workshop and you don’t necessarily have the correct tool for the job, but instead have to think outside the box to get something done”.

“It’s also really high quality training that the Army provides. I don’t know many civilian companies that would be willing to invest so much time into our training.”

When he finishes work each day, he tinkers with his own vehicles.

“I’ve got a few vehicles down here in Burnham, mostly broken or in various states of repair. The daily is currently a 1989 Hilux, with the 2.8L non turbo getting her along at a snail’s pace! There’s a pretty good scene for four wheel driving in the Christchurch area, and with plenty of tracks and trails all over the show it makes for a good weekend away from camp. The current four wheel drive project is a 1985 Suzuki SJ413, with the parts for upgrades being so cheap I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a bit of a bush basher.”

PTE Laing says he feels “pretty good” about winning gold.

“It was a good competition alright. There were six stands so it really tests your general automotive trade knowledge, and although it was all light vehicles, the heavy vehicle mechanic training was still applicable to most vehicles. “The six stands we were tested on included engine electrical where a car was presented in a non-running condition and competitors had to follow a diagnostic process to get the vehicle running – then running smoothly. Second was a steering/suspension/wheel

alignment and brakes stand, where we all had to first inspect a car’s brakes for condition and serviceability, then disassemble, inspect and reassemble a master cylinder and brake calliper, followed by a suspension inspection and laser wheel alignment.

“Following this we had a RWD manual T40 Toyota gearbox to tear down and measure up then get back together checking synchro clearances, gear backlashes etc. That was the first day all done and dusted. Day two involved a vehicle body electrical stand, where we tested lights, power windows, and other vehicle systems for operation, repairing any faults we found along the way. We then stripped down and measured key tolerances on a 4AFE Toyota motor, giving a report of its general condition. The final stand was a 25 question theory test covering all aspects of the automotive industry.

“We were given two hours to complete each stand to the highest standard we could manage, losing points for simple things like not wearing the correct PPE at all times.

“The next step is the Worldskills International competition in Russia next year where I will represent New Zealand in the Automotive Technology category. With this in mind I will have a comprehensive training package over a three month period at Trade Training School which should get me to the world-class standard of the competition.”

PTE Laing is grateful for the support his parents have given him, and also his mentor, Sergeant Major Leighton Hamlin, “for getting me onto it in the first place,” and to David Ford and Pete Haugvik, the apprentice coordinators in Burnham.

when a passion turns to golD

PTE Roger Laing

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Caleb jennings, former sas trooper, dies in avalanche

lance corporal caleb Jennings died in christchurch Hospital on 26 october after suffering head injuries in an avalanche while on a private climbing trip of mt Harper in arthurs Pass national Park four days earlier.

18 august 1987 – 26 october 2018 Caleb joined the Army in 2005 as a rifleman and was posted to the 2/1st Battalion, Royal NZ Infantry Regiment. In his time at 2/1st he deployed twice to East Timor, in 2006 and 2008.

In 2009 Caleb joined New Zealand Special Operations Forces and trained as a Commando, responsible for resolving domestic acts of terrorism in NZ, should they arise.

In 2011, after passing the New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) selection course and the initial cycle of training, Caleb commenced his career as a Trooper in the NZSAS. He specialised in advanced trauma medicine and was a keen member of Mountain Troop.

Caleb requested release from the Regular Force in 2014 to become a mountain guide, however he remained actively involved in NZSAS Mountain Troop training.

Caleb’s funeral was attended by family, friends and colleagues at Burnham Camp and they reflected on the adventurous, caring and multi-talented individual he was.

Caleb was one of New Zealand’s aspiring elite mountaineers and a member of the NZ Alpine Team. He was known for multiple ascents of Mt Cook and for more than one ‘first ascent’ in both New Zealand and overseas. Perhaps more importantly, he was recognised for his willingness to give back to the climbing community and contribute to the progression of the sport.

Caleb was also remembered as one of New Zealand’s premier alpine hunters. He accumulated an impressive and enviable array of hunting trophies in his short 31 years and had a particular inclination to hunt ordinarily

The newly formed Defence Innovation Centre of Excellence (DICE) has sponsored a start-up weekend to develop innovative solutions to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) problems.

The weekend involved invited participants pitching innovative ideas which might benefit HADR. Teams were formed around the best ideas and the groups created an minimal viable prototype (MVP) of their innovative idea. Seven teams involving 56 people were formed.

Team members included software developers, engineers, designers, programmers, business experts, and those who have first-hand HADR experience. The teams worked together all weekend, finally pitching their work to a judging panel which decided on the top three.

The teams each had hurdles to overcome during the weekend, ranging from the intense time pressure, to having to pivot from their original idea or even start again from scratch. NZDF mentors were on hand to help guide the teams through the process, and in some cases validate a team’s direction by providing first-hand experiences from HADR events in the past.

Prior to the event the participants were given possible HADR scenarios that could occur with regards to water, communications, young and vulnerable personnel, re-construction and transport. These scenarios helped to direct and guide participants with brain-storming before the event as well as providing context to those who had no experience with HADR.

Situate Me was a team that formed around the idea of a crowdsourcing website for faster information collection in order to better inform HADR first responders to help them better allocate efforts and resources to those that need it most.

Congo came up with the concept of a database to collate inventory information from various NGOs, thus allowing for more efficient sharing of resources and collaboration between NGOs.

Radio Resilience came up with the concept of a resilient emergency radio station for outlying communities, with the intent of creating an “emergency radio station in a suitcase”. This team had a physical

working prototype by the end of the weekend. HONO had an idea to emulate the past successes of

social media as an emergency communication tool, and to create a crowdsourcing and peer to peer resource sharing tool after HADR events.

BuMAP was formed around a data analytics tool that sourced information from 3D mapping drones that could be sent into damaged buildings, instead of LandSAR personnel.

Responda wanted to create a degraded communications tool when other communication networks are down. This revolved around the important first hours following a natural disaster.

Run DMC wanted to support people in the weeks/months/years after a natural disaster. Their concept was to create a post disaster response search engine for struggling households in the years following a HADR event.

Results

1st – situateme SituateMe developed an online chat bot called EMA (Emergency Management Assistant). Users would interact with EMA on SituateMe’s website in the wake of a natural disaster. EMA would ask users a series of questions to ascertain the scope of their situation and triage their response for first responders. The data from each user would show as a heat map to the site administrators in order to allow a more efficient response. By using EMA, SituateMe is able to generate an operating picture of the human terrain post-event. The information is then displayed on a dashboard to inform future planning. This innovative idea was born out of a team member’s experience door knocking in the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes.

2nd – radio resilience Radio Resilience was successful in their intent to develop a portable short range FM Radio Transmitter, essentially a radio station in a suitcase. In the event of an emergency the FM Radio Transmitter could be setup in a few minutes, is self-sufficient and managed directly or

remotely by a station administrator. The radio transmitter would have a range of 10–25km and would help to facilitate better communication of essential information to smaller, remote communities. These smaller communities might have access to National Radio or 1ZB but the broadcasts on these larger radio stations would often omit information relevant to their immediate communities.

3rd – BumaP BUMAP developed an artificial intelligence data analytics tool where they would process the data from different data streams into a 3D map with key hazards identified as well as locations for stranded or injured personnel. This 3D map would then be used by First Responders. One data source discussed was to send drones equipped with LIDAR among other sensor packages including IR and Gas Detection sensors. The drones would be used by SAR teams in order to map the interior of the building. Current practise involves sending SAR personnel into dangerous situations with a pad and pen. The main service provided by BuMap is the AI data processing, analytics and 3D interactive map, once all data streams had been collated.

DICE would like to thank the NZDF personnel involved in the organisation and support of the HADR Start-Up Weekend. Of particular note, thank you to CAPT Garin Golding RNZN for being a senior member of the judging panel, HQJFNZ for contributing personnel as mentors and observers, as well as 2nd Engineer Regiment for their support and participant mentorship.

haDr start-up weeKenD wellington

inaccessible terrain in all weather conditions, aided by his complementary climbing and military skills.

Caleb’s family remembered him as a daring boy who had grown into a proud and compassionate man, always of strong faith and with an unassailable passion for the outdoors.

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By ian Proctor, collection manager, online cenotaph

at 11am on the 11th of november 1918 four years of devastating conflict ended. world war one cost an estimated 10 million lives worldwide. approximately 56 percent of the 100,000 men who embarked with the new zealand expeditionary Force were casualties; 16,000 were killed and 40,000 were wounded. The effects of war were felt for generations, and the names of Gallipoli, Chanuk Bair, Messines and Passchendaele became entrenched in our national memory. Even before war’s end, and for years after, memorials were being consecrated or dedicated to New Zealand’s war dead. These have since come to commemorate casualties from World War Two and subsequent conflicts. The newly inscribed names are a stark reminder that men and women continued to pay the ultimate price in service of this country.

Online Cenotaph, developed by Auckland War Memorial Museum, is the nation’s online war memorial and a database recording the service and sacrifice of New Zealanders who served in conflict. Created in 1996, it was relaunched in 2015, in association with Manatū Taonga the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, to be a lasting legacy of the national WWI Centenary commemorations. It has since become an internationally recognised name for commemorating or researching New Zealand’s service personnel. Attracting over 1 million users in three years, Online Cenotaph is increasingly

being visited as a form of remembrance on Anzac Day and Armistice Day.

The database details 236,000 people, living and deceased, who served in conflict. It currently documents 104,000 people serving with ANZAC or British forces during World War One, 126,000 from World War Two, and more than 5,000 from other conflicts from the South African Wars to Afghanistan. Profiles have been built with data from government and personal sources. Online Cenotaph encourages public contribution of information, documents and photos, along with personal comments and memories. Digital poppies can be placed on a roll of honour, with over 410,000 being laid so far.

A significant resource for research, Online Cenotaph excels at telling stories of New Zealanders’ bravery or tragedy, and shines a light on the impact of war on New Zealand society. For example it tells us of families who sacrificed more than one son to war. Between May 1916 and September 1917, four brothers from the Burgess family of Canterbury enlisted. Only Tom of the 4th Battalion NZ Rifle Brigade returned uninjured. In June 1916, 22 year old Ernest of the 16th (Waikato), Auckland Infantry Regiment, was shot in the thigh and evacuated to No 1 NZ General Hospital in the UK where his right leg was amputated. He was discharged in May 1918, returning home as one of approximately 1000 war amputees. Tom’s twin brother George was killed aged 29 on 12 October 1917 in action at the Battle of Passchendaele with the 2nd Battalion NZ Rifle Brigade. The eldest brother, William of 1st Battalion Canterbury Regiment, was taken prisoner in late September 1918. He was later released and arrived in Scotland on 19 January 1919. Three days later, aged 33, he died of diphtheria, caught during his captivity.

In December 1916, Kenneth Douglas, a 36 year old Scottish farmer who had immigrated to New Zealand in 1911, was called up by the ballot. On 4 November

online Cenotaph anD the CentenarY of the guns falling quiet

First World War centenary

1918 during the Battle of Le Quesnoy, while serving as a rifleman of the 3rd Battalion, NZ Rifle Brigade, he was shot in the back and arm. He died in the 6th General Hospital a week later, on 11 November 1918. He was one of eighteen New Zealand Expeditionary Force servicemen to die on Armistice Day and the only one to die from wounds received in battle. The others succumbed to influenza; an epidemic which Online Cenotaph shows had a significant impact on New Zealand troops as the war ended.

Even as the WW100 period ends, Online Cenotaph will continue to honour and remember those who served in this conflict. Further research and public contribution will allow us to create profiles where missing, such as for many of those who served in overseas units or the Royal Navy and Royal Flying Corps. It is expected that by the time of the 100th anniversary of World War Two in 2039, a significant number of profiles will have been added, derived from information held in currently closed files from the 1939–1945 period.

Online Cenotaph is not solely for memorialising the dead; it is also about recording the experiences, service, and sacrifice of those who returned. Increasingly the focus after the centenary period will be to build representation of service personnel from campaigns after 1945. Working directly with veterans and their families, particularly from the Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Borneo and Vietnam, we will create a complete digital record of all who served this country and make it accessible in perpetuity for future generations.

For further information please go to www.aucklandmuseum.com/cenotaph If you would like a record to be created for someone not recorded on the database, please contact 09 309 9443 ex 7074.

From left to right: Tom, Edward, George and William Burgess.

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First World War centenary

Gunners from 16th Field regiment of the royal regiment of new zealand artillery played a key role in commemorating the centenary of the signing of the armistice on 11 november, signalling the end of the First world war.The Regiment from Linton Military Camp conducted a 100-gun salute on Wellington’s waterfront. The salute was part of a joint salute alongside British, Australian and Canadian artillery regiments around the world.

Ten 105mm Howitzer guns, placed outside Museum of New Zealand Te Papa and facing over the harbour, fired a single shot in turn until 100 shots had been fired. The guns then fell silent at 11am, as the guns did at the same time, on the same day, in 1918.

Lieutenant Colonel Kristian Dunne, Commanding Officer 16th Field Regiment, said the Regiment was honoured to be part of the programme to commemorate the end of the First World War.

new ZealanD armY gunners fire 100-gun salute for armistiCe

“The Regiment commemorated the start of the First World War 100th anniversary in 2014 with a 100-gun salute and being able to do the same to commemorate the end of the conflict is very poignant,” Lieutenant Colonel Dunne said. “We value our nation’s history and we believe it’s important to pay our respects to those who fought and to their families.

“Many of our personnel can trace a family connection to the First World War and this event was very special to them.”

The light gun being used for the salute was a towed Howitzer (L119 Hamel 105mm Field Gun). It stands 2.21m tall and weighs more than 1700kg. It provides close, indirect fire support to combat troops, and can fire a variety of ammunition types, including high explosive, illumination and smoke.

To mark the occasion of the centenary a Royal Regiment artillery salute – including the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery, the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, and the Royal Artillery – also fired sequentially by time zone.

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Solders parade their Colours.

Colonel Andrew Brown salutes Army, Air Force and Navy personnel attended the commemorations.

A young commemoration attendee is shown the gun.

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By anne chapple

The word “anzac” continues to resonate with the australian and new zealand communities as they honour the memories and gallant work undertaken by the combined defence forces since the coining of the term during world war one.In Western Australia, a unique bond has been established through a small cottage in the Perth suburb of Mount Hawthorn. The cottage, built in one day in February 1916, served two purposes: as a memorial to those who lost their life at Gallipoli and as a home for a returned wounded soldier and his family. A perfect example of community spirit and of the respect held by those ‘back home”, the cottage was built entirely through donations of money, skills, furniture and building materials. Sadly, during the 1990s the cottage was severely neglected and there was talk of demolishing the building. Enter the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (Western Australia Branch Inc) under the guiding hands of then President, Rob Cox OAM who was succeeded by Life Member and Immediate Past President Peter Ramsay BEM (a New Zealand Vietnam Veteran – Victor 4 Company RNZIR & 6RAR/NZ ANZAC Bn) who took on

the daunting task of repairing the cottage and restoring it to its 1916 state. Thus a bond was formed.

This relationship has been further forged in a recent imaginative project undertaken by the Friends of ANZAC Cottage, a group based in the cottage which undertakes the community engagement role, ensuring that the story of ANZAC Cottage lives on and the purposes for which it was built over a century ago are upheld along with the observation of significant commemorative services held throughout the year.

This new project entitled “Operation ANZAC Revamp” was an idea hatched in the fertile mind of Peter Ramsay and implemented through the Friends of ANZAC Cottage. It involved the revamping of two bus stops close to ANZAC Cottage to reflect those two conflicts that are so closely interwoven with the cottage: World War One and the Vietnam War. Peter’s vision saw three elements common to both conflicts; timber, corrugated iron and sandbags, the latter being the most problematic given their instability. This dilemma was solved when he came across a memorial recently constructed in New Zealand that involved sandbags of a different kind.

Thus Operation ANZAC Revamp was born. In a tribute to the ANZAC tradition, personnel from both the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces were recruited to take on the sandbag aspect of the operation. Whilst this sounds quite easy, the procedure for the sandbag construction was complex and to achieve this the Friends of ANZAC Cottage brought Lance Corporal Andy Good, who devised and developed the

New Zealand Memorial to the West and obtained the willing and expert assistance of the engineers of the 13 Field Squadron from Irwin Barracks to work with him. The process took a week, and the success of this aspect can be judged both by the extensive media coverage and the wholehearted support from community members, businesses and local government.

The finishing touches will be supplied by Drew Straker, a mural artist who will be painting the murals

operation anZaC revamp

at the local primary school, giving the students at that school an opportunity to interact with the artist not only regarding his artist’s practice but also the story behind the murals.

Whilst Operation ANZAC Revamp has generated a lot of interest, and some valuable connections, a surprising outcome of the project came through the “Nui Dat” bus stop. The mural design was inspired by the cover photo of Vietnam Veteran Steve Lewis’s book “My Vietnam”. The photo was taken by Peter Fischer, himself a Vietnam Veteran, who was a member of the Long Tan burial party on August 19, 1966. As can be seen from the bus stop concept, Peter was an excellent photographer. And in the circle of coincidence that often epitomises ANZAC Cottage, Peter was also passionate about the Waler horses used in World War One and was instrumental in forming the Waler Horse Society and developing a website dedicated to this significant animal.

The success of Operation ANZAC Revamp and projects of this type are best summed up in the words of Steve Lewis himself : “I marvel at the string of coincidence that seems to surface when the veterans’ community undertake projects of this nature, and am humbled and proud to be one small factor in this event”.

Operation ANZAC Revamp was made possible by funding through the City of Vincent, Rosewood Care Group and Bendigo Bank North Perth

CPL Good and an Australian soldier.

Local school children met the soldiers involved.

The two sandbag bus stops built by Kiwi sapper CPL Good with help from his Australian counterparts.

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mono islanD CommemorationsDefence representatives, accompanied the new zealand High commissioner to join the people of mono island, western Province, solomon islands in commemorating the 75th anniversary of the new zealand and us landings on 27th october – known as “operation Goodtime”.New Zealand’s first opposed amphibious military landings since Gallipoli took place on 27 October 1943 at Falamai Bay, Mono Island. Forty New Zealanders and 12 Americans died in action as the Allied Forces liberated the island from occupying Japanese forces. The people of Mono commemorate the landings every year with a ‘New Zealand Day’ – their biggest celebration of the year.

NZ High Commissioner, Don Higgins, Defence Attaché Solomon Islands, LTCOL Samuel Hunter DSD and the Surveillance Planning and Liaison Officer, Forum Fisheries Agency, Honiara, LTCDR Phil Rowe, RNZN, joined the commemorations on the remote island.

The New Zealand contingent was also joined by families of some of the soldiers who fought and died at Mono. They had made the long journey from New Zealand to experience the place where their relatives fought. Following a spirited “warrior’s welcome”, representatives from the Council of Chiefs greeted the party as they arrived on the beach at Falamai including Roy Kelosi who was eight years old when the Japanese landed at his village. A moving memorial service was held at the Mono Memorial and wreaths laid followed by the Last Post and a minute’s silence.

Former New Zealand Herald reporter Ric Oram’s father was one of the soldiers killed in the landing. Ric visited Mono in October, 1993, for the 50th anniversary.By ric oram

New Zealand tourists are often “adopted” by the people of villages and towns in Europe (particularly Greece) because of the ties Kiwi soldiers formed with those small populations during World War Two.

But none compares with the love and respect Falamai village on the island of Mono in the Solomon Islands still holds for its Kiwi liberators.

On October 27, 1943, New Zealand soldiers landed on the Japanese-occupied island.

It is the only opposed maritime assault involving New Zealand forces other than at Gallipoli, and it was conducted in secret. The fighting lasted less than a fortnight instead of eight months on the Turkish peninsula, and only 40 New Zealanders were killed instead of the 2779 in 1915.

Few have heard of Falamai but it has, albeit anonymously, long been enshrined in pop culture: American author James Michener, who served in the Pacific, published Tales of the South Pacific in 1947. One of his short stories, set in the mythical village of Bali Hai – inspired by the similar-sounding name of Falamai village – was adapted in 1949 by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein for their musical South Pacific which became an instant hit on Broadway. The film, South Pacific, followed in 1958.

Much is known and been written about the mainly United States-Japanese conflict in the Pacific. After Japanese naval and land forces were defeated at Guadalcanal Island early in 1943, the allies set about clearing the remainder of the Solomons islands on a path to Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Malaysia.

At the remote north-west tip of the Solomons near Bougainville were the Treasury Islands – Mono and Stirling, which are several hundred metres apart. Stirling was needed for an airfield.

The United States Navy embarked New Zealand soldiers in New Caledonia, took on American army engineers and equipment and, with American and New Zealand pilots in the air overhead, invaded the two jungle-covered islands and their garrison of fewer than 250 Japanese.

In the weeks leading up the landing, several United States and one RNZAF aircraft were brought down

near Mono Island where crew hid in the jungle from the Japanese, helped by Falamai villagers until the New Zealand soldiers stumbled on them.

Our Pacific “Gallipoli” has since been commemorated by the Falamai villagers annually in the church the Kiwi soldiers rebuilt (the Japanese used it as an ammunition dump, and it was blown up) while they were there. In it a brass plaque lists the names of the New Zealand casualties (since reinterred in New Caledonia).

The Solomons gained independence from Britain on July 7, 1978, but the villagers still celebrate theirs on October 27 with their own “national” anthem which extols the Kiwi soldiers.

Little was written about this relatively insignificant invasion until 2012 when Operation Goodtime and the Battle of the Treasury Islands, by Upper Hutt lawyer Reg Newell, told the story of our World War Two “Gallipoli”.

It took him 11 years to research, find key personnel who were involved and to have it printed. The detail is exhaustive and documentation meticulous.

Newell is no Michener. But his book is a treasure trove for the student of the history of naval, air and land forces with its great detail of strategy, logistics and types and capability of craft and armaments used.

Hidden in this detail is the drama of the downed airmen hiding from the enemy, a reconnaissance party being landed by submarine and close-quarter jungle warfare that, hopefully, a screenwriter will one day discover and present to a filmmaker – and thence to our nation.

Over the years, a group of Hamilton-based veterans adopted Mono Island as a Lions project, sending up the likes of books for the Falamai school and going up to pipe fresh water from springs in the hills to taps in the village.

Tour packages to Mono are available, with guests staying in “Kiwi House” (complete with the village’s only toilet bowl) which was specially built in 1993 for veterans and veteran’s relatives who visited for the 50th anniversary of the landing. They, like any New Zealander who visits today, were treated like royalty.

(Operation Goodtime and the Battle of the Treasury Islands, 1943. The World War II Invasion by United States and New Zealand Forces is available through reg@foresee.co.nz)

Troops from 8th Brigade, 3rd New Zealand Division, landed on Mono in the Treasury Islands to help clear the island of Japanese forces. This was the first opposed landing by New Zealand troops since Gallipoli.

The 3rd New Zealand Division arrived at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in mid-September 1943. A month later, they received orders to seize and hold Stirling and Mono Island, where the Americans planned to establish a long-range radar station.

The New Zealanders landed on Mono Island at about 6.25 a.m. Despite enemy machine-gun fire, the New Zealand and American forces managed to establish a beachhead. By the end of the day, 21 New Zealanders had been killed and 70 wounded.

Although the Japanese defenders were outnumbered, Mono’s geography afforded them some protection. The island rose steeply from the sea, and dense forest cover concealed many caves in which the enemy was able to hide. Clearing the island was a slow and difficult task. Although the island was declared clear of Japanese forces on 7 November, isolated enemy positions held out for weeks longer.

About 240 New Zealanders were killed in the Pacific between 1939 and 1945.

Old photos courtesy of the Army National Museum, Waiouru.

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The aumangea programme focuses on sharpening your most valuable weapon, your mind.The purpose of Aumangea is to make you more resilient, confident, faster thinking, adaptive, innovative, and less clouded by perceived limitations. To be agile in thought and action. To become mentally bulletproof.

The end result is a human being who can readily accept the challenges of life. It provides a new baseline for the volunteer to achieve from. In some cases simply becoming a better all-round person or taking that new knowledge and ability to move forward in your career. We will never be the richest defence force or have the biggest toys. However we can be stacked top to bottom with the most motivated, capable and adaptive warriors in the world.

Over the past eight years 363 individuals have attempted Aumangea, on 17 programmes conducted throughout New Zealand. Although developed and driven by the New Zealand Army it has always been open to other services. Air Force and Navy volunteers have been very successful, showing that trade and service differences are no restriction to driven people. Since 2014 it has also been open to international volunteers, with service people from Canada and USA attending. There are 192 tabbed personnel currently serving

across the NZDF/CAF and US Army. During this time the programme has gone through many iterations, and though the core concept and outcome remain the same, the execution is different each time.

In 2010, the then-Land Component Commander Brigadier Dave Gawn and LCSM WO1 Danny Broughton tasked WO2 Red Robinson and Staff Sergeant Daryn Te Uamairangi with developing the Aumangea Programme.

Both hold over 50 years of experience in 1NZSAS, the PTI Corp and the original Ranger Company. Having this background in operations, high-level soldiering and elite human performance provided the Aumangea Programme with the ability to deliver. With a thorough understanding of the realities of operations and the will required to win, they were uniquely placed to lead the programme

Both applied their knowledge of training to employ a mental/physical/spiritual approach in an environment designed to challenge each volunteer to their limits. Each volunteer learns and adapts, with comprehensive feedback and assessment. Elements of Special Operation training as well as human performance experience is used to design the programme content and assess all who meet the Aumangea challenge.

Those who attend can expect to work alongside members of all three Services as well as personnel from other nations. Being part of the programme means putting aside your rank and working with the person beside you to learn true humility and serve the people you signed up to serve. Aumangea is rapidly becoming an asset to the NZDF with a network of motivated warriors spread across its services.

If you’re interested in finding out more, please contact the training team, or find someone nearby who has done the programme themselves; we have tabbed members on every base and camp nationwide. If you want to know exactly what you can do and who you can be, take the challenge in 2019.

aumangea

nZDf ptis anD aumangea faCilitators train phoenix footBallersAumangea facilitators have worked with the physical training instructors (PTIs)from Trentham Military Camp to produce a physical, mental and spiritual experience for the Wellington Phoenix football team.

The aim of the experience was to change the mentality of the sports team from a losing mind set to having the will to win. Two Army, one Navy and one Air Force PTI were called on to assist with the physical and team building components.

After a warm up the Phoenix were into their first task, “Hounds and Hares”. The aim of this task was to encourage team work and developing the will to win. The objective was for the hounds to catch the hares, or the hares making it to the finish line before being caught. Both teams had a rope each which everybody from the team had to be holding onto. This task went for an hour and a half period, where consequences were awarded to teams who did not meet their objectives.

Task two was carrying equipment to the top of tank hill and back to start within a given time. The equipment consisted of a stretcher with an 80kg dummy on it, MBs, Torsion bars and a rope. The boys were up and down tank hill four times until the objective was met. They were very determined to make their timing, which they did in the end. The team finished up with a cool down and debrief in the Trentham Gymnasium at 2100.

The PTIS were called on to conduct phase 2 at 0000h – 0900h, where we received a group every three hours. The task involved grappling with the objective leaning towards encouragement and support amongst team members in moments of fatigue. The PTIs would motivate, encourage, and stay on top of safety. There was a variety in the levels of determination and encouragement between the groups. The first group to come through started on a high and ended on a low, the second group stayed

consistent throughout and the last group started on a low and finished on a high.

At the end of the final physical component the team was handed back to the Aumangea facilitators for the remainder of the morning. Everybody came together at 1200h for a BBQ, where we shared stories, banter and laughter. We were approached by the team’s trainer at the BBQ for tips on how he can use his voice during training sessions to mirror the way we used ours. “We started out talking to cones,” was our response. The PTIs said it was a privilege to put the Wellington Phoenix through their paces. “To see how they performed as high performance athletes during the challenging tasks was one of the highlights during the two days. I believe the team learnt and discovered a whole new level of mental resilience. They now have a better appreciation for their physical and mental limits,” said one.

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on 6 november ‘oPeraTion ride 2018’ arrived in waiouru. a group of The army Depot (TaD) staff and newly-graduated soldiers from recruit regular Force 390, who had marched out only days earlier and were in their final days before being posted to their new units, welcomed them to waiouru by performing a haka at the national army museum.

The contingent was “absolutely humbled” to be welcomed to Waiouru by a powerful and heartfelt military haka, they said.

OPERATION Ride was injured veterans cycling the length of the country on purpose-built tandem bikes, being run by a group called Pilgrims Bandits. The event included a team of four New Zealand injured veterans, racing alongside injured veterans from Canada and Great Britain

It was the first ride of its kind, raising money and awareness for wounded soldiers.

The group uses extreme sports to help the recovery of injured veterans, and the aim of the event was to physically and mentally push their bodies to help encourage awareness that no matter what their injury, illness or ailment is, they can do anything they put their mind to.

The event was conducted on specially made tandem cycles with two injured riders on a bike at a time. One cyclist rode with the hand cycle component at the front of the bike and was maybe an amputee or lower limb impaired, and the other rode the leg crank on the rear of the bike and had either invisible injuries (e.g. PTSD) or injuries that are not amputation or lower limb impaired.

It was especially gruelling for the veterans, many of whom have serious injuries from their time serving. It was initiated by UK Charity Pilgrim Bandits which uses endurance sports to help injured veterans recover.

While raising money for charities that support wounded veterans, Operation Ride was also about raising awareness – especially for the injuries you cannot see.

The end goal was biking from Bluff to Cape Reinga in just 21 days.

operation riDe reCeives a waiouru welCome

28 armYnews

BooK review

Bravo Kiwi – new ZealanD solDiers, afghanistan anD the Battle of BaghaK By major (rtd) craig wilson, nsGD. reviewed by Judith martin

craig wilson’s book Bravo Kiwi was a long time in gestation.But like any offspring who is smart, funny, fast-paced, lively and likeable – but at times irritating – it was worth the wait.

Worth the wait but gruelling too, as memories surface of those heart-breaking scenes of dead soldiers being carried off aircraft, and stunned relatives sobbing in each other’s arms. Of a bunch of forlorn little girls who had lost their dad (CPL Luke Tamatea), and of an anguished mother who had lost her beautiful daughter (LCPL Jacinda Baker).

I first met Craig Wilson on an Army exercise in the South Island in 2010. It soon became apparent I would not have any problems getting enough information from him to write a story. He was open and chatty, and very willing to share his views and explain what was going on.

Taciturn, like so many of his subordinates, he was not.Just two years later, as Commanding Officer of Bravo

Company, he was to lose two soldiers when they went to the aid of Afghan police in Baghak. He was shot in the shoulder, the experience of which he describes vividly in Bravo Kiwi, and evacuated to a German hospital. It was there he discovered three more of his team had been killed by an improvised explosive device.

Bravo Kiwi works, and has credibility, because it is written by an officer involved in the thick of the action rather than someone with a vivid imagination and a wad of reports.

“I lowered my gaze to ground level and I almost choked, as right there about 180 metres away to the north, right in the zone where the insurgents supposedly were, three of them (insurgents) had emerged. I instinctively moved onto the bonnet of the vehicle, raising my rifle as I went. I was mentally checking through our Rules of Engagement as I moved: one insurgent was right by the big rock…, and the other two were below him trying frantically to communicate. Could they be NDS? No. Were they showing any sign of surrender? No. Take them now or they will reposition. Time was up. They had to go. I did not enjoy killing the two that I shot, but I was not going to send Graham to clear that ground knowing I had left insurgents there waiting for him. The lads followed my lead and by the time my sights reached the third insurgent there was no need to fire.”

Bravo Kiwi explains in exacting detail everything that went on before CRIB 20 deployed to Afghanistan, including the selection of troops to deploy, and their preparation. It is very Wilson-centric, irritatingly so at times, but conversely that adds colour and intrigue, and provides insight into the myriad of detail that goes on behind the scenes in pre-deployment training and combat.

Bravo Kiwi is a perfect stocking-filler for anyone interested in the military, and what goes on in the minds of those who are deployed to war-torn countries and are prepared to tell their tale.

Army News has a copy of Bravo Kiwi to give away. If you would like to be in the draw send an email with Bravo Kiwi in the subject line to armynews@nzdf.mil.nz or send an envelope with your details on the back to Army News, HQNZDF, Private Bag 39997, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045. Entries close December 16.

tutu te puehu: new perspeCtives on the new ZealanD warsedited by John crawford & ian mcGibbon, steele roberts aotearoa, wellington, 2018. reviewed by lieutenant colonel richard Taylor.

The new zealand wars have attracted increasing academic interest and debate over the past 20 years.

In large part, this has been driven by the response to James Belich’s controversial The New Zealand Wars and the Victorian interpretation of Racial Conflict in the mid-1980s – a response that exposed the flaws in Belich’s thesis, and highlighted the fact that there is still much more work to be done to enhance our understanding of the New Zealand Wars. It was against this backdrop that New Zealand’s first history conference dedicated entirely to the New Zealand Wars, ‘Tutu te Puehu: New Zealand’s Wars of the Nineteenth Century’, was held in Wellington in February 2011.

Tutu te Puehu: New Perspectives On The New Zealand Wars is the collection of papers presented during that conference, and represents something of a watershed in the historiography of the New Zealand Wars. Rather than presenting a series of campaign studies, the book explores the Wars through a series of themes, such as the impact of religion, contemporary media reporting, post-war memorialisation, and the impact of intelligence, and the Royal Navy. The essays themselves are divided into five sections: origins and conflicts, 1845–46; war in Taranaki, 1860–61; operational aspects; Titokowaru, Te Kooti and the aftermath; and the Australian and imperial context.

The presenters/authors include a number with existing credentials in the study of the New Zealand Wars, and others who will no doubt have a greater impact in future. Their papers are all well-researched, highly relevant, and – importantly – accessible to both those with a background in the New Zealand Wars, and the general reader alike. All deserve their place in the book, and each one makes their own contribution to our understanding of the wars.

For all its strengths, of which there are many, Tutu te Puehu does fall short of providing complete coverage. For example, two key areas that could have been covered in more detail are the impact of technology and logistics on the course of the Wars. The New Zealand

Wars neatly straddled a revolution in military affairs that occured in the 1850s and early 1860s, which saw the advent of breech-loading artillery and small arms, modern munitions, the telegraph, the merging of the British Army’s supply and distribution elements into a single agency, and the development of the general hospital system in Taranaki and the Waikato. The other important development of this period – the introduction of steam-driven coastal and riverine steamers – was covered well, and so provides an example of how these other areas might have been covered.

It would also have been interesting to see something about the comparative strategic approaches of both sides, and how the wars were actually planned and fought at the operational and strategic levels. A number of the papers touch briefly on this, but do not develop the discussion in any meaningful way. These criticisms, however, should not detract from what is presented in Tutu te Puehu.

During the past four years, New Zealand has commemorated the series of events that comprised our experience of the Great War of 1914–18. Notwithstanding its own importance, this commemorative programme largely overshadowed another significant development in the way New Zealand remembers its military past: the decision by government in 2017 to set aside 28 October as an annual commemoration of the New Zealand Wars.

Tutu te Puehu was launched in late October 2018, to mark this year’s commemoration of these wars. Despite there being over seven and a half years between the 2011 conference and 2018 publication, the book was definitely worth the wait.

armYpeople 29

Alexander Godley was born in England in 1867. He began his long career in the British Army in 1886 as a lieutenant in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. After fighting in Rhodesia and South Africa, he transferred to the Irish Guards in 1900. A decade of training and headquarters appointments in England followed, after which he took command of New Zealand’s military forces and transformed them into a modern force that could represent New Zealand credibly on an imperial battlefield. At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Godley assembled the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and commanded it for the next five years. At the same time, he held a succession of increasingly senior battlefield commands: the New Zealand and Australian Division and the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) on Gallipoli, and II Anzac Corps and XXII Corps on the Western Front. At the end of the war in 1918, Godley returned to the British Army for another 15 years, commanding the British Army of the Rhine and Britain’s Southern Command. After five years as the governor of Gibraltar, he retired in 1934 as the senior general in the British Army, laden with honours and with his coat of arms displayed in Westminster Abbey. When the Second World War began, he signed up as a Home Guard platoon commander. Alexander Godley died in 1957, at the age of ninety.

According to recently published accounts, Godley ordered a brigade of Australians to charge to their deaths at The Nek on Gallipoli in 1915, before ruining the one opportunity the Allies had to defeat the Turks. It is also claimed that, on the Western Front two years later, he was directly responsible for the deaths of more than 840 New Zealanders in a single day at Passchendaele. Every Anzac soldier who had the misfortune to serve under Godley’s command loathed him. In return, he detested the Australians and tolerated the New Zealanders. It has also been stated that Godley was trained by his father, that he had never seen a machine gun before 1914, and that he was a cavalry officer. None of these statements are true — some are simply wrong, while others are misinterpretations or exaggerations.

One thing that Godley did not do in the trenches, it seems, was talk to his men. Unlike Birdwood, Godley “never said “gidday boys” to us or anything else, or asked how far away the Turk was, or asked for a periscope to look over the top. ‘He came around to visit the troops on two occasions... and he marched round with his adjutant beside him. Never talked to one of the troops. We all stood to attention. He went by as if we were nothing.”

[At Passchendaele] the New Zealand Division suffered 2,735 casualties, including over 840 fatalities, making 12 October 1917 the worst day in the country’s military history… Godley wrote in his autobiography that his corps “had fought three pitched battles in eight days, and what the men did during the last two attacks almost surpasses belief”. He told [his wife] Louisa that “we have fought another desperate battle today which has ended disappointingly and, as is always the case, the work is hardest when things don’t go right. We got 200 prisoners, killed a lot of Boches and gained a little ground, but that was all, and, of course, much less than we aimed at. However, one can’t expect to be entirely successful every time. The weather is awful and to think of what the men must be going through tonight in the mud and rain and the sufferings of the wounded lying out is horrible… But each blow weakens the Hun and is a step nearer the end, and three pitched battles in eight days is a good record for the corps.”

Major General Howard Kippenberger wrote that “General Sir Alexander Godley had a tremendous influence, wholly for good, on the New Zealand Army. He was still [in 1953] intensely interested in the New Zealand Army and in New Zealand soldiers... and he spoke kindly and affectionately and proudly... Perhaps he mellowed with age. With all his qualities, he lacked the common touch. There does not seem to be any photograph showing him smiling; he always looked rather stern and forbidding. He was a thoroughly competent commander, lacking the Russell or Freyberg touch. Outwardly cold and aloof, he was, nevertheless, a man with a heart.”

Godley naturally wanted his corps to do well, but not in order to feather his own nest or to please his commanders – his focus was always on winning the

goDleY The man behind the myth

British officer General sir alexander Godley, commander of several wwi anzac divisions and corps and the new zealand expeditionary Force, has been vilified over the decades for alleged incompetence that led to the deaths of many new zealanders at Gallipoli and the western Front. But is that vilification fair? Historian and former nz army officer Terry Kinloch has researched and written Godley, the man behind the myth. Army News reprints an excerpt from the book here.

war. This author has read hundreds of letters written by Godley to family and friends during the war, and found no evidence of a “hunger for promotion” [or] an ‘ever-present’ desire for more money… Promotion was naturally desirable, as was a good salary, but it goes too far to say that Godley deliberately sacrificed his men in pursuit of these personal goals.

Nearly all criticisms of Godley’s performance in the First World War are based on the period in which he commanded large numbers of Australian and New Zealand troops (1915–17); his performance in 1918 is rarely mentioned. If Godley was an incompetent corps commander whose success was due to the excellence of his divisional commanders – Monash and Russell in particular – then he should have performed poorly in the more demanding mobile warfare conditions of 1918 without those generals under his command. By November 1918, however, [Godley’s] XXII Corps had emerged as one of the more successful corps in the BEF.

No man is perfect, and Godley certainly had his faults. He cannot avoid a share of the blame for the failed attacks at Gallipoli and on the Western Front that he was involved in, but it should not be the lion’s share — that responsibility lies elsewhere. He would seldom challenge orders from superior officers, or offer alternative options. He was a poor communicator, being unable or unwilling to engage with his Anzac soldiers in a way that they would respond to, and his post-action reports were often very misleading.Godley as a Lieutenant.

30 armYpeople

The nzDF medium Heavy operational vehicle user community converged on the central north island for its annual “rmmvunG” conference recently.The annual conference, which New Zealand representatives have been attending for four years, is a forum for users of the Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles to engage. The NZDF gains significant benefits in attendance by receiving feedback on how vehicles are functioning on operations with other nations, and leveraging common engineering solutions, policy and standard operating procedures.

The conference comprises the ABCANZ nations of UK, Australia and New Zealand, along with observer nations of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Austria, and also includes the OEM Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV). It covers various Rheinmetall MAN Support Vehicle topics in the doctrine/operating concepts, systems engineering and integrated logistics support fields.

The conference began in Taupo with the outgoing chairperson Colonel Mick Murdoch from the ADF

handing over the User Group taiaha and host responsibilities to COL Stephen Piercy on behalf of the NZDF. This was followed by country briefs highlighting each nation’s fleet dependency, bodies of work and current fleet issues. The European contractor presented the company’s current and future focus along with its “homework” that was assigned at the previous conference by the User Group Chairman.

Day two was an action packed day trip to Waiouru and the pre-conference warning to all delegates was to “Dress for four seasons in one day”. Waiouru did not disappoint! The powhiri and tour of the Army Marae by Major Pat Hibbs and WO2 Andrew Morrison gave the User Group a unique insight into New Zealand and Ngati Tumatauenga culture. The conference members touched the sacred stone as they departed the marae.

While in Waiouru, a static display demonstrating the new RMMV Advanced Load Handling System mounted on an ADF HX2 77 platform was conducted. The ALHS enables the operator to load and unload equipment partially embedded into ground or off centre, and best of all while working entirely from inside the protection of the vehicle cabin. A very impressive new capability for the user community to consider.

The utility of NZDF’s Full Electrical Layout System (FELS) maintenance training aid was also demonstrated by TTS SME, Staff Sergeant Mike Colbert. The FELS

is a successful training aid resource used within the RNZALR trade training programme. NZDF and UK are the only nations that have FELS and the demonstration was therefore of particular interest to the Australians and Norwegians who want the contractor to recommence production.

After lunch at the Waiouru Officers’ Mess, 2 CSSB elements from Exercise Sari Bair conducted a combat service support vehicle training, tactics and procedure demonstration for the conference along Carbuncle Track. The blank firing contact drill was narrated throughout by Warrant Officer Class Two Ra Turia who provided the context to the events as they unfolded. Post-demonstration, the opportunity to speak face to face with the operators was a highlight for the delegates, including the contractors who don’t usually engage at this level. The demonstration was very impressive and the operator feedback about MHOV was well received.

Last stop for the day was an escorted tour of the National Army Museum hosted by Simon Beckwith. The drive back to Taupo provided the opportunity to reflect on a unique and enjoyable series of experiences in Waiouru. Mount Ngauruhoe was in full view towards to end of the Desert Road, wowing the international guests.

Days three and four of the conference were the main effort with the detailed working group discussions beginning. This included numerous doctrine/operating concepts, engineering and integrated logistics support topics being tabled, leading towards action items for individual nations and the contractor. NZDF Capability Branch, RNZALR operators and tradespeople surged into Taupo to discuss subjects from the end user perspective and get an understanding of other nations’ policies and procedures. Outcomes were documented and assigned for action within the next 12 months.

The conference culminated with the new chairperson LTCOL Tony McQuillan (NZDF) presenting further homework to the RMMV Executive Board Member, Mr Michael Wittlinger. It was not all homework though, as NZDF then presented a pounamu toki to Mr Wittlinger as a mark of his visit to New Zealand. He replied by saying the NZDF-hosted conference was outstanding and he was particularly moved by his visit to the home of the New Zealand Army at Waiouru.

The next annual conference will be hosted by the UK MOD in Sep 2019.

mhov user CommunitY gather for militarY vehiCle ConferenCe

An advanced load handling system fitted to an Australian HX77 performs a loading drill in Waiouru.

SSGT Colbert explains the benefits of the FELs training aid to Norwegian and Danish delegates at the QAMR workshop in Waiouru.

armYpeople 31

fires and rpas interoperability with 5th angliCo, usmC on exercise sari BairBy captain zach Turnbull

Gunners from16th Field Regiment was joined by US Marines from 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO), based out of Okinawa, Japan during Exercise Sari Bair recently.

The marines were fully integrated into 16th Field Regiment Joint Fires Teams (JFT) throughout the exercise, and also provided a PUMA Mini RPAS detachment that provided ISR in support of 1 (NZ) Bde manoeuvre units.

JFTs were tasked with providing a combination of lethal and non-lethal effect from 105mm light guns and 81mm mortars. The procedures for coordinating fires are mostly the same between Five Eyes nations although

there are variations. Exercise Sari Bair allowed New Zealand soldiers and US marines to learn each other’s methods of coordinating fires and operating in a partner nations JFT supporting a manoeuvre force.

This was mutually beneficial and a useful experience for working in any coalition environment in the future. The role of ANGLICO is to plan, coordinate, and integrate effects from different services and partner nations. 16th Field Regiment has a long-standing relationship with 5th ANGLICO, working closely together regularly.

The PUMA RPAS proved to be a capable system with a set up time, range, and operating method that enabled timely support to quick and deliberate live firing scenarios. 5th ANGLICO also provided Video Downlink receivers (VDL) which enabled manoeuvre commanders

to que the Puma onto targets and allowing increased situational awareness.

In addition the JFT could direct the movement of the Puma and control where it observed, in line with the priorities of the ground commander. This allowed the sensor in the PUMA to determine target grid coordinates for engagement and provide overhead persistent ISR. These are all critical lessons for future Army RPAS capability, in particular resourcing the system with receiving devices and communications

I have worked with 5th ANGLICO on multiple occasions and found each time to be very valuable training. We share the same motivation and corps values which allows us to integrate easily when required.

“I found these rocks in Taji and painted one rock with a teddy bear for Josh and another with a sheep for Zac,” Captain Swale said.

“It was my first time to be deployed overseas and being away from my family was the toughest part of being away.”

Corporal Hannah Bristow, who was posted to the Sinai Peninsula for six months, echoed Captain Swale’s remarks.

“I missed him so much and was counting the days until I get to see and hug him again,” Corporal Bristow said of her four-year-old son Leo.

Captain Swale and Corporal Bristow were two of 100 New Zealand Army troops who returned home in mid-November from a six-month deployment in the Middle East.

Two-thirds of the returning troops deployed to Iraq’s Camp Taji in May and worked alongside members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to train about 4500 Iraqi Security Forces personnel over the past six months.

The rest served as part of the Multinational Force and Observers, an independent international organisation created by agreement between Egypt and Israel with peacekeeping responsibilities in the Sinai Peninsula.

Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour, the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said the work of the returning troops brought credit to New Zealand.

“Together with our coalition partners, we have helped build the capacity of the Iraqi military and start them on a path towards a self-reliant and self-sustaining force.”

Rear Admiral Gilmour also cited the work of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) peacekeepers in the Sinai Peninsula.

“Our personnel operate in austere environments such as in the Sinai, where Islamic militants have been inciting violence. We are proud of the work they have done and their contribution to efforts in maintaining peace in the Middle East region.”

Around 800 NZDF troops have gone to Iraq since 2015 to work alongside Australian military personnel to train Iraqi forces, with an eighth rotation of 90 soldiers deploying in late October.

Task Group Taji, as the combined New Zealand-Australia task group is called, has trained more than 39,000 Iraqi soldiers and Federal Police since the training mission began in May 2015.

“The entire Task Group Taji feels a sense of achievement to see the increased confidence and the sharper skills demonstrated by the Iraqi forces we have trained,” Lieutenant Colonel Jason Hutchings, the NZDF Senior National Officer for the seventh rotation, said.

Based at Camp Taji, the NZDF soldiers help train Iraqi forces in weapons handling, night combat, marksmanship at close quarters and longer ranges, combat first aid, urban and rural operations, explosives hazard awareness training and obstacle breaching techniques. All Iraqi forces are also taught the fundamental aspects of international human rights law and the Law of Armed Conflict.

troops return home from the miDDle eastBy luz Baguioro, Public affairs manager – Joint Forces new zealand

weeks before she was due to return home from iraq in mid-november, new zealand army captain lisa swale had put the presents for her sons zac, 3, and Josh, who’s almost two, in her luggage.

USMC RPAS detachment launch a PUMA in support of a combat team in contact.

Corporal Hannah Bristow hugs her four-year-old son Leo after returning home from a six-month deployment to the Sinai Peninsula.

Captain Lisa Swale with her sons Zac, 3, left, and Josh, who is almost two years old, after arriving from Iraq.

USMC forward observers establish an observation post over an urban village during EX SARI BAIR.

16 Fd Regt soldiers quickly learn the operating procedures for a PUMA UAS whilst working alongside the USMC ANGLICOs.

32 armYtraining

our networK enaBleD armYThe network enabled army (nea) Programme is a transformational programme that will deliver a modernised command, control, communications, computer (c4), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (isr) capability for the new zealand army. The programme scope covers the deployable tactical level C4 ISR capabilities for Land Forces and Special Operations Forces, and includes transforming or establishing the systems and services to train and maintain a networked force.

NEA is a long term and complex undertaking. Programme definition started in 2012, and the first tranche is now well underway and good progress is being made. We are looking forward to being able to start the second tranche of the programme in 2019.

The overall approach is to deliver capability incrementally and to initiate the changes required to transform the Army into a networked force for the 21st Century. The programme is delivered in four tranches,

running from 2015 to 2026. During each tranche the projects under the NEA Programme deliver an increased level of capability to an increasingly larger part of the Army. This incremental approach has a number of advantages. It allows us to take advantage of developments in technology over the life of the programme; it reduces the impact of change across Army and allows the cost of the programme to be spread out. There will be some overlap between the tranches, in order to maintain the programme’s momentum.

Tranche One, establishes the foundations for the Network Enabled Army capabilities to be built on. These foundations include overall system design, increasing the capacity in Logistics Command, contracting industry partners such as Systematic, building an Engineering Centre in Trentham and a Capability Integration Centre in Linton. Key C4 capabilities for a Task Group Headquarters, a rifle company and their supporting C4 Support Group are modernised.

Tranche Two builds on Tranche One by providing 1

Command Support Regiment with the communication systems needed to provide a deployable mission network for a Task Group. Tranche Two also introduces the first block of modern reconnaissance and surveillance sensor systems and a deployable SCIF for the Military Intelligence Company.

The programme is organised into a small programme office, a technical team, a capability integration team and two integrated project teams. The C4 Integrated Project Team delivers all C4 capabilities during each tranche, and the ISR Integrated Project team will deliver all ISR capabilities from Tranche Two onwards.

C4 integrateD projeCt teamThe C4 Integrated Project Team has achieved much in 2018, with good progress being made to secure contracts with the last of our required key industry partners. We are also close to confirming our preferred supplier of our Tactical Network, which we are on track to sign contracts in the first quarter of 2019. This would complete all major acquisitions for Tranche One.

Infrastructure

The C4IPT is responsible for the delivery of all major infrastructure for NEA, all critical enablers to the programme. This has included the delivery of the engineering centre, which was opened by the Minister of Defence on 27 September in Trentham. The centre has provided Defence and the NEA with a state-of-the-art test, reference and evaluation facility. The other facility is the Capability Integration Centre which will be built next to 2 Signal Squadron in Linton. This building project went to tender at the end of November and is on schedule to be completed by September 2019.

Mobile Tactical Communication Systems

The Mobile Tactical Command System (MTCS) is the radio-based system that provides voice and data communications to dismounted troops and vehicles. The Mobile Tactical Command System comprises multiple sub-systems, radios, viewing devices, antennae, headsets and the battle management system software: ATAK for Special Operations Forces and SitaWare Edge for Land Forces.

Throughout this year NEA has been evaluating the proposals from industry, selecting a provider and conducting contract negotiations to provide the core radios, design and support services, and platform integration services and to work as a long term partner with Defence in the development and delivery of the MTCS. This included lab and field testing of proposed solutions.

The core radios to be provided are;• Small Form Factor Radio (Soldier/ Team Radio)

• Multi-Channel Hand Held Radio (Commander/Specialist User and Team Signaller)

• Multi-Channel Man Pack Radio (Command Signaller/Specialist User and Mounted Platforms)

• Wide Band High Frequency Radio (Signallers/Specialist Users and Mounted Platforms)

In 2019 we will see the establishment of in-country vendor personnel, and the design and development of First of Type platform and network testing to enable a Light Rifle Company, a Task Group HQ and Expeditionary Force Elements.

Development of specialist and role components will continue to be developed, i.e. Sensor Operators, Joint Terminal Attack Controllers and independent Beyond Line Of Sight Friendly Force Tracking systems, and completion of the mesh radio solutions.

Common Command Post Operating Environment

CCPOE Project delivers modern new Command Post Infrastructure to Unit HQ’s tasked to support operational outputs. The new Command Post systems provide a comfortable, controlled environment for the Commander and the Staff to plan, command and control operations using the Battle Management System Sitaware.

In 2018 the command post was deployed on Exercise Tropic Major. NEA provided DJIATF HQ with the command post, servers and bearer systems which deployed to Vanuatu on HMNZS Canterbury. This exercise proved that CCPOE can be deployed, and across the shore, to operate effectively in a tropical environment.

In addition to this deployment the command post has been to QAMR, 1CSR, 2ER and 2 CSSB to support trials, exercises and displays. These have all provided valuable user feedback to inform the continuous improvement of the CCPOE system.

We are supporting MCTC with the delivery of an “Alpha” version of a Light Task Group HQ command post within the MCTC. This fitout is intended to closely resemble the deployable version of the Light Task Group HQ in terms of fit, form and function and will allow Units and courses to train their C2 procedures as they will fight when deployed.

Key experimentation milestones were achieved within the Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) Cloud unclassified server project which will provide other government and non-government agencies supporting HADR operations with access to an information

network, improving the governments situational awareness in a disaster.

The project, in conjunction with DLE, is leading the development of a new General Service Trailer (GST), with Tidd Ross Todd NZ Limited contracted to design and build the trailers. The GST provides a common design that will provide much greater payload capacity than the current light trailer and will be adjustable so it can be towed by several different vehicles.

Common Universal Bearer Systems

A key component within the NEA C4 Integrated Project Team (C4IPT) is the Common Universal Bearer System (CUBS) work stream. Along with delivering Army’s new Tactical Network and terrestrial bearers, this work stream will deliver tactical Wideband Satellite Communication (WB-SATCOM) bearer terminals for deployed Land Forces and Special Operations Forces (SOF).

As part of Tranche One, under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Case via the US Government, NEA has procured twelve GATR Technologies 2.4 meter dual-band satellite terminals that are certified to be used on the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) network. The GATR 2.4m terminals are intended as conventional Army and SOF’s primary deployable terminal in the Fixed Tactical/Mobile Tactical space (in support of DJF HQ, TG HQ, SOTG and SOCCE level elements,). The terminals will be integrated into Communications Access Nodes (CAN) that provide the tactical network to deployed forces and are optimised to meet Army’s mobility and throughput requirements. This procurement also included the fixed infrastructure installed within the NZDF’s Land Earth Stations to enable the integration of the tactical system into the wider NZDF SATCOM network.

The next phase sees the terminals being recommended for Interim Operating Readiness (IOR) and undergoing a period of maintenance and refurbishment prior to being issued to 1CSR, NZSAS Sigs Tp and the School of Signals, expected to be early 2019. Full Operating Capability will require the SATCOM terminals to be fully integrated into the CANs, at which time Army will conduct Operational tests as part of an overall evaluation of the complete modernised C4 capabilities being fielded in Tranche One.

armYsport 33

riding the Tour of samoa is no short ride around the island. it’s the opposite in fact, but that didn’t stop Defence civilian Faye McGregor from entering.Tania Larkin had done the tour in 2017 with Major Rob Te Moana supporting and doing a reccy for the next year. No amount of training in New Zealand could prepare us for the Tour of Samoa. While some of Wellington’s steeper hills could somewhat simulate part of the climbs ahead of us, not even training indoors with the heat pump blasting could prepare us for the searing heat which often got to 32–36 degrees pouring off the tarmac.

The week consisted of many 4am rises to be on the road by 5am in an effort to beat the sun, and while these early rises in the morning were challenging enough for some, riding through the villages before the break of dawn brought even more near death defying trials. Every fale in the village seems to own a dog, which roams free, patrolling their patch and don’t take kindly to being startled by a bunch of 30 bright lights coming out of the darkness and 60 wheels hurling by.

Tania and I quickly learnt the best place to be was on the wheel of one of the local riders who were used to dealing with and yelling at the dogs “ALU”. If you were lucky enough to sneak past a sleeping dog without it stirring you may not be so lucky to avoid the pig grazing on the side of the road and her piglets deciding to run in every possible direction as the bunch, travelling at speeds often well in excess of the local speed limit of 40kmph, hurtled around them.

So yes there were dogs, pigs even cattle to dodge along the way, and to say some of the roads are rough

taKing on the tour of samoa

and a patchwork of pot holes is an understatement. In fact at times it became impossible to use the recognised cycling etiquette of pointing pot holes out to those behind you as you tried to launch your bike over them. Despite all these obstacles it still felt safer than fighting for road space with cars on our 100kmh roads littered with broken beer bottles and glass back home.

This is a cycle tour where camaraderie, challenge and participation outweigh any ego or desire to win. Every day was about biking from one stunning beach to the next while taking in the beautiful scenery and views. If you had the energy left after daily rides of around 90–100km there was plenty of opportunity for further sightseeing, snorkelling, swimming with turtles or sitting back by the pool sipping cocktails or partaking in the local beer, sharing stories about the day’s ride which incidentally got bigger as the night wore on. We were even lucky enough to see a whale breach while we were sitting at “Jane’s Bar” on the beach watching the sun set.

Riders come from all over New Zealand and Australia along with some local Samoan participants. For each individual the first step is the decision to enter and take on the challenge of training for such an event. For some this is a massive personal challenge and step well out of comfort zone. Getting to the finish line on Day 5 was such an achievement and proof that with focus, determination and support one can achieve goals set.

The Tour of Samoa cycle tour took us around both Upolu and Savaii Islands, where we saw more of Samoa than many others will get to see in their lifetime. A total distance of 374km was ridden over five days and included a 37km time trial.

The local people welcomed us into their villages and provided fantastic support along the way.

Tania Larkin, Faye McGregor and Rob Te Moana.

Rob Te Moana

The team hits the road.

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sergeant suze landers, warrant officer class Two Kelly carter and lieutenant colonel mel childs represented new zealand in their respective age groups at the international Triathlon union (iTu) world championships held on the Gold coast of australia recently.The World Champs are a culmination of 46 countries’ top performers at National level and 2018 saw more than five thousand athletes compete in a number of events. The Age Group World Champs hosted two events, the sprint triathlon (750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run) and the standard distance (also called Olympic distance) which is double the distances of the sprint.

WO2 Carter and LTCOL Childs competed in the Sprint and SGT Landers competed in both events which were three days apart. These athletes qualified through Triathlon NZ qualifying races held earlier in 2018. LTCOL Childs said that the early spring competition timeframe presents the challenge of training through winter for the southern hemisphere athletes.

SGT Landers enjoyed racing in the competitive environment against the other nations and being part of the NZ team. She says this is a sport that allows athletes of all ages to be able to compete on the world stage, many with families or busy jobs they contend with which makes training challenging at times, but everyone fronts up on the day to race the best race they can because they love the sport and having a goal to work towards.

WO2 Carter achieved personal bests in the swim and bike legs of the course and encourages others out there to give it a go. She acknowledged the juggle of busy full time work, coupled with part time study and that everyone does the best on the day with the training they have been able to manage throughout the year.

Age Group Triathlon is self-funded and the women were fortunate to have great support from the NZ Army Singapore Fund which provided a donation to assist in travel and insurance expenses.

Representing New Zealand at age group level in triathlon is within many people’s reach. There is a strong NZ Army and NZDF triathlon scene and work is being done in the background to further develop the already well established sport. For anyone interested in sprint through to ironman distance feel free to contact either SGT Landers, WO2 Carter or LTCOL Childs via DIXS for more information on how to get involved.

armY women Conquer triathlon worlD Champs

SGT Landers, LTCOL Childs and WO2 Kelly Carter.

The NZ Army cricket team’s tour in Australia recently was a huge success. A few milestones achieved by players during the tour included Leighton Hamlin passing 1,000 runs, and Ryan Walmsley passing 1,500 runs. Josh Cole managed to take the most wickets of all bowlers at the ADF Cricket Carnival, with Scott Roxburgh placed third. Ryan Walmsley scored the most runs of all batters at the ADF Cricket Carnival. Read all about it in the February issue of Army News.

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nZDf sports awarDs 2018warrant officer class 2 Jason Kuru has been named the nzDF coach of the year for his commitment to basketball.The recognition came at the NZDF Sports Awards, held in November, and WO2 Kuru said it was a surprise.

“There’s a lot of good nominations out there, a lot of people doing hard work, but it’s really nice to be recognised and for our code to be recognised.”

WO2 Kuru said he hoped the recognition would raise the profile of basketball.

“We’re working really hard to be a sport that provides opportunities for men and women.”

WO2 Kuru has been in charge of both the Army and NZDF men’s basketball teams since last year.

He was responsible for delivering the 2018 Army inter-regional tournament and, supported by a dedicated team, produced a well-run event. During the tournament he was also the 2018 Army team senior selector.

WO2 Kuru is widely known for his concerted efforts around his preparation and planning for his training camp, which is all aimed at winning the inter-services trophy. This was evident during the games, where his team played with a high level of intensity, skill, and professionalism.

He was rewarded by his team going through the tournament unbeaten to take the title.

WO2 Kuru is also an active member of the Linton Camp Basketball Club and a committee member of the Palmerston North Basketball Association, where he has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the success of both organisations.

His nomination said he displayed the ethos and values of the NZDF through his commitment to coaching both the Army and NZDF basketball teams, and his leadership and direction were evident in the morale and skill of both teams.

awards also went to:Official of Year: Ryan Jones (Basketball)

Sports Team of the Year: Women’s Rugby Sevens

Emerging Sportsperson of the Year: AC Isaac Murphy (Running)

Individual Sportsperson of the Year: LAC Hayley Hutana (Rugby, Touch Rugby, Rugby Sevens, Volleyball and Basketball)

Outstanding Sports Achievement: Tasmyn Benny (Boxing)

NZDF Colour: SQNLDR David Wray (Golf) and SGT Johnnie Hickman (Softball and Football)

WO2 Jason KuruWO2 Jason Kuru receives his award from Chief of Army, MAJGEN John Boswell.

NZDF Sportsperson of the year, LAC Hayley Hutana and CDF Air Marshal Kevin Short.

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The new zealand Defence Force invictus Games sydney 2018 team has returned home a different team to the one that crossed the ditch for the october event.

inviCtus games An inspirational journey

By sharon lundy

The people are the same but the experiences they’ve had has helped them all in their journey – and that’s why Prince Harry, who with wife Meghan Markle travelled to New Zealand with the team, created the Games. They are an international adaptive event which use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for wounded, injured and ill current and former service men and women.

New Zealand brought home two medals – gold to Major (Rtd) Craig Wilson in the men’s 1500m and bronze to Nu Filo in the shot put – while George Nepata won the Exceptional Performance of the Games award.

All three paid tribute to the support they’ve received from their families.

“They’ve been part of the journey. They have picked me up when I’m down and it’s a celebration for all of us,” said Mr Filo, whose supporters included partner Mary, his parents and two brothers.

Mr Wilson said winning was even more special as wife Lynda and sons Edmund, 12, Victor, 11 and Jonny, nine, were watching.

“I just wanted to show my kids what doing your best can achieve. I’m just rapt that it’s got some results because you never know when your success is going to come and you’ve just got to keep trying,” he said.

Mr Nepata, who was left a tetraplegic after he was injured in a training accident in Singapore in 1989, said he was humbled to receive the Exceptional Performance award.

Mr Nepata’s family – wife Kim, daughter Air Force Corporal Whakapono, 14-year-old son Ngaheke, mother Christine Kidwell and brother Damien Nepata – were there to see him honoured.

armYsport 37

“For them to be there has just been overwhelming. I’m so proud,” he said.

Mr Nepata’s award recognized his tremendous contribution to the NZDF’s wheelchair rugby team; as the only team member fully dependent on a wheelchair he had to play all five games. He had another special moment during the game against Australia, when the Australian and New Zealand teams combined to ensure he scored a try.

“That’s the Anzac brotherhood and the Invictus spirit. It was a humbling experience and I’ll never forget it. I thank the Aussie guys and our guys for making that a special moment for myself,” he said.

The Australian team’s actions were yet another example of the Games not being just about winning; the

The team’s Games journey can be seen on:

@NZInvictusTeam

@NZInvictusTeam

@NZDefenceForce

Australian archery coach had stepped in during training to help the New Zealand team.

The coach, Lieutenant Colonel Jon Lane, summed up the spirit of the Games when he said it didn’t matter where you were from, service people were all brothers and sisters.

“We are nothing without community in our military roles. It’s all about helping our brothers and sisters,” he said.

“Aussies and Kiwis, we might be rivals but we’re like cousins – cousins are rivals too but we still back each other when it starts hitting the fan.”

Major Kiely Pepper was one of those LTCOL Lane helped and said his actions showed the Games truly were not just about medals.“It doesn’t matter where you’re from. People will help and that’s the spirit of

Invictus – helping each other,” she said.The NZDF 24-strong team were among 500 competitors from 18 allied nations to compete in 11 different adaptive sports in Sydney.

The team is sponsored by Auckland RSA, Christchurch Memorial RSA, Fulton Hogan, Jaguar Land Rover and Direct Sport.

Nu Filo, left, and Craig Wilson with their bronze and gold medals.

Padre Darren O’Callaghan competes in the wheelchair basketball. Craig Wilson congratulates a fellow competitor.

The team, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.

Kiely Pepper The team haka.

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By ssGT mark anderson, DHo, nz army rugby league manager

The 2018 nzDF rugby league inter-services tournament was held in ohakea in september, hosted by the rnzaF. NZ Army men attended the 2018 tournament with the aim of regaining the Inter-Services Trophy. The week before the tournament, Army held a training camp in Linton to bring players together and ensure the team was prepared for the first game of the tournament. This was the first time the team had come together after having been selected from the regional competition held earlier in the year. The training camp was led by coach – SSGT Johnny Pritchard. The team spent the week developing set plays, attacking and defensive strategies and formations.

Game 1 of the tournament saw Army play Navy. It was a hard fought game with both teams displaying some promising skills. Navy started strongly with some sizable hit-ups, but were beaten back by the speed and fitness of the Army side. The game ended with Army beating Navy 70–4.

Game 2 saw Air Force take on Navy. This was a hard fought tussle with both sides eager to see the other off the field. Both teams played well and the game was anyone’s. After the half time break Air Force kicked up a gear and eventually ran away to win 46–24.

Game 3 was the decider and an eagerly awaited clash between Army and Air Force, with both teams chomping at the bit. The first half was a clash of titans with both sides giving very little. The halftime break saw inspiration from the coaching staff and senior players with the “play our own game” message burning through the team. The second half began with a strong attack by Air Force then the flood gates opened and Army ran rampant to finish the

inter-serviCes rugBY league 2018

game, winning 56–8, to win the 2018 Inter-Services Tournament.

overall nz army brought home:• Inter-Services Trophy

• MVP – CPL Watson

• Best Back – PTE Afoa

• Player of the Day – CPL Watson and GNR Taripo

congratulations to those players from nz army who were selected for nzDF:PTE L. AfoaGNR N. IoaneLCPL T. FaukafaLCPL S. AkauLCPL F. IkahihifoCPL J. Rihia

SGT H. PetersenSSGT W. SharlandGNR H. TaripoCPL D. Cook SGT H. ThomasCPL S. Watson

congratulations to the following management team who was selected for nzDF:SSGT J. Pritchard JSCC – Assistant Coach

With growing numbers, the future of Army Rugby League is looking bright. The team and management would like to thank all those who enabled successful participation in the tournament including the training camp – and units for releasing players over what was a very busy time of year for the NZ Army.

For anyone wishing to participate or begin playing across the NZ Army Rugby League code, the first step is Inter-Corps. The NZ Army Inter-Corps tournament will be held in early 2019 with teams from across Army coming together for a week-long tournament. To attend, submit an LPF1 via your unit chain of command.

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The 2018 inter-unit Touch Tournament was contested in linton camp recently with five men’s and two women’s teams competing.

men’s gradeThe men’s grade competed in a single round robin (RR) competition which seeded the teams in a different finals format where all teams had an opportunity to make the final. The final RR placings were Northern 1st, 1 RNZIR 2nd, 2 ER 3rd, 2 CSSB 4th and 16 FD 5th.

The first two games in the morning were Northern (1) v 1 RNZIR (2) – the winner of this game going straight through to the Men’s final. 2 CSSB (4) played 16 FD (5), with the winner of this game playing 2 ER. Both games were very close; 1 RNZIR took the win over Northern 6–4, and 2 CSSB narrowly beat 16 FD 4–3.

The next game was 2 ER (3) v 2 CSSB. This game was another nail bitter with both teams finishing with 3–3 draw at full time. So it was time for a drop off; 2 ER started with the ball first and scored a touchdown with their set of possession, score 4–3. It was now 2 CSSB’s opportunity to reply. They managed to get close to the score zone but were unable to score within their allocated set of six touches.

Final score 4–3. 2 ER moved forward to the next game against Northern – the winner of this game would meet 1 RNZIR in the Men’s final. This was another close game with Northern proving too good and beating 2 ER 4–2.

The final was an arm-wrestle between 1 RNZIR and Northern, and at one stage it was touchdown for

2018 inter-unit touCh tournament

touchdown. In the end 1 RNZIR asserted their dominance and won the final 8–5 over Northern.

The MVP for the 2018 Inter-Unit Men’s grade was awarded to Private Joseph Cantwell – 1 RNZIR.

women’s gradeThe women’s grade only had two teams at the tournament so the Inter-Unit Trophy was determined by a three-game series. 1 CSR entered a team into the competition for the first time, and they faced a team of veterans from 2 CSSB.

2 CSSB dominated the first game and won it convincingly 4–0 against. The second game was closer with 2 CSSB winning 4–2. With the trophy in the bag, 2 CSSB was after the clean sweep.

The last game was an absolute pearler, with a lot of determination and skill from both sides seeing the score fluctuate between the two teams for the entire game. In the end 1 CSR were victorious winning narrowly by 4–3.

The MVP for the 2018 Inter-Unit Women’s Grade was awarded to PTE Tiana Morrison – 2 CSSB.

rsm’s grade (35’s)An exhibition match was played between 1 RNZIR and the Referee Invitational 14. The game was played in great spirit and provided the men’s and women’s teams with a great exhibition of skill, laughter and speed. The first touchdown was scored by the fleet footed CO 1 RNZIR – Lieutenant Colonel Aidan Shattock as he ran around a young referee who shall remain nameless. In the end the score didn’t matter, but how the game was played did. Next year I hope we have more units enter teams into this grade which is fun and still competitive.

final grade placings

2018 (oct) inter-unit Touch women’s Grade champions 2 cssB 2nd Place 1 CSR

Previous winners 2015 2 CSSB 2016 2 CSSB 2017 2 CSSB 2018 (Jan) JOHG

2018 (oct) inter-unit Touch men’s Grade champions 1 rnzir 2nd Place Northern 3rd Place 2 ER 4th Place 2 CSSB 5th Place 16 FD

Previous winners 2015 2 HSB/TG6 2016 JOHG 2017 TG6 2018 (Jan) 1 RNZIR

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titiro whaKamuriKoKiri whaKamuaLook Back and refLect so you can move forward