issue428| february2012 · issue428| february2012 wo Vooght person of the year rnze diVers off limits c-ied: proViding the best protection officer cadets graduate. The Army News is

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wo Vooght person of the year rnze diVers

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c-ied: proViding the best protection

officer cadets graduate

The Army News is published for the Regular and Territorial Force and

civilian staff of the New Zealand Army.

Editor: Judith Martinphone: 04-496-0227 or

DTelN: 349-7227fax: 04-496-0290

email: [email protected]

Website: www.army.mil.nzPrinting: Bluestar, Petone.

design: Jennifer Watts, DCG, NZDF

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COVER:Chaplain Chris Purdie leads the memorial service at the site of the Leonard Manning Memorial in Cova Lima District, Timor-Leste. Pic: Corporal Janine Fabre, ADF. (See story page 9)

february 2012issue 428

nzarmynewscontents

newsOfficer cadets graduate 03

New Year Honours 05Medics graduate in first-

ever course 05WW1 soldier laid to rest 05

peopleDefence at the Hertz

Sevens 06Lest we forget: Timor-Leste 09

Singapore-bound 10Nathan Blackler Memorial

Challenge 11

eQuipment New weapons 08

Groin protection 13

eXercisesBluebell in Rarotonga 16

Neptune 18

sportOfflimits 14

The Roof of Africa 26

wo 1 Vooghtdefence person of the year

cantabrian is officer cadet school’s top graduate

WO1 Vooght receives his award from Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones.

Caption

The courage, commitment and leadership shown by Warrant Officer Class One Shane Vooght, of Palmerston North, has earned him the title of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Person of the Year.

WO1 Vooght, (45) was until recently the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of 2 Engineer Regiment at Linton Army Camp. He is now the RSM of the Training and Educational Directorate, based at Hokowhitu.

The NZDF Person of the Year was first awarded in 2009 to celebrate the Defence Force’s values of courage, comradeship, commitment and integrity and to recognise and honour someone who has stood out in their commitment to these values.

Twenty-five soldiers graduated from the Officer Cadet School on 7 December last year having successfully completed 12 months of rigorous training.

Family and friends of the graduating cadets, New Zealand Defence Force staff and overseas dignitaries attended the graduation ceremony at Waiouru Army Camp. Chief of Army, Major General Tim Keating, Land Training Doctrine Group Deputy Commander Colonel Paul King and Land Component Commander Brigadier Mark Wheeler, were also present.

At the graduation ceremony, the cadets, accompanied by the New Zealand Army Band, performed a series of parade drills. The ceremony was concluded with a rousing haka.

Ten major prizes, including the Lieutenant Tim O’Donnell, DSD, Memorial Leadership Award and the Sword of Honour, were awarded.

The graduates began training with their corps in January.Dougald Munro, a 21-year-old Cantabrian who once found the rigours of

university study were not his thing, was awarded three of the 10 major prizes – the Sergeant Major of the Army’s prize, for the best performance across all aspects of field training; the Lieutenant Tim O’Donnell, DSD, Memorial Leadership Award, for exhibiting the attributes of leadership; and the Sword of Honour, for displaying the qualities of leadership, initiative, integrity, motivation, academic ability and physical fitness, and for having the greatest potential as an Army officer.

“My time at OCS has taught me a lot about myself and what I can achieve, which is more than what I thought possible", said 2nd Lieutenant Munro

An Old Boy of St Andrew’s College in Christchurch, he completed a year of study towards a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) degree at Canterbury University before deciding to take a gap year. During his year off, he worked as a PE teacher’s assistant in a military school in the United Kingdom.

“The highlight of my Officer Cadet training was completing difficult field exercises, and the sense of achievement that came with that,” said 2LT Munro. “I value the military knowledge I have gained.”

The cold weather and tough times in the field posed the biggest challenges. And as just over half of the 46-strong class dropped out one by one, 2LT Munro became increasingly motivated to complete the rigorous training.

He has been posted to the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps, based

The Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones, who presented the award at a special ceremony on Tuesday 13 December, said: “WO1 Vooght has steered the 2nd Engineer Regiment through a tumultuous 12 months which was also one of extreme personal difficulty for himself and his family due to the illness and eventual death of his wife Michelle.

“As Regimental Sergeant Major WO1 Vooght has had a key role in preparing the Unit for its many overseas commitments from Afghanistan to Antarctica.”

During the year the Regiment dealt with many unforeseen incidents, two of them in New Zealand. It was part of the Defence Force’s response to the Canterbury earthquake, provided assistance to Operation RENA, and assisted with the drought relief effort in the Pacific, providing and installing emergency water supply equipment on Tuvalu. The Regiment was also deployed as part of major joint and combined international exercises in Tonga, Vanuatu, and the United Kingdom.

LTGEN Jones said, “During the year he has overseen a number of military funerals for retired and serving personnel, including large in-camp funerals for two serving sappers, Corporal Doug Grant and Lance Corporal Ruben Scott.

"Shane has demonstrated his commitment, leadership skills and integrity throughout his Army career". In 2001, WO1 Vooght, then in the rank of staff sergeant, was admitted as an Additional Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for the exemplary leadership, professionalism, integrity and commitment displayed during deployment to Timor Leste.

LT GEN Jones said, “He continues to personify those same qualities in 2011, representing the core values of the NZDF. Warrant Officer Class One Shane Vooght is a very worthy recipient of being named the NZDF Person of the Year for 2011 and a recipient of a Chief of Defence Force Commendation.”

As winner, Shane received a trophy and special study prize, which can be used in an area of professional development of his choosing.

at Linton, which operates the Army’s armoured vehicles and is the overall umbrella grouping of Regular Force and Territorial Force Units.

The Major awards:The Military History Trophy -- (awarded to the Officer Cadet who gains •the highest aggregate marks in Military History) 2LT Daniel Deans (Ashburton).The Australian Chief of Army's Prize for Tactics -- (awarded to the Officer •Cadet gaining the highest aggregate marks in Tactics subjects) 2LT Ingrid Gillingham (Auckland).The Corps of Officer Cadets Officer Commanding's Prize -- (awarded •to the Officer Cadet who has displayed the greatest improvement throughout the entire course in all areas) 2LT Josh Sullivan (Kaiapoi).Commandant's Prize -- (awarded to the Officer Cadet whose •performance in and contribution to the corps of Officer Cadets is assessed as being most deserving of recognition) 2LT Frazer MacDonald (Papatoetoe).Commander New Zealand Land Training and Doctrine Group Waiouru •Prize -- (awarded to the Officer Cadet gaining the highest aggregate marks in Communication Skills) 2LT Jasmine Dwyer (Howick).Sergeant Major of the Army's Prize -- (awarded to the Officer cadet •for best performance across all aspects of field training) 2LT Dougald Munro (Amberley).The Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell, DSD, Memorial Leadership Award -- •(awarded to the Officer Cadet who has best exhibited the attributes of leadership) 2LT Dougald Munro (Amberley).Governor General's Medal -- (awarded to the Officer Cadet gaining •the highest aggregate marks in all subjects) 2LT Frazer MacDonald (Papatoetoe).Sword of Honour -- (awarded to the cadet who best displays the •qualities of leadership, initiative, integrity, motivation, academic ability and physical fitness, and for having the greatest potential as an Army officer) 2LT Dougald Munro (Amberley).

Officer cadets celebrate after their graduation ceremony. Top cadet 2LT Dougald Munro

By Chief of Army, Major General Tim Keating

It is early in 2012 and I get a sense from my discussions with the Army General Staff team and from the visits I have made to Trentham and Linton that the plan to operationalise the Army is well understood.

More importantly I have seen evidence that all levels of command from Brigadiers to private soldiers are actively engaged in thinking through the details required to achieve the 2015 objectives. To me this exemplifies a healthy mission command environment. However, before I get accused of having rose- tinted glasses, or being overly optimistic, there are still significant challenges to achieving our aim. Critical factors to success will remain perseverance and our traditional Kiwi can-do and think outside the box approach.

I am placing my energy in 2012 (my thinking outside the box) on a critical examination of where we can achieve our outcomes, both in an operational and enabling sense, with a greater joint approach. As the Army Transformation Programme of last decade forged a greater understanding of the combined arms team approach in Army, and the benefits of this approach, so I believe we must also examine and embrace the many opportunities that exist in a greater joint approach.

This examination is going to challenge some people, and it may scare some. It will take us beyond our traditional Army centric thinking and beliefs, but in this process it will make us redefine what remains as the fundamentals of our military profession.

From my perspective the underpinning fundamental that we must continue to deliver is contingency and directed land operations where the force is trained, equipped and led to win. I consider that how we raise and train this force and how we deliver it must be far more joint. This should not be seen by us in Army as a threat, but an opportunity to sustain our world class operational delivery by using all the resources available to NZDF.

I look forward to getting around and engaging as many of you as I can in this discussion. So start thinking now and tell me your thoughts on how we can make land operations better by making the joint approach work.

making the joint approach work

armynews03issue 428 | february 2012

5 moVements company personnel to the rescueBy Lance Corporal Vincent Gordon

new year honours awarded to fiVe nzdf personnel

special memories of a special son

cantabrian is officer cadet school’s top graduate

Army’s Head of Strategy Management, Colonel John Boswell was awarded the New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD) in the New Years Honours.

He was one of four NZDF personnel who will receive the award. A fifth, Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Tony Parr, has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).

COL Boswell deployed to Afghanistan in April 2010 as the Commanding Officer of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team (NZPRT)

in Bamyan. He initiated the development of a strategic plan to transition from a military-led operation to a civilian-led and finally Afghan managed operation. The first stage of the transition occurred in June 2010, when leadership of the NZPRT passed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade with the appointment of a civilian director, without disruption to ongoing operations.

Four personnel from 5 Movements Company in Linton helped in the rescue of the stricken Russian fishing vessel Sparta, which struck an iceberg and took on water near Antarctica in December last year.

The soldiers were called off Christmas leave to provide aerial delivery support to assist the rescue mission. After quickly preparing and packing all the necessary equipment the team was at Ohakea ready to marry up with the RNZAF C130 deployed from Whenuapai. On arrival in Christchurch the riggers got to work in the Harewood cargo yard hangars while the aircrew departed to rest so they would be able to fly the next morning.

The items that were provided to drop to the Sparta were a large water pump, some hoses and fuel. Once a plan was formulated the team rigged through to 2am to have the two loads ready for the flight. After a brief nap they were back at the aircraft at 6am to load the C130.

The Hercules had a long flight ahead and a tricky job to get the air drop in the right spot. The first load out was an A21 with the fuel and hoses. With some careful judgement the aircraft placed the equipment on the ice close to the vessel and the freezing water. The second drop, an A22 with the very important water pump was also a great success and the FV Sparta crew had a stroll out onto the ice to retrieve the vital cargo.

While the C130 was conducting the air drop the soldiers returned to Linton and saw the successful air drop on the news.

Two days later the Sparta was still having problems and 5 Movements Company was again requested to provide support. As before a four person rigging detachment moved down to Harewood and with the rigging equipment already in place began to prepare more stores for air drop, including some 3.7m long wood for shoring. Once underway the job had the team working into the early hours of the morning and another early flight time leading into the second successful drop of four containers and two helo boxes.

Colonel John Boswell

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF SERVICE TO NEW ZEALAND

Anniversary events & activities28-29 January Tauranga City Air Show (Red Checkers display)

30 January Auckland Anniversary, Red Checkers over Auckland Harbour

6 February Waitangi Day (Red Checkers display)

11 February Coast to Coast finish, Christchurch (Red Checkers display)

16–19 February GEON Art Deco Weekend, Napier (Red Checkers display)

14 March Official launch, Wellington Launch of the 75th Anniversary Stamp and -Coin Collection with NZ PostRNZAF 75th Anniversary book launch -

17 March Manfield Field Days, Manawatu (Red Checkers display)

17-18 March Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), Military Weekend, Auckland

25 March - 8 April As part of the 75th Anniversary celebrations the Red Checkers will be displaying at various locations in the North Island over the period 25 March - 2 April and in the South Island, 2 April - 8 April. For further information, visit www.airforce.mil.nz

31 March Air Force Air Show (Base Ohakea)

3 April RNZAF 75th birthday celebrations, Wellington Forecourt Parade, Parliament -Commemorative Service, St Paul’s -Cathedral

7–8 April Warbirds over Wanaka (Red Checkers display)

25 April Anzac Day commemorations

28 April Auckland City Charter EventUnveiling of the Memorial Plaque at Hobsonville Point

www.airforce.mil.nz

ANNIVERSARYAIR FORCE

2012

The Royal New Zealand Air Force is celebrating its birthday this year - 75 years of providing safe and effective

military air operations to New Zealand. A busy calendar of events for the first

quarter of 2012 has been planned that will see the year kicking off with Napier’s

art Deco Weekend in February and culminating in Anzac Day celebrations on April 25. There's something in store

for everyone. See page 17.

The New Zealand Memorial Cross has been presented to the mother of New Zealand soldier Private Kirifi Mila who was killed in Afghanistan a year ago when his vehicle rolled off the road and down a steep cliff.

At a service in Newstead cemetery, Hamilton, on 18 February, Mrs Brenda Keating, the wife of Chief of Army Major General Tim Keating presented the medal to Mrs Sitafua Tuigamala, PTE Mila’s mother. A large group of PTE Mila’s family and friends, as well as a contingent of soldiers from his Burnham-based battalion attended the ceremony. Army chaplains Tavake Manu and Ra Koia officiated.

The ceremony was attended by MAJGEN Keating, 2/1 Battalion Commanding Officer (CO) Lieutenant Colonel Stef Michie, and Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) Warrant Officer Class One Craig Spinks, and well as the battalion’s former CO and RSM, LTCOL Hugh McAslan and WO1 James Moohan.

The New Zealand Memorial Cross is awarded to the next of kin of all New Zealand servicemen and women who are killed while on war service or operational service overseas, or who subsequently die of wounds received while on war service or operational service overseas. It has been awarded since the commencement of World War Two.

Two versions of the New Zealand Memorial Cross have been struck: one during the reign of King George VI, and one during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The King George VI cross is worn from a thin mauve coloured ribbon

suspended around the neck, while the Queen Elizabeth II cross is worn as a brooch.

The King George VI New Zealand Memorial Cross has been awarded to the families of the more than 11,000 personnel who died while serving in the New Zealand Armed Forces during the Second World War. The Queen Elizabeth II New Zealand Memorial Cross has been awarded to the families of the New Zealand military personnel who have died while on operational service since 3 September 1945.

Up to two New Zealand Memorial Crosses are issued to the family of each individual.

A22 load under parachute at it descends onto the ice with supplies for FV Sparta.

Lance Corporal Simon Peffers conducts final checks before the air drop.

04armynewsissue 428 | february 2012

Peers Choice Award: AC Danny Freestone, AMA Matthew Pirini, AC Jessica Earnshaw

Top Student Award: Pte Jamie Corbishley, Pte Joshua Boon, AC Jessica EarnshawDefence medics come to the rescue

Two of young Defence personnel who were part of the graduation have been commended for their actions following a serious motor accident just south of Waiouru.

Burnham-based medic Private Zachary Conchie and AC Juliette De Vries from the RNZAF had attended the march out parade of the All Arms recruit Course and were returning home on State Highway One south of Hunterville when they encountered a crashed vehicle.

A station-wagon had left the road, clipped a power pole, gone through a fence, and rolled down a slope. It had come to a rest on its wheels, in a farm paddock.

There were three casualties; two walking with light-moderate injuries, and a woman who was trapped and unconscious inside the vehicle. There were about four civilians attempting to give aid, but there was confusion.

Still in their Service Dress uniforms, both medics immediately began first aid on the trapped woman, conducting a primary survey and controlling her bleeding. They also kept her airway clear. The woman had an existing cardio-vascular condition, further complicating treatment. Some minutes after their arrival, the patient regained consciousness, although she had sustained a head injury.

After about 20 minutes, a unit of volunteer fire-fighters

say again...oVer

A MONTHLY COMMENT FROM DEPUTY CHIEF OF ARMYBRIGADIER CHARLIE LOTT

I hope you all had a decent break over the festive season and that you’ve returned with renewed vigour to face the challenges that will doubtlessly be thrown at us this year.

There were certainly some very tired Army types in an around Wellington late last year and I’ve no doubt that you also felt a bit jaded after surviving an horrendous year— a year during which we arc’d up Army 2015, farewelled some of our long serving comrades, undertook some pretty radical change, met some savings targets and generally ran at a million miles an hour.

2012 will be no different but I’d like to think we could be more measured in our approach. We hear people talk about work-life balance to the extent that it has become as hackneyed as ‘people are our most valuable resource’ but over the break (when I found out that Manuel Labor is not a Spaniard trying to catch up on a generally out of control lifestyle block after a bloody wet winter last year), I got to thinking about what does work-life balance actually mean, and

is there anything in that phrase that we could take and use to make us better at what we do?

My thinking strayed to what if we applied work-life balance in our daily routine? How would we do that? Would any good come of it?

I decided that there might be some merit in applying some simple business rules to our way of life so am going to give these a go this year as a ‘pilot’ (another dreadful term). I’m going to:

Sit with my wife and family on getting home and ask •“how was your day?” instead of going straight to my home office and surreptitiously checking the Blackberry for any last minute emails. Though I’m happy to be on call during the evening and night (ours is a 24/7 job after all), I’m not going to have the damned Blackberry pinned to my belt after work this year. I actually learned a valuable lesson over Christmas where while working on the farm on 30 December (the day we had the terrible weather – mind you that was the whole of the Christmas break wasn’t it!)— the Blackberry must’ve got a bit wet. It started to play up, then wouldn’t work at all which forced me to reverse engineer my private cell phone to remain in contact. To tell you the honest truth I didn’t miss the familiar appendage hanging off my belt at all and obviously nobody missed me permanently on the end of it either. But I digress.Think about my mates more – you know those guys •(and gals) that you often take for granted until you need a favour. I’m going to make time to ring my mates either just to chat and see how things are going in their organisations and their lives, and I’m actually going to be interested in what they say i.e. I’m not going to fake interest as I normally do between rushing on to the next task/deadline.Go for a walk around our farm after dinner – summer •only, sadly. I’ve already begun doing that and it is amazing the things you notice (like leaking stock water pipes) when wandering round instead of rushing around on the quad. I’ve taken to slinging the .22 rifle on these evening jaunts and the bunny population is now dropping rapidly. Keeps my eye in, shooting wise too – you can’t beat a bit of reaction shooting to keep the skill up.

Take regular micro breaks during the year. There MUST •be lulls in the year’s work programme that we can all use to take some days here and there. If we all did that we’d actually be doing the NZDF a big favour too – our contingent leave liability at NZDF level is much bigger than it should be, so taking a few days here and there will help to get that down. I’d like to think that if you folk have done your work and find that you have a bit of spare time between the next task, that you would consider asking your boss “is it OK if I spend some time with my wife/children/dog/whatever? I’d like you bosses to agree. We all need to remember that the call on our time is random. We all pull the additional hours when required so why not reward those who tolerate that (read partner and family) with a little time back in lieu.Sit at the dinner table to eat the evening meal instead of •taking it in the office or worse in front of the damned TV.Read a book a week before ‘light’s out’. I’m currently •reading Antony Beevor’s ‘Berlin The Downfall 1945’. What a great read! It is a story of stupidity, fanatical behaviour (on both sides) and revenge- taking balanced by courage, endurance and sheer bloody survival. (By the way - we don’t do the former but we do need to do the latters).

The biggie for me though is to keep caring deeply for our Army and its people. I get to meet so many focused, dedicated and professional people in my travels that I simply have to care for them – I can’t not do so. I know the Chief of Army cares deeply for his people too. Thinking over Christmas, I wondered aloud whether C3I should become C4I with the addition of the word ‘compassion’ to courage, commitment, comradeship and integrity.

So team – we all hear, “work life balance, blah, blah, blah.” I’ll give my balancing agenda a go but I’d like it if Army could have a think on the subject this year, especially you leaders out there, and see what you can do to get your life balanced and balance those around you.

Sort of fits with ‘comradeship’ and ‘compassion’ don’t you think?

Stay safe and well.Brig Charlie

Fifty-seven young medics recently graduated at Burnham Camp from the first ever AUT Diploma of Paramedic Science and Graduate Diploma of Health Science with the Defence Force Health School (DHS).

The graduands proudly walked out in front of friends and family, Senior Defence Force Officers and veterans of Defence Force health services at the completion of the first qualification in their two and half year medic course.

Graduates hail from all over the country and are drawn from all three services; Army, Navy and Air Force.

Chief Instructor of DHS (NZ) Major Brendan Wood notes that, “This graduation was meant to occur in February last year; however when the earthquake hit, staff and students were engaged in support activities and were working alongside emergency services so the 2011 ceremony was cancelled."

The new programme came into fruition in January 2010 and is now fully integrated into the Defence training regime

This is the only training programme of its kind in the world and prepares our medics for operations at a world class level

The training provides the Defence Force with medics who hold both appropriate academic qualifications as well as meeting an equivalent standard to civilian sector,” says Major Wood.

Award winners from the ceremony from each class were:Overall academic prize: AC Alex Taylor, AMA Gracie Price, AC

Jessica Earnshaw

letter to the editorAs we are all aware the NZDF is changing and many of us are

moving on with the Phase 2 of the Civilisation round. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of my fellow comrades and friends who have and are still standing by me and my family through out this difficult time in my life.

CPL Douglas Grant (my husband) was killed in action on 19 August 2011. It is the knock on the door no wife or

medics graduate a year after earthQuake delayBy Zen Gregor

arrived. Until this point, the medics and De Vries had been treating the woman using improvised dressings and bandages. With the arrival of further emergency services, both PTE Conchie and AC De Vries remained in charge of the casualty. An off-duty nurse and an off-duty paramedic treated the other, lesser, casualties.

An emergency helicopter d arrived to transport the injured to hospital.

A witness to the accident told Army News the two medics stayed with their casualties, working with the attending fire-fighters. “I believe that their calm and efficient conduct that day reinforced the image of the NZDF within the community, and their actions at the scene most likely improved the chances of survival for the trapped woman. Their presence, in uniform, also calmed the civilians involved. The emergency services attending had enough confidence in these two that they remained in control of their casualty after the arrival of fire-service paramedics. They certainly displayed the values the NZDF stands for.” Both Private (Zachary)

partner ever wants to be present for. That knock changed my life and my children’s lives forever. My husband was a unique, colourful, creative, story-telling individual whose life was driven by challenge and adrenalin. He was known and respected by many which was evident on the day of both the service in Papakura and Linton. He touched many lives and still continues to do so. He will always be remembered for being the Doug TV story teller, the Patriot who supported and rode for White Ribbon, the carpenter who was so pedantic it drove everyone nuts on his work sites, and for the fun loving husband and dad to me, Jemma and Jaden.

I haven’t had the strength or focus to thank everyone who worked long hours from the moment we heard the shocking news till the day Douglas was cremated. People, jobs, gifts, texts, emails, phone calls, letters and even words still continue to flow. Thank you, thank you, thank you all. I will always be grateful to you all, and without you and your support I would never have been able to give Douglas the send off he deserved. You will always be part of our family. Kia Kaha RIP Babe.

Tina Grant, Papakura

Professor Max Abbott, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean, Faculty of Health and Environment Science with Private Ryan George

To the rescue: PTE Zachary Conchie and AC Juliette De Vries


new light support weapon for nz defence

The New Zealand Army is currently introducing the Heckler & Koch Grenade Machine Gun (GMG) into service as one of the Land Combat Weapons being provided through the Defence Capability Plan..

The GMG is a 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL) that can be fired from either ground or vehicle mounts, and uses a variety of high explosive and training ammunition.

For NZ Army, the GMG will be equipped with the Vinghog Fire Control System (FCS) to provide the capability for deliberate planned fires, the BAE Heavy Weapon Thermal Sight, and day sights. To support this introduction, the NZ Army has also purchased a combination weapon mount that will fit both the Grenade and Heavy Machine Guns.

The New Zealand Defence Force has selected the FN Herstal 7.62mm Minimi TR as a replacement for the 5.56 mm LSW C9, currently in service. The weapons are being acquired now, with NZ delivery due to start from April this year, and introduction to service and issuing to units planned to occur in last quarter of 2012.

The 7.62 LSW Minimi will be issued to certain Army and Air Force Units. This will replace the C9 capability, with priority being given to field force units and regional equipment pools.

The 7.62mm calibre has been selected top provide a greater range of fire power for sections and small teams.

The 7.62 LSW Minimi will be introduced into Service in two versions, to be known as CAT A and CAT B.

CAT A: Total 360 guns, to be delivered to manoeuvre units primarily and deployed to support operations. They are configured with:

4x32 ACOG with the COSR reticle (Common Optical Sight •Reticle). This is a Bullet Drop Compensating ReticleMicro Red Dot on ACOG for CQB•fixed or sliding butts•Combat Torch•Fore-end Tri-rail•a total of 201, M192 Light Weight Ground Mounts are •being purchased as a task specific accessory for the CAT A gunsEmergency Sight in rail.•

CAT B: Total 232 guns, to be delivered to training establishments and CSS units. They are configured with:

Fore-end Tri-rail•Fixed Butt•Iron sights (Settings 100 – 1000m, in 100m increments).•

Features common to both versions include:Belt retaining pin. This mitigates belts slipping during •loading, also guarantees the first round is picked up properly by the feed pawls.Hydraulic Buffer and Non Adjustable gas system. The •buffer contributes to stabilising the Rate of Fire (RoF) and reduces recoil. Users can not change gas setting; buffer compensates for carbon build up in weapon and maintains a consistent RoF.100 rd rigid pouches.•Improved cleaning kit.•

The GMGs will be rolled out into service in a phased approach over the next 14 months, with the full introduction expected to be complete in early 2013.

The first stage of its introduction provides the weapon to the forthcoming rotation of TG CRIB. This will replace earlier models of the GMG, which will be returned to the manufacturer to be upgraded to the same standard as the new model.

Within New Zealand, the GMGs will be issued to NZ Army’s two Regular Force Infantry Battalions and Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles (NZ LAV).

To support the GMGs’ full introduction in early 2013, a dedicated tactical simulation training system will be acquired

this year.Training on the use of the weapon will be conducted at unit

level, with specialist command training being conducted at the NZ Army Combat School as an additional module on existing courses. Training for maintainers will be conducted through the NZ Army Trade Training School.

The GMG will complement two other direct fire weapon systems: the Javelin Medium Range Anti-Armour Weapon and the FN Herstal .50 calibre Heavy Machine Gun.

Keep an eye out on future editions of Army News for more detail on the GMG.

Further information on this weapon and the other weapons to be procured as part of the NZDF In-Service Weapon Replacement/Upgrade Programme will be provided in forthcoming editions of the Army News.

Top Rail with Iron Sights Sight Setting is 100 – 1000m in 100m increments

Fixed Butt Only

Fore-end Tri-rail

enhancing the army’s direct fire capability

Full Top Rail with Emergency Sight 4 Power Optical Sight with COSR Reticle

2 Butt Options, Fixed or Sliding

Lightweight Ground Mount

Fore-end Tri-rail

Corporal Sam Upperton strips and reassembles the GMG in the first of the Army maintainer training courses for the new weapon.


The mayor of Upper Hutt, Mr Wayne Guppy, has presented volunteer fire fighters, including two Army personnel, with the International Year of the Volunteer awards. Major David Ackroyd (33 years service) and Warrant Officer Class Two Mark Morton (21 years service) both of the Messines Defence Centre

A solemn ceremony to rebury the remains of a New Zealand soldier was held at Messines Ridge British Cemetery in near Ieper, Belgium on Friday 3 February.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defence, Dr Jonathan Coleman, the Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones, the Secretary of Defence, John McKinnon, the New Zealand Ambassador (Belgium), Vangelis Vitalis, and the Head of Defence Staff, New Zealand High Commission Brigadier Antony (Lofty) Hayward.

The Mayor of Mesen, Sandy Evrard, and representatives from Belgian military, Flemish Foreign Affairs, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Royal British Legion also attended the ceremony.

Brigadier Hayward said, “The service was a poignant time to reflect on service and sacrifice. After lying in a foreign field for 95 years he is now with his mates buried with the honour and

Australian exchange officer Major (now Lieutenant Colonel) Matt Lynch RAE has received a Chief of Army commendation for his work as the GSO2 Force Development within Army General Staff and the Directorate of Future Force Development.

An exchange officer from the Royal Australian Engineers, Major Lynch played a key role in the development of the Army's Operating Concepts and Experimentation programme, as well as the Army's Combined Arms Task Group concept. Both of these have significantly contributed to Army 2015 and the Chief of Army’s modernisation programme.

Major Lynch also had an instrumental role in the development of the NZDF's inaugural Future Joint Operating Concept (FJOC), a document that has great importance to the NZ Army. The commendation recognises his ability to co-ordinate engagement with a number of different agencies across Defence, and his contribution to the development of underlying principles and themes within the FJOC.

Chief of Army, Major General Keating, acknowledged his contribution during a small ceremony at Defence House. "Major Lynch has shown great loyalty and dedication during his two years service to the NZ Army, and his contribution has been of enormous benefit to both the Army and NZDF".

Having now completed his exchange, Major Lynch has returned to Headquarters ADF on promotion to LTCOL.

The sentence handed down to one of the men who stole $5 million worth of medals from the Waiouru Army Museum was "fully justified", the Supreme Court has found.

James Joseph Kapa is serving a 13-year prison sentence after being convicted alongside Ronald Van Wakeren for his involvement in the December 2007 burglary of the National Army Museum, when military medals valued at $5 million were taken.

Today a Supreme Court judgement found no reason to reduce the sentence.

No arguable question of principle was raised by Kapa's appeal and the "effective sentence and the minimum non-parole period were not manifestly excessive", ruled Justices Peter Blanchard, Andrew Tipping and John McGrath.

"Indeed they were fully justified." Last year the Court of Appeal reduced Kapa's overall sentence

for the burglary and other crimes from 14 years and six months' jail to 13 years and three months' jail.

While Kapa may not appeal that sentence any further he has been granted leave to appeal an order for reparation of $100,000 associated with his sentence.

After returning the medals Kapa and Van Wakeren were each given a reward of $100,000, and while Van Wakeren handed back his reward, Kapa's $100,000 was not returned.

The Supreme Court found Kapa may appeal the order of reparation based on whether or not the sentence complied with the requirements of the Sentencing Act 2002.

Story: Fairfax

fire fighters acknowledged

australian eXchange officer awarded ca commendation

medal sentence

defence medics come to the rescue

wwi soldier alongside his countrymen at last

dignity befitting a soldier that fought for our country.” The remains of the soldier were discovered in July last year

alongside a NZ Rifle Brigade hat badge, associated personal material and the remains of a uniform. After forensic analysis they were officially accepted as the remains of a New Zealand soldier.

Messines was the scene of very intense fighting by New Zealand Division (including the New Zealand Rifle Brigade) over the period 7-14 June 1917. During this battle around 700 New Zealand soldiers were killed in action.

Within the cemetery stands the Messines Ridge New Zealand Memorial which commemorates over 800 soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who died in or near Messines in 1917 and 1918 and who have no known grave. The majority of these soldiers are listed as New Zealand Rifle Brigade personnel.

received awards. Major Ackroyd was also presented his Gold Bar.

Employers of volunteer firefighters were also awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of the valuable contribution to the community. WO2 Morton received the presentation on behalf of the Messines Defence Centre

The names of the employers of those volunteers serving with the Hutt Valley Fire Support Unit based in Upper Hutt have been placed on the lockers of a fire appliance.

The certificate is on show in the recreation area of the Messines Defence Centre.

On 8 December 2011 Chaplain Lance Lukin was appointed as the Principal Defence Chaplain for the NZDF at a service which took place at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul. Chaplain Lukin, who had served as the Principal Chaplain (Army) since 2008 took over the role of Principal Defence

Chaplain from Chaplain Don Parker. Following the service Chaplain Mike Subritzky assumed the role of Principal Chaplain (Army). Above, Defence Chaplains, including Chaplain Subritzky (right) pray with Chaplain Lukin at the ceremony.

armynews07issue 428 | february 2012military personnel backbone of hertz seVens

If you thought the Hertz Sevens held in Wellington recently were run with military precision, you’re right— a large team of NZDF personnel volunteered their services to make it run smoothly.

Members of the 45-strong Defence team of workers were spread across all aspects of the highly-successful event, from team liaison and lounge accreditation, to game management, ball people, human resources, and tournament coordination. Many of the Defence personnel have worked for several years at the Sevens tournament, while for some it was their first event. A total of about 230 volunteers help out at the event in Wellington each year.

Colonel Marty Donoghue, from HQ NZDF, holds the voluntary position of HR Manager for the Hertz Sevens, and says the NZDF is involved because individuals love being part of the team, and it’s a chance to “give back a bit” to the Wellington community.

His job with the Hertz Sevens begins in about August when volunteers from across the Wellington community are chosen, and training begins

for the event which is held in the first two weeks of February.All volunteers, he says, are put through rigorous training to

ensure the event runs smoothly and successfully. “We always have more people put their hand up than we need. It’s a lot of fun and a really good team to be part of. We try to ensure everyone has a good time, and players are hosted well. We try to help make the operational side of running the games as efficient as possible to enable the teams to play their best and for the event to be successful.”

COL Donoghue says the volunteers are the backbone of the Hertz Sevens, which feedback indicates is one of the best events in the HSBC Sevens World Series.

Volunteers gain from the tournament, as well as give their services. “We take practical aspects out of the Defence Leadership Framework, and teach volunteers about self-leadership, and small team leadership.”

Monique Hinds from HQ NZDF ran the accreditation system for the event, which included gathering and collating all the necessary

information from players and volunteers. “My team was responsible for ensuring the volunteers, teams and officials, media, contractors, sponsors, and broadcasters were accredited for their role in support of the Hertz Sevens Tournament.

“This year we introduced a new and more efficient accreditation system. To ensure accreditation passes were provided in time for the tournament, tight deadlines with supplying accreditation information, understanding of the processes and working in collaboration with the tournament functional heads was a necessity.

“This was my third year participating as a volunteer at the tournament and it is a privilege. I have enjoyed the opportunity to be part of the Sevens experience, working with the other volunteers, who are professional, committed and enthusiastic about making the tournament a success. As a resident in Wellington, the tournament has enabled me to contribute as a member of the community and the NZDF. I hope (like the other 200+ volunteers) to return next year to help out.”

Lieutenant Colonel Stu Brown was responsible for coordinating the runners for the Hertz Sevens. “I had a team of 23 volunteers aged between 12 and 18, and we were responsible for tournament support, ranging from filling up ice buckets and drinks cabinets to delivering team information and score sheets. It was my second year working at the event, having

been brought in at the last minute last year to be a pitch marshal. I thoroughly enjoyed myself this year; the opportunity to work with enthusiastic teenagers from the Wellington and wider region was an enlightening experience. I believe without the volunteers the Hertz Sevens would not have been the success it was. I hope to be able to help out again next year.”

Warrant Officer Class Two Red Robinson from Joint Force Headquarters New Zealand lead a team of volunteers who helped host players throughout the event.

“I was responsible for coordinating the lounge accreditation personnel. I had a team of 30 adult volunteers and we were responsible for securing the player time- out area, corporate function area and the VVIP function area.

“Our duties included stopping unauthorised personnel entering these areas, ensuring the players and officials could move unhindered between the field and their time out area, providing assistance to Red Badge security personnel if required and helping the public with any enquiries. This is the fifth year I have helped with the Hertz sevens and believe that the volunteers are vital to the success of this great

tournament.”Army General Staff Principal Staff Officer Bernie Grant ran

the immediate support area for all the teams taking part in the tournament, with her team ensuring players were fully prepared for their games, with all the food, showers and laundry facilities they needed.

nz army band kicks it into touchWhen it comes to sporting achievements, New Zealand Army

can hold its head high, with many of our personnel achieving outstanding results in pools, paddocks, tracks and courts around the country and around the globe. But few can say they’ve taken the field in front of thousands of sporting fans during one of the countries premier sporting events.

Few that is, unless you’re a member of the NZ Army Band.On Friday 3 February, the NZ Army Band blasted out a

performance as polished as their instruments – all in the name of supporting New Zealand as part of the Wellington Rugby Sevens. And the crowd went wild.

The NZ Army Band played classics old and new – from Esprit de Corps, written by band member WO2 Dwayne Bloomfield, to the William Tell Overture – before launching into a bit of Swan Lake and getting the crowd on their feet to YMCA. At the pinnacle of the performance, they lead the 30,000-strong stadium in the Haka – a proud moment for every Kiwi there.

“Performing to 30,000 is always an adrenalin rush for the troops but to be involved in a prominent international event, with such a positive reaction from the crowd, made us all very proud to be Kiwi soldiers representing New Zealand,” said Captain Graham Hickman, Director of Music for the NZ Army Band.

The tributes were plenty – with Twitter, Facebook and live blogs abuzz on an ‘awesome’ performance by the NZ Army Band.

"The Wellington Sevens has now established itself as one of the country's premier sporting events, and the NZ Army is proud to be involved”, says Deputy Chief of Army, Brigadier Charles Lott.” We recognise the significance of sport to the New Zealand public, and as an organisation we value our association with an event that enables us to showcase the talent of the NZ Army Band."

Army Band feedback on Facebook and Twitter:The NZ Army Band was great.•

The NZ Army Band rocks•The NZ Army band is freakin’ awesome!•

Lovin’ the NZ Army Band – they are the best!•

The band plays to a rapturous crowd.

Marty Donoghuhe

Monique Hinds

Stu Brown

8armyeQuipmentissue 428 | february 2012

army’s new command and control structure

2012 anzac challenge coin A New ANZAC Challenge coin will be available in 2012. It

is 45mm in diameter, pewter finish, easy to pack and carry overseas. Challenge coins can be presented in several ways-on their own, in a velvet coin bag or in a wooden rimu box.

Challenge Coins are an old American tradition instituted into the Defence Force in 2005 as an alternative gift for dignitaries and others. Challenge coins are also known as military coins, unit coins, memorial coins, unit challenge coins or commander’s coins. The coin expresses the holder’s affiliation to or patronage by the organization who minted

the coin. Legend has it that challenge coins originated during World War 1 among American volunteers forming the newly-formed flying squadrons.

Item 131-Challenge Coin $15.00 Item 132-Velvet Coin Pouch $1.30 (coin not included)Item 133-Velvet Coin Box $9.00 (coin not included) Item 135-Wooden Coin Box $50.00 (coin not included)

Order forms for ANZAC challenge coins can be obtained through HQ Defence Shared Service:

Email: [email protected] Or from the online gift catalogue http://org/jlso/LP/Publication/CUSG/SDC-HQ/

GiftCatalogue/ANZAC.aspxAny requirement to have coins before ANZAC Day must be

ordered before 16 March 2012 For the purpose of NZDF presentations etc these can be

charged to appropriate cost centres if approved. For personal orders, GST must be added to all items.

On Tuesday 13 December, the 2nd Land Force Group, based in Linton Camp, and the 3rd Land Force Group, based in Burnham, amalgamated to form 1 (NZ) Brigade. The establishment of 1 (NZ) Brigade is one of the more visible aspects of the changes being made over the next 2 years to Operationalise the Army.

The first phase of this plan, known as Army 2015, sees major changes to Army’s current structures, locations and method of operations to improve Army’s combat effectiveness and allow for future growth.

In addition to the changes in Linton, a new Headquarters Deployable Joint Task Force (Land) is being established at Burnham Camp, whilst command of the Territorial Forces transfers to the newly established Headquarters TRADOC (Training & Doctrine Command) previously the Headquarters Land Training Doctrine Group, based in Waiouru.

"These new organisations are not a destination. Instead, they form a starting point for how Army will operate in future years to support its objectives and the priorities of the Government of the day," says Chief of Army, Major General Keating.

"These changes fall directly from the future force structure proposals presented in Defence White Paper 2010. Part of that White Paper identified a need for Army to develop a more deployable headquarters & task force. These changes help us to achieve this, allowing us to continue to meet our objectives and obligations at home, within the broader Pacific region, and further afield with our allies and partners," says MAJ GEN Keating.

HQ 1 (New Zealand) Brigade (HQ 1 (NZ) Bde)Location: Linton Military Camp – Commander: COL Chris ParsonsProviding Force Elements to win on OperationsHQ 1 (NZ) Bde provides a HQ that prepares Land Force elements up to DLOC.

This HQ:provides command, control, coordination and resources to enable Land-Force Elements to conduct BLOC and DLOC training•provides shadow posted personnel to HQ DJTF (L) for the Initial Deployed Force and for subsequent rotations•trains staff in preparation for deployment with HQ DJTF (L)•is prepared to provide the Exercise Control function for selected collective training activities.•provides Humanitarian and Disaster Relief support for national and international events•coordinates support (instructors and collective elements) to enable TRADOC courses•supports Joint Force New Zealand planning•plans and executes overseas collective training activities•plans and conducts 1 (NZ) Brigade training•

command weeks xSkill at Arms xmajor exercises x

• coordinatesallcollectivetraining.

HQ Deployable Joint Task Force (Land) (HQ DJTF(L))Location: Burnham Military Camp – Commander: COL Phil McKeeHQ DJTF (L) provides the basis of the Land contribution to a Deployable Joint Inter Agency Task Force HQ.HQ DJTF (L) is a dedicated rapidly deployable Command and Control (C2) element that will be able to deliver C2 to support contingencies in the land environment both domestically and off shore, with a focus on the South West Pacific. HQ DJTF (L):

exercises command over all Land Force Elements for some major land-based •collective exercises and selected operationscontributes to the assessment and development of operational level •capability training activities as part of the force preparation process for current NZDF missionsoversees the development of evaluation procedures and practices for •collective training activities is the Centre of Excellence for Command Post operations in the land •environment, and provides a basis to grow and develop current and future capabilities.

HQ Training and Doctrine Command (New Zealand) (HQ TRADOC(NZ))Location: Waiouru Military Camp - Commander: COL Evan WilliamsTRADOC: Training is What we do, Doctrine is How we think.HQ TRADOC is responsible for Land specific doctrine, the mid and long lessons learned loops, the delivery of Army’s individual training, command of the Reserve Infantry Units and directed training evaluation. Specifically, HQ TRADOC:

commands the delivery of Army’s individual training•provides a centre of excellent, authority and repository for Land-specific doctrine•through LOTC, analyses and implements the lessons learned loops that impact on individual training•works with 1 (NZ) Bde and HQ DJTF(L) to synchronise individual and collective training in the two-year training plan•conducts directed collective training evaluation activities•provides shadow-posted personnel to HQ DJTF(L) for rotations•provides command and control to subordinate units (Land Operating Training Centre, Officer Cadet School, The Army Depot, Army •Simulation Centre and Waiouru Military Training Facility)provides command and control and training oversight to the Reserve Infantry Units•maintains links with the TRADOC equivalents of our ABCA Allies.•

This HQ will remain in its current location of Waiouru until December 2013 when it will move to Hokowhitu.

3

2

1

armypeople9issue 428 | february 2012

Whether you have served previously in Cova Lima or not, there is a certain feeling of familiarity when you drive through the district. It may have something to do with turning up at remote villages and having local people recognise members of your group and immediately renew old friendships. Or it may be the numerous Kiwi icons, painted murals, memorials and the abandoned UNTAET sites that generate the feeling of déjà vu. One of the objectives of the GYRO 12 Memorial Patrol to Cova Lima was to visit not only the memorials and remember those who died in earlier deployments, but to visit other significant sites and hear first- hand the experiences of soldiers who had served there during key periods of our involvement in the region.

Late last year two members of a ground team that had driven over from Dili the day before, linked up with 10 VIPs who flew in to Tilomar base. These included the NZ Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Fautua, the New Zealand Senior National Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Powell, Colonel Martin Dransfield, who was Commanding Officer of NZBATTII, and local Timorese military and community leaders.

The group drove a short distance to the memorial for Warrant Officer Class Two Tony Walser where another short service was held. The ground team then accompanied the CMLO and F-FDTL and the Suco Chief Mr Edie Moniz to the memorial site at the position where Private Leonard Manning was killed. This activity was particularly poignant for COL Dransfield (the CO when Pte Manning was killed) who gave an account of the events that lead up to the fateful patrol.

The following day saw another group of nine fly in from Dili to undertake a Battlefield Tour which began with Sergeant Nutts Ngatai giving a ground brief at the Suai APOD and detailing how Victor Company, 1RNZIR secured the area as part of INTERFET in 1999. This was followed by a tour of “White Tiles” by Staff Sergeant Laury Colvin, who deployed as a signaller with NZBATT. The tour then visited Suai SPOD where SGT Ngatai gave an account of securing the beach for the amphibious landing that included SSGT Colvin. A highlight of the tour was a brief on NZBATTII operations by COL Dransfield, followed

a visit to the successful block operation conducted by the then- Lieutenant Dyhrberg’s platoon on the MOTA RAKATANA in 2000. The group were broken into teams which had an hour to sight a Platoon Block position and then give a briefing. At the conclusion of the back briefs COL Dransfield indicated the location of the C9 that engaged three militia during the contact, killing one of the group. To lend credence to the site visit, the group were introduced to two local men who were 10 years old at the time of the contact. They both recounted details of the event and identified a local farmer who had been detained by the militia on the day of the contact.

The visit to the contact site was a unique opportunity for the group to experience first hand a significant event in New Zealand’s recent military history. Another member of the memorial patrol SSGT Troy Ambler, who was a signaller with NZBATT2, was also able to corroborate events leading up to the contact as he was deployed on a retrans site when it occurred. Overall, the Memorial Patrol and Battlefield Tour were important means of maintaining a link with the Cova Lima District and keeping the achievements and sacrifices of the personnel who served there between 1999 and 2003 alive in a new generation of service personnel.

REMEMBERING THE FALLEN IN TIMOR-LESTE

Members of GYRO 12 gather around the NZBATT6 Kiwi which is located in Suai township.The memorial to PTE Leonard Manning that was visited by the patrol on the 28th of December.

APOD – SSGT Laurie Colvin (NZBATT1) stands in front of an NZ mural at the APOD in Suai.

SGT Nathan Bobette (second left) (NZBATT4) back briefs Col Martin Dransfield (left) at the site of the NZBATT 2 contact. The two groups listening had one hour to locate a Pl Block position in the same spot as the 2000 contact.

Judging by its age and the light blue beret, this mural on a house located in a small village between Tilomar and Fohorem may well be of a Kiwi solider.

lest we forget armynews09issue 428 | february 2012

10armypeopleissue 428 | february 2012

Military Adviser Lieutenant Colonel Darren Beck presented the New Zealand Special Service Medal to Mr David Armstrong who was one of four Australians to help with the recovery effort after New Zealand’s worst air disaster in Antarctica in 1979. Mr Armstrong, now a resident at Greenleaf Retirement Village was an air dispatch Warrant Officer in the Army helping unload supplies at the McMurdo Base in Antarctica in November 1979 when Air New Zealand flight 901 crashed into Mount Erebus, killing all 257 on board.

The flight was the first commercial route to Antarctica for sight seeing and on its 14th trip when the plane flew into the mountain in total whiteout conditions.

David Armstrong and his three men were Australia’s contribution to the recovery effort.

The men, whose day job was directing and unloading planes, had the daunting task over the next fortnight of recovering and identifying bodies and belongings, all in sub-zero conditions.

Mr Armstrong, 74, now suffering Parkinson’s disease, said he developed a stutter and shake because of the stress.

‘‘Nobody was to be blamed and everybody got on with the job,’’ he said.

‘‘You imagined what it would be like if your family was on the craft.’’

The special service medal was approved in 2006 and the New Zealand government has been tracking down those

australians honoured for rescue efforts

involved. The second medal was presented to Mr Jim Dance for his

efforts following the 2004 tsunami which devastated parts of Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka. New Zealand’s Defence

Attache in Canberra, Commodore Ross Smith presented the medal to Mr Dance, who was, at the time of his deployment, a resident of New Zealand. He is now Australia based and retired but still spends a lot of time in the Asian region.

Warrant Officer Class Two Vance Thompson, of Messines Defence Centre, has been chosen to attend the Advanced Leadership Programme in Singapore this month.

The three-week programme is run by the Singapore Armed

Forces Warrant Officer School at Pasir Laba Camp, and is for preparing military personnel who are ready to transit to the role of Warrant Officer Class One.

WO2 Thompson is a member of the Royal New Zealand

Army Logistics Regiment, and has been working as a Project Manager with Capability Branch for the past three years.

The NZDF is invited to send two people to the programme each year, with course particpants chosen on merit.

singapore-bound wo2

Lieutenant Colonel Darren Beck presents the New Zealand Special Service medal to Australian, Mr David Armstrong.


Two people who have made a significant impact on the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment were farewelled at the end of last year.

The Colonel of the Infantry Regiment, Colonel R. Upton, having completed approximately 40 years of service, was the first to be bid goodbye. In attendance at the ceremony were the Honorary Colonel of 1 RNZIR Brigadier Phil Gibbons, the new Colonel of the Regiment, Colonel P Maguire, Colonel B. Ewart, Colonel Kevin Burnett, Colonel Howie Duffy, Lieutenant Colonel Stef Michie and Warrant Officer Class One James Moohan. Colonel Upton was presented with an infantry statuette.

The following day 1 RNZIR conducted a mounted parade to acknowledge the departure of the Regimental Sergeant Major of three years, WO1 Clive. Douglas. Colonel Upton was the reviewing officer. “WO1 Douglas is a consummate professional, who has served the unit proudly and with utmost dedication,” said the unit’s Commanding Officer, LTCOL Glen King.

WO1 Douglas presented the unit with a taiaha on parade before handing over his pace stick to the new RSM, WO1 P. McIntosh. He was then blindsided with a rousing haka by unit personnel before being escorted by LTCOL King through the waharoa for the last time. WO1 Douglas is posted to Army General Staff before he attends the United States Command Sergeant Major Academy in June 2012. During his address, Colonel Upton reflected on the constants and changes in soldiering observed throughout his career, before departing the parade ground for the final time.

1 rnzir marks departures and achieVements

The battalion conducted a number of regimental activities as well to recognise the service and performance of unit personnel. A range of operational medals, as well as Long Service and Good Conduct Medals and sports awards were

presented, and number of officers were promoted. The 1 RNZIR Officers Mess acknowledged those officers who were either posted out or were leaving the Army.

Colonel Upton presents Staff Sergeant Matt Bedford with his Long Service and Good Conduct medal.

One last Rover patrol for COL Upton. The battalion perform a haka for the departing RSM.

On Friday 23 March Sally Blackler will begin a charity walk from Auckland to Burnham Camp to raise money for CanTeen , the Child Cancer Foundation.

Sally will be retracing the steps of her late husband, Army Physical training Instructor Sergeant Nathan Blackler who completed the walk in 2004. Nathan was successful in raising $65,000 for the Child Cancer Foundation.

In 2001, Nathan was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He endured three years of treatment in both Palmerston North and Christchurch, which included a bone marrow transplant, radiation, chemotherapy, and months spent in isolation. Nathan was cleared in remission in 2003. Seeing children in the cancer ward motivated him to undertake the fundraising walk, dubbed ‘Operation Second Chance’.

In December 2004, two months after Nathan completed his walk, he was re-diagnosed with cancer. Despite extensive treatment and a second bone marrow transplant Nathan died on 23 March, leaving behind wife Sally, son Hemi (now 20) and daughter, Aniwa (now 17).

As a tribute to her late husband, Sally will begin her walk on the fifth anniversary of Nathan’s death, and hopes to raise $65,000 for CanTeen – matching Nathan’s earlier fundraising efforts for the Child Cancer Foundation.

Sally will cover at total of 1014 km over 32 days, striding approximately 30km each day, with only seven rest days scheduled. Sally will be joined the entire way by friend, Corporal Tash Donaldson, who is a section commander at the Burnham- based Youth Development Unit (YDU).

Sally and Tash will begin the walk in Auckland at Specforce Gymnasium, owned by Scott Cottier, who was Nathan’s Canteen's best friend and fellow PTI. Sally will then walk to CanTeens headquarters. She and her team are scheduled to finish on Tuesday 1 May at the YDU STH Parade Ground.

Sally and Tash are heavily into their training, which has been a combination of cardio and long distance walking, beating the pavements in the weekends, walking 30km legs at a time. Furthermore, as part of their jobs with the Limited Service Volunteer Unit, Sally and Tash are able to participate in the 50km pack walks with the trainees on the Limited Volunteer course. Over the last few months, Sally and Tash have added weight training, and steadily increased their cardio workouts, and gradually increased the kilometres. Despite all of this preparation, there is concern that the body or feet might not always hold up. However, to combat this, Sally has been placing emphasis on preparing herself mentally.

CanTeen’s mission is to support, develop and empower young people living with cancer or a life-threatening blood disorder, by providing a national peer support network offering high quality educational and recreational programs.

Donations can be made online at www.sistersinarms.co.nz or through http://canfans.org.nz/cause/sistersinarms. Progress reports will also be posted on the website.

the nathan blackler memorial challengeBy Emma Daken


proViding the best protection

From January to September 2011, outside of Iraq and Afghanistan, there were 5050 Improvised Explosive Device (IED) events globally, an average of 608 per month


How does the NZDF ensure that its personnel are offered the best protection against IEDs, when they are on operational duty?

“We are continually striving to find the best and most effective equipment available to help us in every aspect of C-IED, from preparing the force and defeating the device, through to attacking the network, says Joint Force New Zealand Headquarters,Counter Improvised Explosive Device project member, Major Mark Bateman.

“There are a myriad of products out there that claim to have the answer, but sadly this is not always the case and before we can commit ourselves to chasing down rabbit holes that often prove to be empty, we must test, trial and prove the worth of every piece of kit and equipment that we hope to use.

“There is no asset more valuable than our personnel and we are committed to ensuring they are provided with the best and most appropriate kit and equipment available to enable them to succeed in their role in the safest and most effective way possible.”

MAJ Bateman says health expert research shows that anyone who has leg and upper body injuries from a buried improvised explosive device (IED) explosion is likely to have very serious groin injuries.

Further to this, soldiers in vehicles are at greater risk of groin injury because the blast from IEDs is often directed straight up through the body. Due to patrol requirements, coalition troops have become particularly vulnerable to this type of attack—about 80 percent of serious injuries to soldiers in Afghanistan in the past two years have been caused by these weapons.

The New Zealand Defence Force is buying a new Ballistic Groin Protection (BGP) system for use in Afghanistan and ultimately in all operational theatres.

The BGP system is unisex, three-tiered clothing and armour consisting of special protective underwear and detachable armoured modular trousers that have been designed to integrate with current kit being used by operational troops.

The system has already been proven to save lives in IED explosions.

“Doctors at the field hospital in Camp Bastion in Helmand province are seeing sixty percent more cases of serious injuries to the groin — including complete loss of genitalia, through IEDs. This equipment is designed to ensure that New Zealand personnel do not add to these statistics.”

The first tier of the BGP system is known as the battlefield underpants. It is a pair of shorts manufactured from scientifically-tested ballistic silk material that provides an initial level of protection to mitigate against the effects of blasts, including shrapnel. Troops wear the shorts as underwear. Silk is a natural fibre and comfortable against skin; the base layer is polyester so the likelihood of any allergies occurring during wear is remote. The inherent antimicrobial treatment is also particularly important as the garment has been designed to be worn agains the skin,and has been designed to ensure comfort and hygiene while in use.

The Tier One garment has been designed with longer legs. It takes into account the crucial zones of the groin, ensuring that the femoral and perineal arteries are covered and specifically designed to be worn either on their own or in conjunction with the Tier Two protection system.

BGP Tier 1

The second tier of the system is a detachable pelvic body armour that has been designed to meet the greater threats faced by soldiers on the ground. It can be rolled up and clipped to a belt and then pulled through the legs to protect the perinea and groin area, extending between the legs and covering the rear. The system is designed specifically to be comfortable and

lightweight, allowing the wearer to perform the majority of patrol tasks with a minimal amount of disruption. The system is stowable and when not in use can be secured to the wearer’s belt, it can be fitted/removed in less than 30 seconds.

BGP Tier 2

The Tier 3 system is the final layer of pelvic protection, and is designed to offer even greater coverage —including the upper leg, femoral arteries and wider abdominal region. It will be used by those troops whose role demands greater levels of protection, such as those operating hand-held metal detectors to search for IEDs, or those going forward ahead of patrols in order to ensure the safety of a route, such as the Enhanced EOD Search Teams.

The new kit will be available to personnel in Afghanistan by mid-2012, (CRIB 20 being the first to use the protection Operationally.) with every individual receiving three pairs of the Tier One, and one set of Tier Two for their use. Tier Three will be issued as- required. Although Tier Two and Three will be classed as Personal Protection Equipment for issue in the same way as all armour, Tier One will be for personal issue and won’t need to be handed back.

Ballistic groin protection for Kiwi troopsThe New Zealand Defence Force is buying a new Ballistic

Groin Protection (BGP) system for use in Afghanistan and ultimately in all operational theatres.






The second tier of the system is a detachable pelvic body armour that has been designed to meet the greater threats faced by soldiers on the ground. It can be rolled up and clipped to a belt and then pulled through the legs to protect the perinea and groin area, extending between the legs and covering the rear. The system is designed specifically to be comfortable and lightweight, allowing the wearer to perform the majority of patrol tasks with a minimal amount of disruption. The system is stowable and when not in use can be secured to the wearer’s belt, it can be fitted/removed in less than 30 seconds.

BGP Tier 2 The Tier 3 system is the final layer of pelvic protection, and

is designed to offer even greater coverage —including the upper leg, femoral arteries and wider abdominal region. It will be used by those troops whose role demands greater levels of protection, such as those operating hand-held metal detectors to search for IEDs, or those going forward ahead of patrols in order to ensure the safety of a route, such as the Enhanced EOD Search Teams.

The new kit will be available to personnel in Afghanistan by mid-2012, (CRIB 20 being the first to use the protection Operationally.) with every individual receiving three pairs of the Tier One, and one set of Tier Two for their use. Tier Three will be issued as- required. Although Tier Two and Three will be classed as Personal Protection Equipment for issue in the same way as all armour, Tier One will be for personal issue and won’t need to be handed back.

Thank you for your feedback on the Counter-IED feature in December’s Army News. This has clearly articulated how important you, the soldiers and officers of the NZ Army believe this subject to be and we within the C-IED cell will be ensuring that your responses are fully considered as we strive to provide guidance, support and protection from the threat.

In order to further encourage the institutionalisation of C-IED into the NZDF mindset, a new e-mail address has been established for your use. Majors Jason Jones, Pete

Watching and waiting are two tactical disciplines insurgents have mastered to target coalition forces. What are they are watching and waiting for? For you to reveal your operational patterns.

aVoid setting patterns

Sidebar 2:

Thank you for your feedback on the Counter-IED feature in December’s Army News. This has clearly articulated how important you, the soldiers and officers of the NZ Army believe this subject to be and we within the C-IED cell will be ensuring that your responses are fully considered as we strive to provide guidance, support and protection from the threat.

In order to further encourage the institutionalisation of C-IED into the NZDF mindset, a new e-mail address has been established for your use. Majors Jason Jones, Pete King and Mark Bateman of the C-IED Cell are keen to hear from you. Please share any questions, points of view or personal experiences with us and we will answer directly and share some of your thoughts here. If you wish to have your name left out then simply add the word anonymous in the title and we will respect that right. Remember, your question could lead to the answer that saves your mate’s life. We can all learn from that. Write to CIED [email protected]

Jen, the below par can also be used as a breakout Deleted: What you can do:

Femoral Vein

Femoral Artery

The New Zealand Defence Force is buying a new Ballistic Groin Protection (BGP) system for use in Afghanistan and ultimately in all operational theatres.






BGP Tier 1

The second tier of the system is a detachable pelvic body armour that has been designed to meet the greater threats faced by soldiers on the ground. It can be rolled up and clipped to a belt and then pulled through the legs to protect the perinea and groin area, extending between the legs and covering the rear. The system is designed specifically to be comfortable and

King and Mark Bateman of the C-IED Cell are keen to hear from you. Please share any questions, points of view or personal experiences with us and we will answer directly and share some of your thoughts here. If you wish to have your name left out then simply add the word anonymous in the title and we will respect that right.

Remember, your question could lead to the answer that saves your mate’s life. We can all learn from that.

Write to CIED [email protected]


offl

imits


Event competitors gather for a pre-ride chat

Offlimits board member Major Derek McMillan presents an iPad to Deployment Services Officer Janine Burton. The iPad is to help her communicate better with deployed personnel and their families.

Offlimits supports many different sporting codes, including road cycling and mountain biking. Competitors prepare for the mud and the streams.


It is at the cutting edge of multiple sporting codes and is pioneering innovative but safe ways of better utilising defence land so that the New Zealand public can obtain restricted access to places like Waiouru. The proceeds of this are then channelled into providing sport and welfare funding for soldiers. In this article Army News provides an update of where the organisation is at, and what is planned for the future. OFFLIMITS, an organisation which raises funds for Army

sports and welfare, is the highly successful development of what was once the Linton Multi-sports organisation.

INNOVATIVE THINKING PRODUCES SUPERIOR RESULTS

OFFLIMITS was previously the public face of Linton Multi-sports which, under the direction of Mike Ross, has organised the TUSSOCK BUSTER trail riding event at Waiouru for the past four years. In 2011, OFFLIMITS transformed itself into a separate Trust with the objective of raising funds for Army sports and welfare.

OFFLIMITS now operates TUSSOCK BUSTER which is the largest motorcycle trail ride in New Zealand with over 3000 riders participating over three days; WAIOURU SAFARI – a two day guided quad bike tour; plus BOUNDARY BUSTER- a two day guided motorcycle ride designed to ride the boundary of the Waiouru training area. 2012 and early 2013 will see OFFLIMITS expanding into delivering 4x4 tours, mountain biking events and horse trekking events.

OFFLIMITS epitomises the new ‘can do-will make it happen’ approach that the Army is encouraging as it adjusts to the new era of increased operational commitments coupled with budget cuts, says Dave Greenslade, the Chairman of the OFFLIMITS trust. “Our role is to partner with soldiers, units, commanders and the wider NZ Defence organisation to identify ways to generate much needed Non-Public funds to help support Defence wide sporting endeavours and soldier welfare,” he says.

“Gone are the days where, through asking someone in the know, some civilian group could get access to Defence property and conduct an event of their own where the issues of liability were not clearly defined, and there was no land remediation in the event of damage,” says Dave. Today, sporting events can attract litigation and public scrutiny especially if something goes wrong. Dave says OFFLIMITS brings a professional approach to organising events on Defence property.

“The idea is to have fewer events but each is to be of significant scale so they can generate more revenue than the old piece-meal approach. In order to protect Defence from litigation, the Trust must be seen to be independent from the Army system. It has separate trustees (all with previous Army experience or connections), detailed operations manuals, its own equipment and a comprehensive risk management plan for every event. In addition, it is subject to the same rules for the use of Crown Land as the general public.”

OFFLIMITS is making its mark. In the past 12 months it has spent over $20,000 in upgrading tracks at Waiouru, has donated more than $10,000 to Waiouru Camp and helped fund a multitude of sporting endeavours for soldiers. In December, OFFLIMITS provided two top of the line Apple iPads to Deployment Services Officers (DSOs) Janine Burton of Linton and Carol Voyce of Burnham. This will enable them to communicate 24/7 with soldiers who are deployed and with families remaining in New Zealand. Most importantly, the iPads give the DSOs the ability to use applications such as Skype to better support families and NOK who live away from the main camps and bases.

Mike Ross from OFFLIMITS summarised it this way. “We saw the key role these women were playing in soldier welfare, we saw the restrictions they were operating under, we briefly discussed it with the bosses in Wellington and hey presto, within a week we had made a decision, purchased the iPads and made the whole thing a reality.”

OFFLIMITS is more than just raising money for soldiers, explained Simon Reynolds and Warrick Funnell –both OFFLIMITS trustees.

“We need to be conscious that we have to be custodians of any Defence land we use, and in particular Waiouru which is pretty unique in New Zealand. Many soldiers may regard Waiouru as cold, bleak and unappealing. However, to many New Zealanders, it is a sport person’s paradise and a bit like ‘forbidden fruits’ in that it is just there beside the Desert Road but usually inaccessible to the average person.

“One of our roles is to invite access to the training area but only via organised events, each of which can only be conducted once a year. We want to keep the mystery and uniqueness in place.”

Simon Reynolds, a retired Lieutenant Colonel and former Commandant of Waiouru Support Centre, says OFFLIMITS is working closely with various people in Waiouru to ensure the tracks are maintained and upgraded, that the public develop a new respect for the land and that anyone who attends OFFLIMITS events comes away with a positive attitude towards

the Army. “We want our events to be a bit like a recruiting activity.

Encourage people to attend and see what we have, undergo a positive experience and go away thinking that the Army is not a bad organisation to join,” he says.

Soldiers and commanders can access funding for sporting endeavours by writing to:

The OFFLIMITS trustees,PO Box 301426,

Albany, Auckland 0752

and outlining their situation and what it is they want to achieve. A good initial step is to have a chat with Mike Ross by ringing 021-527-299. He can provide some pointers around how your application may be received. Mike stressed that OFFLIMITS will support those who are prepared to support themselves and OFFLIMITS. It will not be an automatic handout of all the money a person requires to achieve a sporting goal. “We want to know what you are doing to raise money, how you and the Army will benefit and what are you going to do to ‘give

back’ to the sporting code.”The next event on the OFFLIMITS calendar is TUSSOCK

BUSTER at Waiouru on Friday –Sunday 23-25 March 2012. This is a three day motorbike trail ride which has over 250 km of marked trails and if last year was anything to go by, it could attract close to 1,500 riders a day, making it the biggest event of its kind in New Zealand. This is the major fund raising event each year for OFFLIMITS, local businesses and community groups.

Dave Greenslade acknowledges that this year, March is an extremely busy time at Waiouru with multiple units live firing, the holding of the traditional TUSSOCK BUSTER event and then the 1 NZ Brigade exercise towards the end of the month. “Fortunately, a number of unit commanders plus DCA and Commander 1 Bde, have been incredibly supportive of OFFLIMITS and have worked hard to integrate TUSSOCK BUSTER with training and exercise commitments” says Dave.

All Army (and NZDF) personnel receive discounted entry to TUSSOCK BUSTER. Go to www.offlimits.co.nz to obtain details and download an entry form.

Making a hill climb look easy.

16armyeXceriseissue 428 | february 2012

By Lance Corporal Nicholas CattonSecond Workshop Company recently returned from Rarotonga

where 25 soldiers participated in Exercise Bluebell which primarily aimed to develop the leadership skills of Privates and Junior Non Commissioned Officers.

Personnel involved with the self funded exercise also had the opportunity to interact daily with the local people, and experience, what was for some, a very different from our own in many ways.

The leadership training component was achieved by having the soldiers take turns at planning and managing daily activities, sorting out the logistics to keep 25 mouths fed and getting personnel to where they needed to be on time. A lot of the ‘behind the scenes’ organising was a new concept to many of the young soldiers and they were able to take a lot away from it.

We visited two high schools to talk to the students about the different opportunities the NZ Army has to offer, and answered plenty of questions from eager children. These visits were topped off with a lunch of fresh fruit, coconut juice, pikelets and scones, made in the home economics class. For the students who were considering a career in the NZ Defence Force, our acting Physical training Instructor Private Holleron ran an Required Fitness Level (RFL) test in the evening that was open to anybody who wanted to give it a go.

We were lucky enough to stay at Auntie Mau’s big house in Rarotonga, a well known local whose generosity shows no bounds. Every night, dinner was a different fresh island delicacy with the highlight being a 45kg Yellow Fin Tuna, caught by Corporals Vartha and Teague on a hand line earlier that day. To show our appreciation for Auntie Mau’s hospitality, we cleared a large section of the local beach of

eXercise bluebell deVelops leadership skills in pacific setting

rubbish. We also cleared a track known as the ‘Needle’ which traverses the island over a peak that had panoramic views and some very steep slopes.

Later on that evening we had a friendly touch game against the Cook Island League masters team who showed us young guns some pretty slick moves. They managed to put a few points on us but we scraped through with a close win.

On the final night, we had the privilege of having our last meal with the New Zealand High Commissioner of the Cook Islands, Hon. John Carter and all of Auntie Mau’s family. We brought along some gifts from New Zealand to give to the people who hosted us as a token of our appreciation.

The aims of the exercise were met with our soldiers gaining leadership experience, and seeing a different way of life. At the same time we were able to provide some assistance in return for the hospitality from the community of Rarotonga.

Mr Carter has written to the New Zealand Army to commend the soldiers who took part in Exercise Bluebell. “I am pleased to confirm that set an exemplary standard and made one proud to be a New Zealander. To have young people such as these representing our nation and acting as ambassadors as they went about their duties is a credit to the organisation they represent and to themselves as individuals. They have left behind them a feeling of goodwill amongst the Cook Island people that they had contact with.”

Corporal Trent Vartha with a local league player

Corporal David Teague on the Needle Track clearance task.

AN RFL gets underway.

Beach clean up tasks Two Workshop Company Bluebell contingent


eXercise bluebell deVelops leadership skills in pacific setting

singapore-NEW ZEALAND RELATIONSHIP FURTHER ENHANCED BY DEFENCE EXERCISE

More than 600 Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel converged on the Waiouru Military Training Area in January for the annual Thunder Warrior exercise.

SAF deployed a 155mm Singapore Light Weight Howitzer, along with other weapons for the artillery training exercise which was held in Waiouru for the 15th consecutive time. Chief of Army, Major General Tim Keating met with his Singaporean counterpart Major General Ravinder Singh during the exercise.

MAJGEN Keating said the exercise was an excellent opportunity to cement the SAF-NZDF relationship, which was very important to both countries, and he was confident MAJGEN Singh and his party left New Zealand with a positive impression of their ongoing interaction with the New Zealand Army. The Singaporeans’ visit enhanced what is already a strong military and personal relationship, he said.

“We are good military neighbours, and we discussed issues of mutual concern, and mutual opportunities which may benefit both armies. New Zealand’s relationship with Singapore had developed over a number of decades since the inception of the Singaporean Army.

“The Singaporean Army has grown to be highly competent and world class. It provides science, technology, innovation and intellect to military challenges and pursues excellence to produce its military solutions. We are very comfortable operating and training alongside each other, and I envisage

our relationship will continue to grow and develop as we meet challenges in the Asia-Pacific region in the future.”

Discussions were held during the exercise about the

potential for further interaction with the New Zealand Army, and some multi-lateral activities.

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF SERVICE TO NEW ZEALAND

Anniversary events & activities28-29 January Tauranga City Air Show (Red Checkers display)

30 January Auckland Anniversary, Red Checkers over Auckland Harbour

6 February Waitangi Day (Red Checkers display)

11 February Coast to Coast finish, Christchurch (Red Checkers display)

16–19 February GEON Art Deco Weekend, Napier (Red Checkers display)

14 March Official launch, Wellington Launch of the 75th Anniversary Stamp and -Coin Collection with NZ PostRNZAF 75th Anniversary book launch -

17 March Manfield Field Days, Manawatu (Red Checkers display)

17-18 March Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), Military Weekend, Auckland

25 March - 8 April As part of the 75th Anniversary celebrations the Red Checkers will be displaying at various locations in the North Island over the period 25 March - 2 April and in the South Island, 2 April - 8 April. For further information, visit www.airforce.mil.nz

31 March Air Force Air Show (Base Ohakea)

3 April RNZAF 75th birthday celebrations, Wellington Forecourt Parade, Parliament -Commemorative Service, St Paul’s -Cathedral

7–8 April Warbirds over Wanaka (Red Checkers display)

25 April Anzac Day commemorations

28 April Auckland City Charter EventUnveiling of the Memorial Plaque at Hobsonville Point

www.airforce.mil.nz

ANNIVERSARYAIR FORCE

2012

Chief of Army, Major General Tim Keating with the Singaporean contingent in Waiouru.

army combat shooting team

(nzacst) 2012

For More Information contact your unit headquarters, past NZACST members or Maj Pat Edmonds via DIXIS Email

“only hits count”

who: Any RF and TF personnel who are fit, able and

command cleared.what:

Team selection by unit CO’s and Team Captain by February 2012.

when: Training 19 Mar – 27 Apr. AASAM 1 – 20 May.

where: Training Waiouru and AASAM Puckapunyal –

Australia. Yes there is leave!why:

- Want to do far more than just meet small arms entry

level AWQ?- Master marksmanship excellence.

- Develop your leadership and coaching ability for your unit.

- Win in a competitive international environment.- Test yourself under the pressure of competition.

- Develop your practical ballistics knowledge.- Snipers, participate in the AASAM sniper

concentration.


The RNZE Dive Team conducted its final concentration, Exercise Neptune’s Fury 11 at the end of last year.

The exercise was staged at the picturesque Little Barrier Island (Hauturu) in the Hauraki Gulf and saw the team conduct a range of real-time mobility and sustainability tasks in support of the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Six months earlier Exercise Poseidon 11 focused heavily on tactical combat support to combined arms/amphibious task force operations. Neptune’s Fury 11 trained and assessed the team’s utility in the lower threat environment of civil aid and reconstruction. The intent was to highlight the Dive Team’s ability to deploy offshore as a detached ‘capability brick’ proficient in providing engineer support both above and below the waterline. The team of eight engineers drew a wide range of skills from within the Corps, including tradesmen, plant operators, small boat and RHIB operators, field engineers and six Australian Dive Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) and Defence Diver qualified occupational divers.

Having conducted a detailed engineer reconnaissance and liaison on the island, the Dive SNCO, Staff Sergeant Michael Spicer identified a series of surface and subsurface tasks which became the focus of the planning leading up to mobilisation on Sunday, 27 November.

These tasks included creating a ford, constructing P.O.L and incineration sites, reconstituting a water supply, and detailed underwater inspections of the island’s key mooring and boat ramp facilities. Orders were delivered and the dive

container was readied and dispatched to Devonport Naval Base. This tailor-made store enables the team to quickly insert all required equipment via air, sea or land-based platforms. Once in Auckland they completed the strict DOC quarantine obligations and checked in with the Navy’s Operational Dive Team. They also uplifted several new buoyancy compensators and fin systems from a civilian supplier for trials and testing throughout the exercise.

With a liberal allocation of Sea Legs tablets the team departed on Tuesday, 29 November aboard the bath-tub looking MV Hauturu for the five hour steam to Little Barrier. The island is described as the ‘most intact native eco-system in New Zealand’ and is generally off limits to all but a few approved visitors every year. As if to reinforce this privilege, a welcome was provided by the island’s bouncers – a pod of Orcas – clearly quite intrigued by the arrival of new comers. The local Ranger family were far more inviting and quickly sorted the remaining quarantine procedures and orientated the divers to what would be home for a busy seven days.

Confirmatory recons were conducted and the team cracked into their work, generally completing a rigorous PT session and surface tasks in the morning with dive inspections and subsurface training serials in the afternoon.

Sapper Adam Sheehan was assigned the responsibility of overseeing the fording task. Here a deeply scoured creek had cut off two residential areas after substantial flooding earlier in the year. The loss of this route was hindering the transit of

stores between two vital areas of DOC operation on the island. Gabion baskets were tailored to fit the gap and filled with boulders to create a permeable foundation. Reno Mattress layers were then added, again filled with rocks, to raise the ford to a trafficable level before the wearing surface was introduced. The specific wire netting products selected for this task enable engineers to quickly create robust structures and, in this case, restore mobility within a short period. This project was greatly appreciated by DOC who put it to use as soon as it was completed.

The early diving serials saw all members using the newly purchased Sealife Pro underwater video and imaging system to good effect. The general inspection of the island’s offshore mooring system was headed by Sergeant Trevor King. Measurements and observations were recorded on the existing anchor, chains, risers and buoy components to provide an overall indication on the level of maintenance required. A written underwater inspection report was then provided to DOC for future reference. As it was, only minor repairs were required to fix a pear-link connector which was completed in a later serial.

Back on land, Lance Corporal Jason Bowling ran the refurbishment of the island’s principle water source, a severely eroded well site. Here a firm understanding of water-source provision coupled with plumbing expertise saw the well drained and excavated and a new casing inserted. This was tamped in place by small boulders sourced from the foreshore.

neptune’s fury 11EXBy LT Paris de Boam – Regimental Dive Officer

Little Barrier Island

Inspecting the corroded component of the boat ramp

Warrant officer Class One Shane Vooght presents the unit's driving award to SPR charles ManumuaA sapper surfaces after an underwater inspection.

armyeXcerise19issue 428 | february 2012

Interested in joining the 2 Engineer Regiment Dive Team?

Do you have the aptitude to be part of a highly motivated team that works in arduous conditions?

Can you meet the following prerequisites?

Member of Royal New Zealand Engineers,•Required Fitness level: G1 •Medically cleared fit to military dive,•Pass a dive physical fitness test consisting of the •following minimum standard:

Beep test standard of 9.6,•30 Press ups,•30 half sits,•8 pull ups, and•400m fin in under 8 mins 30 secs.•

Have a workplace first aid and oxygen administration certificate, and

Be recommended by your Officer Commanding.

Point of Contact: Staff Sergeant Mick Spicer, 2 Engineer Regiment.

The result was a potable water source to continue reliable supply to the island for years to come.

The other key underwater task was the inspection of the submerged portions of the island’s boat ramp. This task was conducted by LT Paris de Boam, LCPL Bowling and SPR Charles Manumua. The aim was to provide a general description of the level of corrosion, abrasion, loosing of structural connections and loss of foundational material below the waterline. Again the new underwater imaging kit proved invaluable and the subsequent report featured scaled imagery to clearly illustrate the observations and recommendations to DOC.

SPR Manumua also worked steadily to design and manage two construction tasks. The first was the refurbishment of a P.O.L site to contain the island’s backup diesel generator supply. This ensured that, should solar power fail, the island would still retain a source of electricity. Simultaneously he established a new foundation for the DOC incinerator, an essential part of the islands de-contamination system. Both projects were delivered to a very high standard and will have lasting effects on the island.

Wrapping up the surface tasks in good time the Team refocused solely on its core capability – subsurface compressed air operations. Skills practised included underwater navigation, search and recovery, endurance diving and refreshers on key drills and procedures for dive related emergencies.

With a successful balance of land-based and underwater work the Dive Team effectively established a workable ‘battle rhythm’ that can see engineer support provided both above and below the surface. Essentially, divers can construct a ford or establish a water point in the morning and move on to underwater survey, construction and maintenance in the afternoon or at night as required. In practising and improving this duality the team was able to diversify its relevance to likely employment scenarios. This is increasingly valuable when, as 2011 highlighted, the requirement for disaster relief and civil aid tasks at home and in the Pacific often demand specific RNZE support.

Looking forward in 2012 - the RNZE Dive Team will train and assess its standard operating procedures on Exercise Poseidon 12 which will focus on tactical support to combat operations. Key activities will be support to tactical landing reconnaissance, emplacing and clearing underwater obstacles, executing underwater demolitions and brown water search and recovery.

A task gets underway

Spectacular surroundings for Exercise Neptune’s Fury.

SGT Carl Crawford and SPR Charles Manumua ready for an underwater search.

SPR Adam Sheehan, Liam Walle and Richard Walle (DOC Ranger) officially open “Sheeb’s Crossing”


One of the most important activities the New Zealand Defence Force undertakes is professional development. Properly undertaken, professional development enables personnel to be adaptable, innovative and knowledgeable in changing situations and is the key means by which the NZDF prepares its personnel for the current and future operating

“This has been totally unexpected and a total surprise,” said Auckland University Professor Bruce Harris when he accepted the Northern Region Top Employer Award for 2011.

The tri-service employer awards ceremony was hosted by 3 Auckland (CRO) and Northland Battalion Group at Arch Hill to acknowledge employers who have provided extraordinary support to their employees who are also part-time members of the Royal NZ Navy, NZ Army and RNZAF.

This was the first time the RNZAF has participated in the awards and it reflects recent initiatives to grow the RNZAF Reserve.

There were six nominations for the Northern Region awards – four from Army and one each from Navy and RNZAF.

The six nominees, Auckland University Faculty of Law, Aviation Security Services Auckland Airport, NZ Post Whangarei, NZ Police Counties and Manukau South, Ministry of Justice Auckland, and St John, all received awards.

Auckland University Faculty of Law was overall winner and

introducing the defence professional deVelopment framework

auckland’s top employers for 2011 recognisedBy Major Syd Dewes

environment. A new approach to professional development and

performance assessment within NZDF is being developed by the Defence Personnel Executive and single Services.

Currently the NZDF does not have a single clear military development framework. Additionally, there are seven different performance assessment tools in use currently across all areas of NZDF.

To ensure everyone is treated fairly and has access to the development opportunities offered, the Defence Professional Development Framework (DPDF) project is being undertaken. The project is split into three work streams:

Developing an overarching Defence Professional •Development Framework which incorporates general rank competencies, trade/branch/specialist requirements and position requirements and will be the foundation for professional development and performance assessment.Building a NZDF specific performance assessment tool •that applies a consistent approach across all ranks and Services. This will replace the existing AFNZ 125A and the OPR.Creating a NZDF specific development framework •and directory which will enable the whole of NZDF to more effectively and consistently plan professional development.

Together, these work streams will enable NZDF to holistically manage talent and succession planning. Additionally it will ensure a consistent approach is being used across all Services – better aligning areas of professional development and the language used around development and performance assessment.

The Assistant Chief of Personnel Commodore Kevin Keat says: “The DPDF will assist the organisation to appropriately and efficiently manage the Total Defence Workforce by providing a common language and common framework across uniformed personnel. Additionally, the DPDF will assist in identifying the core requirements for all positions and in assessing where individuals are at with their own development and movement though the organisation. To this end the DPDF will be developed with full consideration of civilian staff needs.”

The DPDF has evolved from three pieces of work that have been completed previously within NZDF: the PDP Pilot; the Success Factor Framework; and the Professional Military Development Framework. The DPDF has been designed and developed by NZDF personnel, specifically for NZDF professionals.

The overarching framework and performance assessment framework and tool will be trialled March 2012. A cross-section of individuals from all three Services will be involved.

Further information can be found on the DPDF intranet page.

was presented the Employer of the Year Award, closely followed by Aviation Security Services who won the ‘Gold Award’ and NZ Post Whangarei who took the ‘Silver Award’.

Retired Brigadier David McGregor, senior partner of Bell Gully and Chair of the Northern Region Employer Support Committee, who presented the awards said, “These awards recognise the valuable support of employers who have gone the extra mile to enable their employees to serve our nation be it through deploying overseas in support of our international commitments, supporting our communities during domestic

disasters such as Operations Christchurch Quake and Rena, or to attend military training that prepared them for these tasks”. He added, “This is a partnership that is highly valued by our Government and why the winner of this year Regional Awards will be hosted at the National Awards at Parliament”.

At the conclusion of the evening the 2010 Northern Region Employer of the Year winners, and also winners of the 2010 National Award for excellence in the private sector, Duff Lawry Richmond Lawyers, were again acknowledged for their valued continuing support and for being excellent ambassadors.

Rowen O’Neil and Tui Watling, both from NZ Post, are proud of their employee, CPL Wahanui who is an Army reserve soldier.

Professor Bruce Harris, representing the Auckland Faculty of Law and employee LTCDR Dave Grinlinton of HMNZS Ngapona.The 2011 Award winners.


He who walks with the wise, grows wise; but a companion of fools suffers harm. – Proverbs.

In early 2010 the 2nd Land Force Group initiated a mentoring pilot programme with the aim of fostering the growth and development of personnel within the formation, both professionally and personally.

The pilot involved a small group of interested personnel who were matched as a mentor/mentee partnership by the Mentoring Advisory Team (MAT). The MAT oversees the programme and provides advice to mentors and mentees as well as conducting training and organising professional development sessions.

The initiative was drawn along similar lines as the RNZAF mentoring programme model which began in April 2008 and has been generally successful throughout their bases and command.

Mentoring is not new and it is not an NZDF initiative; it has been written about for over 2800 years in one form or another, with the earliest recorded mention in Homer’s Odyssey. We are not the only professional organisation which has a mentoring programme. Many of the more successful establishments offer mentoring programmes to develop their own personnel as a means of increasing their productivity and recruitment, securing their longevity and strengthening their leaders.

But what is mentoring? It is not coaching or management, where the primary focus tends to be on job performance, standards or the achievement of outputs. It is not a sponsor where the mentor acts as an advocate or promoter for the mentee. It is not emotional counselling; matters of the head and the heart are best left with those who are appropriately trained. Mentoring can best be described as a partnership that focuses on personal, professional and career development outside of the normal chain of command, where advice is given freely in a safe, non-judgemental environment.

myths of mentoring

Can anyone be a mentor or mentee? This is a question up there with the “nature versus nurture leadership” debate, and while there is not a simple answer there are some characteristics that both the mentor and mentee need to bring to the partnership. The mentor should challenge, stretch and provide inspiration; they should create a structure for exploration by creating a perspective that provides support, encouragement and growth. They achieve this by being a good role model, willingly sharing their time with their mentee, giving advice without dictating action and offering constructive criticism and compliments. The mentee should be willing to be mentored and have the courage to try new approaches to issues, be open and honest, accept criticism and responsibility, learn from mistakes and do their absolute best at all times.

There is still a lot of confusion, misconceptions and even some apprehension from all ranks about mentoring and a mentoring partnership. The following are some of the more common myths about mentoring.

Mentoring is only one way:A successful mentoring partnership will see both parties

learning from each others strengths, weaknesses and experiences. Sometimes, in a successful partnership, the mentees perspective on certain issues may even cause the mentor to look at things differently. As we know, innovations are happening so rapidly and that personal experience is the greatest of teachers, the younger often can present opportunities to mentor the older. A good mentee recognises their mentor as an ally to assist through complex issues, benefiting from their experiences as well as opening networks that may normally be closed. A good mentor will have the satisfaction of knowing that they have had an impact on someone else’s professional and personal development, as well as gaining a new perspective on some matters from the mentee. For some, a successful partnership can build on leadership skills and develop a new professional network.

Mentoring is time consuming:What needs to be recognised is that each mentoring

partnership is unique. The time and energy that one partnership puts in will differ from another. It all depends on what is agreed on by the mentor and mentee as to the purpose and focus of their partnership. It is acknowledged

that these are times of change and restructure, this puts pressure on our time management, but a focus on learning and development increases stability and creates an understanding of change and organisational growth. It has also shown to improve productivity through better communication, goal clarity, increased commitment and career planning. Most respondents of a recent 2LFG mentoring program survey indicated that they are able to allocate enough time for the mentoring partnership and felt that their command is supportive.

Developing a mentoring partnership is difficult:A mentoring partnership will be as difficult as one makes

it. It’s about building the partnership based on specific values and accepting that both the mentor and mentee are equally responsible for establishing the partnership. What is important is that time is set aside for both the mentor and mentee to discuss what is it that they would like to achieve from the relationship. Some partnerships may consider a mentoring contract to get them started. This type of agreement between the mentor and mentee has had good success with other organisations.

Mentoring will only work when face-to-face:Some of the most successful mentoring relationships

have been made up of a mixture of e-mails, short phone conversations, occasional visits, but the very rare meeting. Again it is at the first meeting where the partnership establishes their ‘ground rules’ for how often they will communicate and by what means.

Mentoring is long-term:A mentoring partnership can be as long or as short as the

relationship needs to be. In some relationships the mentee will outgrow the mentor, conceding that not all lessons and experiences of the past can effectively deal with the challenges of the present. In others the purpose of their mentoring relationship has been seen to fruition, the set goals have been met and therefore the partnership is no longer required.

Successful mentor partnerships:There are several references where high profile celebrities or

sports personnel who have contributed their success to the fact that they have been mentored during their career.

With bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing, Colours flying and swords drawn, the 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly’s Own) and Northland Battalion Group, 11/4 Artillery Battery, and 1 Field Engineer Troop, all in full dress uniform stepped off and down Queen Street, central Auckland to the loud cheers of an appreciative public gathered outside the Town Hall.

On Saturday 3 December, bathed in bright sunshine, some 160 soldiers and officers formed up before the Mayor of Auckland, Mr Len Brown, at the civic parade to receive a new Charter.

Presenting the parchment charter to Colonel Grant Ellis the Honorary Colonel of 3 Auck North Battalion, the Mayor not only acknowledged the military’s strong links with Auckland—they lie deep and in the case of the Mounted Rifles date back to the 1840s—he also acknowledged and expressed Auckland’s

appreciation of its servicemen and women’s commitment and service to the nation. Until that point the Colours were kept encased and bayonets were sheathed until the new Charter had been presented.

Following the customary inspection and speeches there was a rousing massed haka performed with vigour and pride. It was well received and applauded by the then increasing number of spectators. Then, led by an Armoured Pinzgauer and the Colour Party comprising the 3 Auckland Battalion Colours and 11/4 Battery Colour Gun, the Parade stepped off under the command of Major Terry O’Neill DSD (currently the acting Commanding Officer of 3 Auck North while the CO, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Powell is in Timor Leste). The Artillery Band added to the occasion and helped keep the marchers in step.

The Charter Parade also marked a change of command status

for 11/4 Artillery Battery and 1 Field Engineer Troop who now revert to under command their parent regiment units – 16 Field Regiment and 2 Engineer Regiment. They will remain based in Auckland at Arch Hill.

A very special moment was marked at the end of the parade when a contingent of ex-servicemen under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Tony McLeod formed up and saluted the parade before it was dismissed.

In attendance at the Charter Parade was also a number of officials and senior military officers including Colonel Bede Fahey, Deputy Commander 2 LFG, Colonel Barry Dreyer, the Colonel Commandant of the Royal New Zealand Artillery, Commanding Officer 16 Field Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Matt Boggs, SAS Commanding Officer LTCOL Karl Cummins, LTCOL Julian Sewell Commanding Officer 6 Hauraki Regiment, and Major Paul Curran of 2 Engineer Regiment.

army reserVists haVe the freedom of auckland cityBy Major Syd Dewes


Staff Sergeant James Fredrick Seymour , a World War Two soldier whom the King of Greece honoured with the Greek Gold Medal with Crossed Swords for valour, died on 28 November 2011, aged 96.

SSGT Seymour was one of only two New Zealand soldiers to receive this honour.

He was born on the 18 March 1916 in Te Awamutu, and, like many soldiers who served their nation during World War Two, seldom discussed his war efforts. But from the snippets he had revealed over the years, plus additional research, his particular exploits on Crete demonstrated great commitment.

At the outbreak of World War Two in September 1939, Jim Seymour was one of the first to enlist. He was required to parade at Hopu Hopu Camp, just out of Ngaruawahia, but on arrival he found, much to his chagrin, that he had been allocated to the First Ammunition Company – not because of his skills – but the Army wanted his Indian motor bike. He managed to convince the authorities that he should join his Hauraki mates, now forming up as B Company of the 18th

obituarystaff sergeant james fredrick seymour18 march 1916 – 28 noVember 2011By Colonel (Rtd) Ray Seymour

Battalion, but he never saw his motor bike again. On 5 January 1940, Jim Seymour sailed off to the Middle East

with the First Echelon. Thirteen months later he fired his first shot in anger while occupying Servia Pass in Northern Greece. A couple of days later the fighting withdrawal through Greece commenced which resulted in Jim Seymour and the 18th Battalion being evacuated off Greece to the idyllic island of Crete.

Jim, as a Platoon Sergeant, along with a young and inexperienced Second Lieutenant and about 18 soldiers, were tasked with protecting the King of Greece and his entourage, having managed their escape out of Greece and away from the German clutches. The Platoon guarded the King and his party in a house on the outskirts of Crete’s capital of Canea but when the German invasion commenced, a hurried decision was made to evacuate the King and his party off Crete from the southern coast. The group took the indirect route across the rugged White Mountains – a snow-covered mountain range which bisected the 35 kilometre-wide island. The height of these mountains is about 300 metres lower than that of Mount Ruapehu and as rugged as the Southern Alps are in the vicinity of Arthur’s Pass. A difficult task made even harder with German paratroopers landing all around them.

The group finally reached the summit having travelled the 20 kilometres, as the crow flies, in four hours but on arrival at the end of this first stage, the King found that he had inadvertently left a suitcase, containing something very important, back in the Canea house. SSGT Seymour and a couple of his men were ordered to return to the house and retrieve this case. On arrival, Jim Seymour would claim that he knocked on the door, only to find the house was now occupied by the Germans. His request to enter was denied and he was sent away empty-handed. This is not the story that those soldiers who went with him would tell.

They struggled back to meet up with the awaiting King and gave him the bad news. He had now travelled 60 kilometres. Hunger and the frozen conditions were eased somewhat by the killing of a mountain goat, but fearing the German presence, this was eaten raw. After the fresh raw meat meal and a short rest the party were again on the move and finally reached their target – the fishing village of Ay Roumeli. The King and his party were then safely evacuated to a waiting naval ship that was loitering offshore. But then, without warning, rank showed it did have its privileges. The young

Second Lieutenant decided that he would also go off with the King and take with him all the soldiers who were now suffering physically from their arduous journey. The order probably went something like this: “Sergeant Seymour, you take the 8 fittest men back with you, along with all the ammunition taken off the unfit men; get back over the White Mountains and rejoin the Battalion because they will need all the men and ammunition that they can get”. It is doubtful if Sergeant Seymour replied with “Yes Sir”. But an order is an order and so Sergeant Seymour and his eight men trudged back across the mountains. On reaching the Battalion position he had now covered 110 kilometres. The Battalion was nowhere to be seen. During part of this journey, he and his party were targeted by German Stuka aircraft. They were pinned down for about 12 hours but were saved by the protection afforded them by an olive grove.

He and his group then realised that a general withdrawal was underway. He joined the exodus and halfway back up the White Mountains he was halted at a control point and ordered to declare who he was and who the 8 men were that were with him. On answering that he was from the 18th Battalion he was told that the entire 18th Battalion had been killed and that they were most probably the only 9 survivors. He was ordered to wait in the area to see if any other 18 Battalion soldiers had managed to escape the German onslaught. Some hours later, SSGT Seymour claimed he saw a formed body of troops literally marching up the mountain road. As they drew near, he identified it was his Commanding officer – Lieutenant Colonel John Gray leading his Battalion. They hadn’t all been killed – only half of them had paid the ultimate sacrifice. SSGT Seymour and his 8 men rejoined the Battalion and continued the journey across the White Mountains to the departure beachhead of Sfakia. By the time he arrived there he had now travelled some 145 kilometres, whilst constantly under German interference – and he did this by constantly walking for about 30 hours. He was a tough determined man.

History now shows he was the last Kiwi soldier to officially be evacuated off Crete. He disobeyed orders to achieve this distinction.

For his actions, the King of Greece honoured him with the Greek Gold Medal with Crossed Swords – one of only two New Zealand soldiers to ever receive this honour.

He died on 28 November 2011 as a proud soldier of the 18th Battalion and as a proud Hauraki.

• COLSeymourisStaffSergeantJimSeymour’sson.

Director of Defence Dental Services (NZ) Colonel Andrew Gray, RNZDC (right), presented Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Franklin, US Army, with a RNZDC Challenge Coin following her presentation on the US Army Dental Corps contribution to Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC).

JPAC, located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, began in October 2003. The mission of JPAC is to achieve the fullest possible accounting of all Americans missing as a result of the nation’s past conflicts. The highest priority of the organization is the return of any living Americans that remain prisoners of war. Dental identification is a major contribution to the work of JPAC.

LTCOL Franklin also visited Dental Services/NZ Police Disaster Victim Identification Training at Trentham Camp.

SSGT James Seymour

Territorial Force officer Tony Sumner has won the Contact Centre Institute of New Zealand’s Contact Centre Manager of the Year award.

Tony is Meridian Energy’s Contact Centre Manager, which is based in Christchurch

He has been with Meridian for the past four years, and has 15 years experience in call centres (both in New Zealand and overseas). The contact centre he manages has 85 staff.

Following the Christchurch Earthquake, the contact centre was back up and operating at a temporary site within 36 hours and for the next four months operated across four temporary sites.

Tony, who is from 2 Canterbury Regiment has been a reservist for 20 years.

canterbury reserVist wins national awardus dental Visitor


into the silence

brasso, blanco & bull

The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of EverestBy Wade Davis

Reviewed by Colonel(Rtd) Ray SeymourIf you want to learn more about The Great War, then don’t

read this book. But if you want to learn about the desire by the British to conquer Mount Everest, which, as we all know, was finally achieved by our own Ed Hillary, then this is just the book for you.

Wade Davis has written a superb book on the determination and trials of what really appeared to be an endeavour to achieve the unachievable. A task, as he describes, that has created Mount Everest into “an open graveyard, littered with more than three hundred corpses, a dead climber for every ten who successively returned from the summit”. He has left no stone unturned in his meticulous research and has certainly not been backward in coming forward with the true stories behind this hell-bent desire to get an Englishman to be the first to plant his boot on to ‘the top of the world’. But when the impossible was finally achieved, in 1953, after 30 years of trying to get there, all he could write of this tremendous feat was his lonely sentence of: “In 1953 victory came at last… made not by an Englishman but by a beekeeper from New Zealand, Edmund Hillary, a farmer from the ultimate frontier of empire …” But, I guess, Davis did not set out to write about

Hillary, even though the sub-title of “Into the Silence” clearly states that the book is about the “Conquest of Everest”; this book is all about the English story and their desire to get to Everest first.

While the pun is intended, there was a lot to ‘wade’ through in this extensive work. One will need to devote more than just a few days to get through the 650 plus pages. What really tied me down were the 800 odd place names and personalities contained in the book. I found these to be so distracting but, on reflection, Davis possibly could not have done anything to reduce this number.

There can be no doubt that “Into the Silence” is also a tome on leadership – some good – some bad – and some indifferent. What does come through loud and clear is the strength of military leadership portrayed in this book. Davis even made the statement that “if they were to get up the mountain, it would be on the backs of the soldiers”.

In summary, a gripping story if Mount Everest is your ‘thing’. For me, I learned so much from reading this account and, hopefully, am the richer for it. But despite this, the book will not encourage me to take up the challenge that Mallory and his fellow climbers pursued so many years ago. Just looking at the summit of Mount Ruapehu will be enough for me.

COL Seymour is the CEO of the New Zealand Army •Museum

BRASSO, BLANCO & BULLBy Tony Thorne

Reviewed by Colonel(Rtd) Ray SeymourWhat a ripping yarn! “Brasso, Blanco & Bull” is a first-hand

hilarious account of the mischief caused and created by a select band of British National Servicemen On Her Majesty’s Service in the mid 1950s.

I was never a National Serviceman but one of my many career highlights was being a young lance corporal instructor for five intakes of National Servicemen during the mid 1960s. Despite the setting for “Brasso, Blanco & Bull” being in the UK, it could quite easily be in Waiouru or Burnham. I can clearly see many of Tony Thorne’s stories and they remind me of the antics of

obituarystaff sergeant james fredrick seymour18 march 1916 – 28 noVember 2011By Colonel (Rtd) Ray Seymour

The New Zealand Defence Force is joining an international partnership to give it guaranteed satellite communications for the next 20 years, Defence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman has announced.

“This gives a significant boost to our forces’ capacity both at home and overseas,” said Dr Coleman.

“It will increase our access to satellite broadband more than twenty-fold, with guaranteed access and at a fixed price, ensuring better value for money.”

Deployed New Zealand forces around the world use satellites to communicate with New Zealand. The NZDF currently purchases bandwidth on commercial satellites at spot prices, which can involve a premium of up to 100 percent depending on demand, and which can also limit availability of bandwidth.

The Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) programme is a network of nine military satellites built by Boeing and operated by the US Department of Defence.

New Zealand joins Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg and the Netherlands in a joint agreement for access to the network in return for partially funding the ninth satellite. Australia has been involved in a similar agreement since 2007.

“The Government is delivering on the priorities outlined in the 2010 Defence White Paper, which identified improving offshore communications as a priority to ensure deployed personnel are better supported,” said Dr Coleman.

Any unused capacity can be made available to other government agencies.

The NZDF will invest $83.2 million over 20 years in WGS, which comes from baseline funding already allocated in the Defence Capital Plan. Current annual spending on satellite communications is $NZ 4.3m, growing at some 10 percent per year.

improVed satellite communications for nzdf

NZDF personnel throughout the Trentham area made an impressive contribution to the K Mart Wishing Tree Appeal

our own National Servicemen. I was fascinated even with the similarity of the language used.

So for all of you who received your call-up notice by seeing your marble drop, and completed either CMT (and between 1949 and 1958, some 63,033 young New Zealanders were conscripted into the three Services to complete a period of full time military training, followed by three years in the Territorial Force) or National Service (when 23,319 young men were trained through that scheme between March 1962 until it ended some ten years later) – this is your story. “Brasso, Blanco & Bull” is priceless and will be just the gift to give to your grandkids for their next birthday or for Christmas so they can learn what you did get up to when you were called up. While I doubt if many of you had the opportunity that Thorne’s mob got up to as portrayed in this book, I’m sure that with a little modification here and there, and perhaps a generous sprinkle of embellishment, that you will come up with something that you got up to that resembles one of the stories in this book. Imagine this gem recounted by Tony Thorne. It’s your passing out parade and all your Mums and Dads are in attendance. Behind the dais just happens to be a bronze figure sitting astride his bronze mount. Thorn’s mob has got up to mischief. Someone managed to drill a couple of holes into this creation. One hole allowed water to be poured into the structure and another hole was drilled to allow water to ‘stream’ out. The exit hole just happened to be at the end of a prominent part of the mount’s anatomy. A bit of sealing wax was all that held the water in, but their tests had proven the amount of time that was needed before the sealing wax would give way. For some unknown reason that was timed to coincide with the arrival of the Inspecting Officer. Much to the mirth of the National Servicemen on parade but to the disgust of all the brass that were present, gallons of water were ‘relieved’ from this mount for the duration of the parade. Priceless! I now wonder just how many stories may be generated from the antics of our own Servicemen.

Well done Tony Thorne for reminding us of those good times so many years ago.

Before I forget, you can purchase this little treasure from the National Army Museum Shop for $29.00 and that includes packaging and postage.

in December. The Wishing Tree Appeal has run for 17 years, and K Mart works in conjunction with the Salvation Army who distributes the presents to bring some Christmas cheer to children who otherwise might miss out.

The team at NZDF medals and archives branch co-ordinated the Wellington collection by providing the drop boxes and gift tags to Trentham Camp, Messines and HQ Joint Forces, and with the help of the NZDF “Archive Elves” wrapped presents and drummed up support for the giving effort.

The sleigh that delivered the presents to the Christmas tree in Porirua was an NZLAV with a crew provided from 1 RNZIR.

Dee O’Connor, the Senior Entitlement Officer with the NZDSM project, who is also a Territorial Forces Staff Sergeant with 7 Wellington Hawkes Bay Battalion co-ordinated the event for 2011.

“I’ve always felt better giving gifts than receiving them, and I’ve raised my children to believe they have to give to receive. It was fantastic for NZDF to finish off the year supporting a very worthy cause and well received all round".

trentham pers bring christmas cheer

24armysportissue 428 | february 2012

burnham boXers battle it outThe annual 2/1 Battalion Boxing Tournament was in

December 2011 provided an entertaining night of Inter-Company rivalry.

The battalion’s companies pitted their boxers against each other in a night that saw soldiers putting their hands on their hearts and impressing the audience with good boxing, and even better determination.

From the first fight featuring Privates "Dobby” Murdock and “True North” Brady, to the last fight of Privates "Hammerhand” Salmon and “John Cena” Harvey the fighters showed spirit and determination. No fighters willing to give an inch, giving as

Burnham boxers battle it out

With pics

The annual 2/1 Battalion Boxing Tournament was in December 2011 provided an entertaining night of Inter-Company rivalry.

The battalion’s companies pitted their boxers against each other in a night that saw soldiers putting their hands on their hearts and impressing the audience with good boxing, and even better determination.

From the first fight featuring Privates "Dobby” Murdock and “True North” Brady, to the last fight of Privates "Hammerhand” Salmon and “John Cena” Harvey the fighters showed spirit and determination. No fighters willing to give an inch, giving as good as they got. With the limited training period due to work commitments the fighters instilled company pride during the final “Right of Line” Inter-Company competition of 2011. Their efforts in the ring showed everyone watching what soldiering is all about, fighting for a purpose and with pride.

The Canterbury Boxing Association supported the event, officiating on the night and were once again impressed with the heart shown by the fighters. Coach Stu Adams of the Burnham Boxing Club also supported the event training both the teams, assisted by senior boxers in the club and the Battalion. It was a great way to end another very busy year for 2nd/1st Battalion. It was also a great function to send off for those leaving the unit, including Regimental Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One James Moohan.

During the evening the 11 bouts were fiercely fought. It was a narrow margin with Bravo Company and Delta Company ending in a draw in the Inter-Company boxing competition. This confirmed Bravo Company as the top company and it was awarded the “Right of Line” for their efforts throughout the year.

3

Photo Four. Second Lieutenant Tim Ewing-Jarvie declared the victor against his opponent Lieutenant Sam Gouk.

Photo Five. Pte Blake (right) throws the head of Pte Fletcher (left) during their bout.

3

Photo Four. Second Lieutenant Tim Ewing-Jarvie declared the victor against his opponent Lieutenant Sam Gouk.

Photo Five. Pte Blake (right) throws the head of Pte Fletcher (left) during their bout.

4

Photo Six. 2nd/1st Battalion Honorary Colonel, Major General (Retired) Dodson watches on during the boxing(left), along side Maj Shane Ruane (right).

Photo Seven. 2nd/1st Honorary Colonel Major General (Retired) Dodson presents the trophy for “Best Technique” to boxer LCpl Pope.

4

Photo Six. 2nd/1st Battalion Honorary Colonel, Major General (Retired) Dodson watches on during the boxing(left), along side Maj Shane Ruane (right).

Photo Seven. 2nd/1st Honorary Colonel Major General (Retired) Dodson presents the trophy for “Best Technique” to boxer LCpl Pope.

5

Photo Eight. 2nd/1st Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Michie presents the “Right of Line Trophy” to 2011 Top Company Officer Commanding, Major Wilson, Bravo Company.

good as they got. With the limited training period due to work commitments the fighters instilled company pride during the final “Right of Line” Inter-Company competition of 2011. Their efforts in the ring showed everyone watching what soldiering is all about, fighting for a purpose and with pride.

The Canterbury Boxing Association supported the event, officiating on the night and were once again impressed with the heart shown by the fighters. Coach Stu Adams of the Burnham Boxing Club also supported the event training both the teams, assisted by senior boxers in the club and the Battalion. It was a great way to end another very busy year for

2nd/1st Battalion. It was also a great function to send off for those leaving the unit, including Regimental Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One James Moohan.

During the evening the 11 bouts were fiercely fought. It was a narrow margin with Bravo Company and Delta Company ending in a draw in the Inter-Company boxing competition. This confirmed Bravo Company as the top company and it was awarded the “Right of Line” for their efforts throughout the year.

2nd/1st Honorary Colonel Major General (Retired) Maurice Dodson presents the trophy for “Best Technique” to boxer Lance Corporal Ryan Pope.

2nd/1st Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Michie presents the “Right of Line Trophy” to 2011 Top Company Officer Commanding, Major Craig Wilson, Bravo Company.

PTE North Brady (left) and PTE Martin Murdoch (right) face off in the first fight of the night. Second Lieutenant Tim Ewing-Jarvie is declared the victor against his opponent Lieutenant Sam Gouk

PTE Hamish Blake (right) throws the head of PTE Nathaniel Fletcher (left) during their bout.

2nd/1st Battalion Honorary Colonel, Major General (Retired) Dodson watches on during the boxing (left), with Major Shane Ruane (right).

armysport25issue 428 | february 2012

burnham boXers battle it out hitting the road in timor-leste

A team of seven riders and four supporters with three vehicles, four bikes, plus stores headed to the destination of Batugade. After a short stop to drop off equipment in the PNTL border station that would be the accommodation for the night, the team hit the road again in search of food. After a drive up the hill to Balibo the team found, with the help of an English speaking local a restaurant that could serve them. After a meal the team returned to the night loc for an early night ready for the long ride home.

Waking at 0530 the team packed quickly and hit the road a little after 0630. One vehicle lead, bikes in the middle and two support vehicles with equipment spares following. The spares quickly came in handy as the first bike was decommissioned due to a loose derailer. The team pushed on, stopping momentarily to swap riders, repair punctures and hydrate with a concoction of salt and Raro, made up by PTI Staff Sergeant Colvin. During one stop a fall caused Captain Donaldson to suffer minor leg injuries and another bike to be

decommissioned due to a bent rim. Some fast running repairs by EIR Tec SSGT Matson, however, enabled the first bike to once again be ride-able and some fast patch work by Firey LAC Mills allowed Captain Donaldson to keep riding. The team then carried on largely without incident back to Dili. Dodging traffic the riders left the support vehicles behind as they raced the last stretch to HPOD.

Defence cycling is alive and well in Dili, Timor-Leste, with deployed personnel making regular sorties through the local roads. The latest, writes Signaller Reuben Wallace, was a 110km ride from HPOD in late January.

— GYRO 12’S CYCLE RELAY

In 2006 I attended the Assistant Physical Training Instructor (APTI) course. After enjoying the 6-week course, I decided that I would like to do the Physical Training Instructor (PTI) primary course.

At this stage I still had one goal to achieve in the transport trade, that was deploying on OP Farrad, and I have now achieved my goal with a trip to Sinai as a driving instructor. As the trip was coming to an end I found out that there was a PTI selection only one month after I returned to New Zealand. That left only two months to prepare, so I thought I better start some serious training.

The Sinai heat (at times up to 50 degrees) making it hard to train. Time soon passed, I returned home and travelled to selection in Waiouru. It was time to see if the training had been enough. The first two days were mainly fitness testing with some extra activities, this only giving us a taste of what was to come on Exercise Crossed Swords (a longest day activity were we were assessed constantly).

After that we had our end of selection course interviews with the selection board.

On receiving the joining instruction I noticed that there were only six students on course: two Navy, two Army and two Air Force. Arriving on course not knowing what to expect we joined up with the guys and girls from the other services who had already spent a week in the ‘field’ tramping through the hills together, something we Army guys had already become accustomed to.

Three mornings a week we are up before breakfast to do

my path towards becoming a pti By CPL Clearwater 3Tpt

some Early Morning Activities (EMA’s) where the instructors take us a for a swimming session. Then it’s back to barracks for a shower, breakfast and run down to work for our first class of the day. We study a lot of different subjects in both theory and put the theory into practice for the physical aspects. Some of the subjects we are learning are, Anatomy & Physiology, Principles of Training, Physical Fitness, and Training Systems.

I am looking forward to the rest of the course. We haveseveral milestones in the next couple of weeks. This will give us the incentive to spend some time studying. Christmas was a good break, and gave us an enjoyable challenge to maintain our physical fitness and theory knowledge.

26armysportissue 428 | february 2012

Three time winner, New Zealander Chris Birch was out to defend his title, but with a quality field of entrants including 29 international riders he wasn’t going to have it all his way. I arrived in South Africa early in November and immediately began getting used to KTM 300 XCW supplied through Alfie Cox racing. Four of the six Kiwis competing —, Chris Birch, Mike Skinner, Mitchell Nield and myself — all loaded into a sprinter van and headed off for some serious Roof training in Lesotho.

After three days of crawling up mountains it was off to Nelsprit for a local regional Enduro race. Team Kiwi couldn’t quite sweep the podium but almost did with Chris 1st, Mike 3rd and myself 4th.

Round the HousesThe Roof starts with the Round the Houses race in the city

of Maseru. Three 3km laps on tar seal roads with a few rocks and tyres provides a great spectacle for the crowds and gets everybody warmed up for the real racing.

This year each rider could start the Time Trial when they chose between 10am and 2pm. The rain clouds were gathering and I decided it would be better to head out early and try to miss the rain. With my twin Garmin GPSs loaded I headed out early on the course which consisted of 50km of unknown rocky wilderness.

After last year’s accident on the Time Trial which saw me injured and spending time in intensive care, I had one thing on my mind—finishing. With that in mind I took it a little easy and made sure I completed the rest of the race. There was nothing too hard and almost all of the competitors finished the Time Trail section. I was placed 40th overall out of the 233 competitors.

Day TwoOn the second day was at the pits ready to go at 5.30am.

There were three classes, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Riders who wanted to complete the full course would have to ride 200km for a Gold finish or they could opt out and go for a Silver finish 140km or a Bronze finish 80km. I headed out with 200km of track in front of me. I settled into a smooth pace and made sure I was staying on track with my GPS.

I had started the day in 40th and was making my way through the field passing other riders regularly and sitting around 30th. About 20km short of the second pit stop my front brakes rapidly faded to nothing. I made a quick stop to see if I could fix the problem but there was nothing I could do. I had to cut my pace back and take some creative lines down hill to make sure I didn’t disappear off a cliff as I couldn’t really stop once I got going. I made it to the second pit stop in one piece.

Uncle Rod and the Alfie Cox Race Team fired into action and frantically tried to fix my brakes. In the end they stole a complete front brake off another bike and bolted it on as I patiently waited and counted the riders I had passed come and go out of the pits. By now I had dropped to around 50th.

I headed out on the silver loop and with my front brakes working I started to catch the riders who had passed me in the

pits. There was a film crew capturing all of the action from a chopper as I came to the top of a steep down hill just behind another rider. I put the pass on down hill but almost threw it away as the chopper came in for a close up and almost blew me off my bike.

I pitted again with 50km to go on the gold loop before I could rest for the day. I rode by myself for awhile until I came to a hill climb called Spider Web. I managed to pass six other riders with one hot line and a bit of a push. I continued by myself until I got to the bottom of Free Fall where I caught another two riders. There was only one main line and it was difficult to pass; the finish was at the top and there wasn’t much I could do. Both of the riders made mistakes just short of the top and I passed both of them in one move 100m from the finish line.

I had made my way back up to 35th after loosing my brakes and was feeling good and ready to push on the last day. There was a battle going on up front between Chris Birch, Jarvis and Jade Gutzeit

Day 3Another early rise saw me ready in the pits at 5.30am. We

were lined up ready to go. Chris Birch, Jarvis and Jade Gutzeit would battle it out for the overall win and headed out first. I started in 35th and by the second pit stop I had made my way up to 20th. My fitness training was paying off as the other riders were starting to fade. The silver loop was rumoured to be the make or break of the day.

I kept my pace steady and made my way to the bottom of the longest hill I have ever ridden. It hurt my neck to look up to the top of it. Half way up I was running low on water and cut back the pace and rode with two other riders until I could find some fresh water in the next valley. Although the fresh water tasted brilliant I am sure it was full of bugs but that’s all I could get.

I got to the top of Welcome Pass, a well known steep downhill covered in basket ball sized rocks that could end your day if you got it wrong. I headed down but after a couple of hundred metres I hit a rock and damaged my front brakes again. I had to ride the longest down hill of the race with no front brakes. I used up a lot of energy getting down and nursed my bike up Bushmans to finish the Silver loop and into the pits to get my bike fixed.

Uncle Rod and the Alfie Cox Race team fired into action and bolted on another brake system. I had lost a lot of time and places riding with no front brakes and had my work cut out for me on the gold loop.

The Last 50km Gold loop had some steep down hills that I had to walk my bike down but nothing worse than what we had all ready ridden. I made up several places and crossed the finish line for the day in 25th which saw me 29th overall for the race. I was feeling good and left wondering what could have been, but that’s racing and there is always next year.

Graham Jarvis, of Britain, finished first, pushing New Zealand's Chris Birch, who had won for the previous three years, into second place. Other Kiwis included Mitchell Nield 10th, Michael Skinner 13th, Karl Power 15th and Chris Power

33rdBig thanks to Off Limits, Multi Sports, NZ Army, Sam and the

crew at Motorcyclegear.co.nz, Raetihi Timber and Stone and last but not least, Suz.

The next mission is the Red Bull Romaniacs in June 2012. I will again be training hard and fundraising harder towards the costs of competing. If you would like to make a donation towards my Romaniacs efforts or help out with sponsorship give me a call 0275 748 758, [email protected], [email protected]

the “mother of enduros”By Phil Cheater in the Roof of Africa

armysport27issue 428 | february 2012

canterbury hosts army cricketBy Captain Scott MacGibbon

The New Zealand Army interregional cricket tournament was held in January, with teams hosted in Burnham Military Camp and games played at Burnside Park in Christchurch.

Numbers attending the tournament were low and only two teams could be formed (Northern and Southern), however this did allow us to play the first North Island vs South Island Tournament since Regional Cricket was re-started about 10 years ago.

The concept for the Tournament was different to previous years but allowed for more game time for up and coming players.

Game One:Northern won the toss and sent the Southerners into bat.Southern made 206 all out in the 41st over. Notable

performances with the bat for Southern came from Lieutenant Jade Hamilton with 74, Corporal Kevin Hurrell with 45 and Warrant Officer Class Two Jeff Roy with 26. Northern bowlers of note were Sergeant Steve Orlowski with 3 wickets for 22 runs (3-22), Private Phil Lelievre with 2-20 and PTE Shelford Meads 2-30.

Northern were able to chase the total down and secured the win in the 47th over. Notable batting performances for Northern were LT Ray Cunningham with 61, SGT Steve Orlowski with 31 and Staff Sergeant Wayne Davis with a quick fire 28.

Southern bowlers of note were CPL Kevin Hurrell with 3-27 and Lance Corporal Nick Johnston with 3-34.

LT Jade Hamilton with his innings of 74, was the Player of the Day.

Game Two:Northern batted first this time round and were only able to

manage 118 before being all out in the 30th over. Notable performances with the bat for Northern were Sapper Trent Morrell with 29 and SPR Ryan Walmsley with 25. Southern bowlers of note were SSGT Ryan Eder with 5-26 and LCPl Nick Johnston with 4-14.

Southern were able to chase the total down and secure the win in the 28th over. Notable batting performances for Southern were LCPL Johnston with 33 not out, CPL Kevin Hurrell with 24 and Signaller Jonathon Hanson with a solid 22. There was one notable performance with the ball for Northern and that was SPR Ryan Walmsley with 2-18.

LCPL Johnston, with 33 not out and 4-14 with the ball, was the Player of the Day.

Game Three: (The Trophy Game)With one game a piece in the two 'trial' games, it flowed

nicely into the final game for the Rainbird Cup. Both sides were able to settle on their best side and with Northern winning the toss again Southern were sent into bat.

The Southerners started off slower then usual but were able to make it to 53 before losing their first wicket, CPL Kevin Hurrell for 25. This brought LT Hamilton to the crease with SIG Jonathon Hanson and they pushed the score through to 100 before SIG Hanson was out for 41. Wickets began to fall at regular intervals after that, with LCPL Johnston finishing the innings on 44 not out. Despite the wickets falling regularly the Southern boys managed a very respectful total of 223 from 45 overs.

The Northern bowlers managed to pull the Southerners back from what could have been a substantial total. Notable bowling performances were made by SGT Orlowski with 3-51, PTE Phil Lelievre with 2-35 and SPR Kieran Coulton with 2-29.

Northern were then put into bat to chase down the difficult

total. Unfortunately Northern were slow out of the blocks and as a result of tight bowling and good ground fielding from Southern, they lost wickets at very regular intervals. Two batting highlights for Northern were a quick fire 24 from PTE Phil Lelievre and 20 from CPL Richard Woodhead. Northern were eventually all out for 103 in the 31st over.

Inflicting the damage with the ball for the Southerners were WO2 Roy with 4-36, CPL Hurrell with 2-20 and SSGT Ryan Eder with 2-16.

WO2 Jeff Roy with his match turning 4-36, was the Player of the Day.

At the final function on Thursday night the NZ Army Cricket side was named and the following trophies presented by Lieutenant Colonel Bill Twiss, Chairman NZ Army Sports:

The Burnham Trophy for Fielder of the Tournament was presented to Lt Ray Cunningham, 10 Transport Company.

The HopuHopu Camp Sports Club Cup for Batter of the Tournament was presented to LT Jade Hamilton, 2/1 RNZIR.

The NZ Army Regional Bowling Trophy was presented to SSGT Ryan Eder, 3 RTW.

Player of the Tournament was presented to LCPL Nick Johnston, 3 CSSB.

Rainbird Cup for Inter-Regional Cricket Tournament Champions was presented to Southern.

Army Team:SGT Terry Horne (Capt), Captain Scott MacGibbon, LTt Jade

Hamilton, WO2 Mark Thompson, SSGT Wayne Davis, SGT Steve Orlowski, CPL Kevin Hurrell, LCPL Nicholas Johnston, LCPL Geoff Fosbender, SIG Jonathan Hanson, SPR Ryan Walmsley, PTE Shelford Meads, PTE Phil Lelievre, SSGT Joel Grason (Scorer), WO2 Jeff Roy (Coach), Captain Rose Fraser (Strapper) and Warrant Officer Class One Brent Wilson (Manager).

Reserves:SPR Kieran Coulton, SPR Logan Broughton, CPL Leighton

Hamlin and LT Damien EsauPlayer of the Tournament, LCPl Nicholas Johnston and LTCOL

Bill Twiss

The NZ Army Side

The Northern Side

The Southern Side

Player of the tournament, LCPL Nicholas Johnston and LTCOL Bill Twiss

28armynewsissue 428 | february 2012calling allnz army cyclists

The Races

road cycling (3 stages)The Inter - Regional Road Championship will consist of a graded Criterium, Road Race and Individual Hill and Time Trial.

mountain biking (3 stages)The Inter - Regional MTB Championship will consist of a Hill climb, Super D (Cross country downhill) and cross country stages.

the regional teamsThe Inter - regional is based on competition between Northern (Wellington, Waiouru, and Auckland areas), Central and Southern regions. The aim is for a minimum of 20 ridersfor each code per region. Riders from the other three Services (RNZAF, RNZN and NZ Police) are also invited to compete as guest riders.

gradesThe intention for both races is maximum participation. Riders both male and female in all age groups will compete in the following grades to allow fair competition: Challenge, Open, Masters (35 and over) and Elite (A and B grade club riders)

INTER-REGIONALCyCLING COMPETITION (3 DAy TOUR)Trentham 27 - 29 March 2012

Auckland

Road:MAJ Nicola MartinMTB:LT Sam Johnstone

Linton

MTB:Capt Dave CarmodyRoad:2LT Andrew Bedford

Wellington

MTB:LT Matt SavageRoad:SSGT Aaron Tregoweth

Waiouru

MTB:CAPT Daniel FordRoad:CPL Suze Landers

South

Road:SSGT Jess JessopMTB:PTE Lennon Voice Zebediah

Further details on both events will be promulgated soon and will be available from your code POC and through the Army intranet site.

Put the date on your calendar and register your interest with your regional co-ordinator or through the Army intranet site.

Online Registration can be found on the Army Intranet site at: http://communities/Sport/ArmyPages/Sport/Cycling/Homepage.aspx or contacting your regional co-ordinator.

Documents

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