Issue 507OctOber 2019

tŪ k aha Courage tŪ tik a Commitment tŪ tira Comradeship tŪ mĀia integrity

CelebratIng InnovatIonWe have the winners

army25The New Zealand Army’s five year strategy

HonIng soldIers’ Combat skIllsSkill at Arms competitions

The Army News is published for the Regular and Territorial Force and civilian staff of the

New Zealand Army.

Editor: Judith Martin Ph: 021 240 8578 E: armynews@nzdf.mil.nz

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

Design: Vanessa Edridge, DPA, NZDF

Editorial contributions and letters are welcomed. They may be sent directly to Army

News and do not need to be forwarded through normal command channels. Submit them to The

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editor by the first of the month. Nothing in the Army News should be taken as

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ISSN 1170-4411All material is copyright, and permission to reproduce must be sought from the editor.

Cover: Rescuing a mate in Ex Delta Patrol. Photo: CPL Sean Spivey

newsMAJGEN Williams to

head MFO 03

Army Innovation Challenge winners

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peopleArmy25 04

LT Penny Roy – Recruiting Ambassador

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Top award for former Army nurse

10

traInIngPreparing UN officers

to deploy 11

2/1 Skill at Arms 12

1 RNZIR’s top soldiers 14

Aumangea 20

Ex Delta Patrol 22

Practising counter terrorism support

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lookIng baCkTimor Leste

anniversary marked 16

sportSoftball 26

ISSUE 507 oCtober 2019

NZDefenceForce

NZArmy

We remember stanley Frank “tiny” Hill

By SGT Kaukiono Foiakau, Trade Training School instructor

The Senior Enlisted Leaders Conference 2019 (SELCON 19) was held in Auckland in July. I was invited along with over 280 Senior Non Commissioned Officers (SNCO) and Warrant Officers (WO) from the NZDF as well as SMA equivalents from other nations and distinguished guests.

When I opened my email and read that I had been selected to speak as the NZ SNCO representative on a panel, a lot of what, why and who questions where thrown around the office. As time moved along, panic and nerves were felt well before arriving in Auckland.

A warm welcome was held for all guests, followed by four full days of panels and guest speakers. These speakers covered a number of topics, some of which gave great insight on what our future as an Army and Defence Force will look like. Other topics were well above my area of influence.

An afternoon session was set aside for my panel to facilitate a

a snCo InsIgHt Into senIor enlIsted leaders ConFerenCe 2019

group discussion to help answer two questions that were given; A SNCO’s perspective on the future fight? and, what are your key takeaways from the conference? There were five groups of SNCOs from all trades and experiences, who were led by a member of the SNCO panel with a Warrant Officer to help facilitate the discussion. There were a lot of good perspectives from the groups. With this information I had to write a speech to then deliver to the audience on the last panel of the conference.

The panel consisted of Sergeants from the Australian, British, Fijian, NZ and United States Armies. I was lucky to be the first to speak, but while sitting on stage the realisation of who my audience was, definitely help sky rocket my nerves. WODF, SMA, other nations SMA’s and every WO and SNCO that I would no doubt run into in the near future was the audience.

I opened by letting everyone know what I was feeling that very moment, and that was

nervousness! With a few laughs from the audience, this helped ease my rhythm as I spoke. I spoke on a few perspectives that I could easily relate to. The spot light was short and sweet and the remainder of the panellists followed with similar views.

Questions were asked at the end of the panel, with each panellist having the opportunity to answer these question with the raw truth. A few questions were directed my way, as I was a female on the panel. This is nothing new, and it was a good opportunity to voice my own views. “The enemy does not care what gender I am, I am either an ally or I am enemy.” So with that, yes I am a woman, but I am a soldier first! My career should not be dictated by my gender but by my ability to do the job I am required to do.”

With a beautiful dinner to wrap up an eventful week, I was thankful for the opportunity that was given, including the information shared, networks created and partnerships that were strengthened SELCON 19 has paved the way for the future.

Stanley Frank “Tiny” Hill, an 11-test All Black and Army veteran has died, aged 92.Taranaki raised Tiny, All Black 574, died in Christchurch on Wednesday, 2 October.

His funeral was attended by a large contingent of Army personnel, as well as many former All Blacks and rugby administrators. There was a gun salute, and many speakers mentioned the esteem in which Tiny was held, as an All Black, a rugby player, a soldier and a man dedicated to his family.

Tiny played lock or flanker and occasionally No. 8. His first class rugby career started with the NZ Army in 1949, Canterbury in 1951 and NZ Services in 1952. His All Black debut came in Auckland in 1955 against the Wallabies. He played 19 matches for the All Blacks, two of which were as captain, including 11 tests. He played three tests in the South African series in 1956.

His only tour with the All Blacks was to Australia in 1957 where he played in 10 of the 14 matches, including both tests. After one test against the Wallabies in 1958 his international career ended with four tests against the 1959 Lions. He continued to turn out for Canterbury, then Counties until 1962. He continued as a New Zealand Army and Canterbury selector, coaching rugby clinics in California and Texas in the 1970s before serving as an All Black selector in the 1980s. His services to the game were recognised when he was invested an Order of the British Empire.

Tiny served with the Army for 30 years, starting out at Burnham Military Camp. He served with

J Force in Japan after World War II, and later in Vietnam.

New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Tew said: “The rugby community is mourning the loss of another All Black. We are very sad to hear of Tiny’s passing, and we extend our warmest thoughts and condolences to his family.”

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: “On behalf of the All Blacks we would like to express our condolences to the Hill family in what is always a sad time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Tiny was a man who made a huge contribution to the game from the grass roots level right to the top. He was an All Black captain, an All Black coach and also had a strong career in the military. He was an icon of our game both on the field and off and he will remembered fondly by all.”

His services to the game were recognised when he was appointed as a member of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year’s Honours in 1996. His wife, Marge, died five years ago, and he is survived by three adult children.

Detail: NZ Rugby Museum

SGT Kaukiono Foiakau

Tiny Hill marches with soldiers.

Tiny Hill in his playing days.

As an Army RSM.

armynews 03

a message From deputy CHIeF oF army

Reputation and relationships – it works both ways.Relationships are one of the four key themes of both the NZDF’s Strategic “Plan 25” and the Army’s “Army25” plan. It is relationships that build trust, credibility, confidence and more importantly, reputation. Relationships come in many forms and we all, as members of the NZ Army and the NZ Defence Force play a vital role in relationship building. They range from friendships made on courses and on initial training, through sporting activities, contingent deployments, counterpart and key-leader engagements, and coalition operations, right through to formal international bilateral and multi-lateral frameworks. Some of the most powerful, and therefore enduring are those forged in hardship, in adversity, in shared experiences, some even in battle. It is through all these many touchpoints and experiences, that we, the NZ Army has earned the reputation it has built in its nearly 175 years of existence.

I have been lucky enough to have been involved in the relationship ‘business’ of the Army and of Defence on a number of occasions in my career. Whether as a Defence Adviser in London, as Assistant Chief Strategic Commitments and Engagements, as Director Army Training and Commitments, as a Commander on multinational operations or as Deputy Chief, I strongly believe that relationships really do matter. They take time to build and they take work to maintain, however the effort is exponentially realised in the enhancement of our reputation as a trusted, credible, capable and competent Army. I liken reputation to a bath, it can take a long time to fill, but can be emptied in minutes.

Our reputation is the envy of others and it is unique. We have a duty to protect it. Every soldier has a role to play in maintaining

and building our reputation, and fundamentally it starts with how we behave and how we reflect and live our ethos and values. From this foundation, it is then how we build and maintain relationships internally and externally. Remember, our reputation of today was forged at places like Gallipoli, the Somme, Passchendaele, El Alamein, Crete, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, East Timor, and more lately in Afghanistan and Iraq. We build on this today through strong, trust-based relationships with each other and our partners, at home and abroad. We owe a debt to those upon whose shoulders we stand, and who built the reputation upon which we now base many of our enduring relationships. As you can see, relationships and reputation go both ways!

I am about to a take up a role where reputation and relationships could define success or failure. As the Force Commander of the Multinational Force and Observers, the relationships I manage could have strategic consequences, however it is the reputation I bring as an officer of the NZ Army that brings real foundation to the job at hand. I could say that my reputation proceeds me as it does for so many of us when we deploy. It is therefore critical how we use our reputation to best effect as we shape our relationships.

Ensuring that we maintain and contribute to meaningful relationships at multiple levels will be a strong theme of the Army 25 plan. These are relationships with the other Services, with other Government agencies, with other likeminded armies both in our region, and globally. They will build our reputation as a world class Army with Mana.

Evan Williams Major General

Wellington student Holly Neale has swapped her text books for the jungles of Malaysia for the next few weeks as she takes part in Exercise Bersama Lima.

PTE Neale, a full-time student, is one of more than 50 New Zealand Army Reservists from all over the country taking part in Exercise Bersama Lima, a military exercise held each year involving forces from New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and the United Kingdom. These countries signed the Five Power Defence Arrangement in 1971 as a commitment to defence co-operation and regional stability in South East Asia.

PTE Neale, who lives in Hataitai, is studying for a Bachelor of Sociology and International Relations, with minors in Cultural Anthropology and Political Science, at Victoria University.

She is following in the military footsteps of her parents, both of whom served in the New Zealand Army.

“Dad joined at 16 because he wanted to be independent and seek adventure and ended up being a sniper,” she said. “Mum joined at 18 and spent most of her career in the Military Police. She wanted to do a job that wasn’t stereotypically feminine. There is a significant element of me also that wants to continue to show people that women can be strong and are not afraid to get stuck in.

“I also saw this as a great way to challenge myself, to develop as a person and learn amazing new skills. You get to make new friends and test yourself in new environments with some of the best people you will ever meet.

“Being a Reservist has improved my self-esteem and confidence, and has enabled me to develop skills I would never have gained otherwise. It just changes you as a person, for the better.

“I can’t wait to see where this experience takes me, either in civilian or military life.”

She is thrilled about the opportunity to train in Malaysia.

“It is such an amazing opportunity to develop my skills as a soldier in an unusual environment,” she said. “It is also great working with soldiers from our ally and partner nations.”

Exercise Bersama Lima is usually based in Singapore and takes place in the South China Sea and around the Malaysian Peninsula. It involves Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army, and Royal New Zealand Air Force units and supporting units conducting training with Five Power Defence Arrangement air, land and maritime assets.

Major General Evan Williams has been selected as the Force Commander for the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) mission in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt.

wellIngton woman eXperIenCIng mIlItary lIFe In tHe Jungle

new Zealand general to head mFoThe MFO has been an important deployment for New Zealand since its inception in 1982. New Zealand has consistently maintained a presence in the mission where 28 New Zealand Defence Force personnel are currently serving.

As MFO Force Commander, MAJGEN Williams will lead about 1150 military personnel from 13 countries. The MFO’s mission is to preserve peace in the Sinai Peninsula and uphold the 1979 Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt. In recent years, it has taken on increasing importance in terms of providing stability and a multinational military presence in the Sinai region following extremist activity.

MAJGEN Williams, who takes over in December, said he was

honoured to be selected for the position.

“I served in the MFO as the Military Assistant to the Force Commander in the 1990s, and have great respect for the mission, its objectives, and the range of partners who are working together in what has become a model of international cooperation in a complex environment”.

His most recent role was Deputy Chief of Army, and he has had a long and varied career which includes service in the MFO, Belize, Bosnia, East Timor, Banda Aceh and Afghanistan. He replaces Major General Simon Stuart of Australia, who has been in the role since 2017.

New Zealand has held the position of Force Commander twice before – MAJGEN Don McIvor in

1989–1991 and MAJGEN Warren Whiting in 2010–2014.

The Chief of Army, MAJGEN John Boswell said he was delighted to congratulate MAJGEN Williams on his recent promotion from Brigadier, and on his new appointment.

“My personal thanks also go to his wife Kristin and their family. Their unwavering support throughout MAJGEN Williams’ career has been critical to his success within the NZ Army, and it does not go unnoticed.”

CorrectionThere were two errors in a column in the last issue of Army News.

The Commander of the Joint Support Command Component is Group Captain Pete FRANKEN.

Only some members of the Security Forces (Air) are part of the Joint Support Component Command.

Above: Private Holly Neale on patrol.

04 army25

ARMY25 is our change strategy for the period 2019 to 2025. Its objective is to meet Chief of Army’s vision of a modern, agile, highly adaptive, light combat force. The plan is divided into four investment themes – People, Information, Relationships and Capability Enhancement. Each aims to deliver different parts of the plan.

People This theme looks to ensure that by 2025 our Army will have increased in strength to 5,150 personnel. To be better positioned to meet the outputs directed to us by government, we must grow a future force that is resilient; has the attitude, skills and knowledge to be agile and adaptive in the execution of its duties; and lives our ethos and values.

Information For the NZ Army to be a modern and effective light combat force, we must all be skilled in operating in an information rich environment. Transforming information into knowledge and then into actions through timely, accurate and informed decisions will be critical to mission success in the future operating environment.

RelationshipsWe are a people organisation which operates in the human terrain – relationships are vital to everything we do. We must be viewed as a credible and trusted partner by our community, nation, allies and partners.

Capability EnhancementTo be a modern Army, we must be a networked and interoperable land combat force, resourced and equipped to operate in a complex, integrated expeditionary environment.

Want to know more about ARMY25, why it is important to our Chief of Army, and how you can help? Chief of Army will be visiting all camps in November 2019 to brief all ranks and civilian staff to reinforce his Command Direction for ARMY25.

For more information on ARMY25 visit the Army’s Intranet site.

tŪ k aha Courage tŪ tik a Commitment

army25a modern, agIle, HIgHly adaptIve, lIgHt Combat ForCe

Serving New Zealand loyally and honourably

army25 05

tŪ tira Comradeship tŪ mĀia integrity

06 army25

A software package that can be used by the NZDF to ensure the effectiveness and monitoring of classified information links has been judged the winner in the Army’s Innovation Challenge.

army InnovatIon CHallenge wInners

Lance Corporal Sam McQuillan, of 2SIGSQN, developed FAST (FortiGate Automation and Satellite Tool) which is a computer application that allows detachments to perform basic power, configuration, satellite and troubleshooting functions on the core equipment in deployed and garrison NZDF networks. It also improves equipment husbandry and decreases fault resolution times. He was 2IC of the Joint Command and Reconnaissance Team’s signals detachment when he entered the Innovation Challenge.

FAST, he says, simplifies more complex tasks to enable detachment members to reduce the risk of damaging the key communications links, that support HQ elements and key services on operations and exercises, through misconfiguration or power failure.

“Currently some functions, if carried out manually without FAST, require a Systems Engineer and/or a higher level of training to perform. When FAST was tested, previously untrained signallers were proven competent in completing complex configuration and troubleshooting tasks after just one 45-minute training period using FAST.”

The application, says LCPL McQuillan, also allows detachments to perform pre-set network tests that confirm connectivity to various crucial points in the Army’s deployed and garrison networks. This enables higher visibility and understanding of the current network picture and therefore the current IT capability within an HQ. Issues with key services in the network can then be quickly identified to enable quicker resolution of network faults.

Above: LCPL Sam McQuillan

Right: Assistant Chief of Army Strategy, Colonel Duncan Roy presents LCPL Sam McQuillan with his award.

army25 07

let your fingers do the walking…A digital camp clearance form that saves time and increases efficiency won second place in the Innovation Challenge for Corporal Reuben Ellett, RNZSIGS, who is section commander of Page Platoon at The Army Depot in Waiouru.

His proposal involved using digital tools that already exist to better enhance the current camp clearance process. A camp clearance must be filled out by about 20 different agencies or units whenever anyone permanently leaves camp.

“Since I have been with Page Platoon we have processed 40 camp clearances between three staff and as a result we are very familiar with the process. We have been frustrated at the time and resources it takes to process a camp clearance form.”

CPL Ellett says the challenges with the current camp clearance process are not just time related. “These agencies responsible for signing off a clearance form have other tasks they need to complete. When we walk in on them it can be disruptive. Sometimes they are not there so we have to return.”

He sought to improve the current process and discovered software called InfoPath. Infopath is a form design tool in use by the NZDF. CPL Ellett copied the layout and design of the existing clearance form into InfoPath, with a few extra features. One of those extra features enables a person to digitally sign an InfoPath form. The system is secure, and the digital signature cannot be edited or manipulated after it has been signed.

He says there are a few risks, but these are outweighed by benefits.

“I believe the inefficiencies of the current process would be severely mitigated by shifting to an all-digital platform.”

“I believe the inefficiencies of the current process would be severely mitigated by shifting to an all-digital platform.”

– CPL Reuben Ellett

“I thought, wouldn’t it be great to take this system to use to make drinking water until the desalination plant the military uses started producing? We could bring the system in and create water immediately for whoever needed it.”

– Gill McFarlane

A system that makes drinking water out of air earned former aircraft technician and now Defence civilian Gill McFarlane third place in the Army Innovation Challenge.

Mrs McFarlane chanced upon the idea when she was on maternity leave, and her baby son wasn’t in the mood for sleeping.

“I was up in the middle of the night, and I started researching green and sustainable technology that I could use if I had a bach. I started looking at different ways of supplying water when water wouldn’t be readily available and came across Skywater 300 which is an air-to-water technology that converts atmospheric water vapour into liquid water via condensation.

“Atmospheric water vapour is an unlimited resource that is constantly replaced by nature. The Skywater 300 draws air in through vents, and passes over a condenser, where it is converted into a liquid by Skywater’s patented distillation process.”

Mrs McFarlane said when she worked with 40 Squadron it was common for the RNZAF to deploy to the Pacific islands when potable water there ran out. “I thought, wouldn’t it be great to take this system to use to make drinking water until the desalination plant the military uses started producing? We could bring the system in

and create water immediately for whoever needed it.”

She said the system was reinforced with a protective exoskeleton, and shock-absorbing gaskets and support structures. It is in use by the United States Army, the Italian Armed Service, the Indian Army, and the Venezuelan Army.

The advantages of the atmospheric water generator over a desalination plant included there being no waste product to dispose of, and it being able to be monitored remotely. One unit can provide drinking water for 250 people per day.

Gill McFarlane

CPL Ellett receives his award from COL Roy.

08 armypeople

The future will have an inherently complex and dynamic international security environment, according to the 2018 Strategic Defence Policy Statement, with challenges to open societies, western liberalism and the rule of law. This requires the New Zealand Defence Force, as part of the wider All of Government apparatus, and acting with New Zealand’s allies and partners, to ensure its security approach can meet threats in the traditional land, maritime and air

domains, as well as the emerging space and information domains, and across a wide range of physical and geo-political environments. 

The Land and Special Operations Components hosted a Land Warfare Symposium in September to discuss “Land Operations in an Urban Environment.” The symposium was held at Linton Military Camp with more than 200 personnel attending from the NZDF, as well as New Zealand’s 5-Eyes partners, academia and other government agencies. The Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell opened the symposium with a recorded message that stressed the need for the current and future Army to be versatile, resilient and agile, both in action, and in thought, and stressed the importance of the two day event, and the effect that it would have on future force development in the NZ Army.

The Land Warfare Symposium consisted of keynote speakers from academia, foreign militaries, and non-governmental organisations as well as panel discussions. The keynote speakers discussed a variety of subjects using recent

land warFare symposIum 2019

conflicts in Marawi, Philippines and Mosul, Iraq to identify lessons from military operations in an urban environment. This included a civilian population-centric focus, current and future conventional and special operations capabilities, and the necessity of leveraging non-governmental organisations and other government agencies effects and outcomes in an urban environment. The panels discussed the necessity of Combined Joint Inter-Governmental Inter-Agency Multi-National (CJIIM) Operations, leveraging commercial and military “off-the-shelf” technology, how the NZ Army Multi-Role Battalion Group could be employed in urban operations, and force generation and education requirements to better prepare the Army for future operations.

Additionally, the Land Warfare Symposium consisted of displays that showcased some of the new and existing technology used by the NZDF as well as some innovations still in development. This included the future soldier systems, unmanned aerial systems, virtual reality and simulation technology,

the MANTIS marksmanship trainer, K-9 units, and mobility capabilities.

The Land Warfare Symposium 2019 allowed attendees to reflect on recent operations in order to assist with looking forward to potential operating environments of the future. It also served as a mechanism to engage with New Zealand’s partners and allies, so that we could learn from their experiences and perspectives. The event was used as a mechanism to broaden awareness and promote a forward-looking Force that has a better understanding of both the threats and opportunities of the future. Attendees were encouraged to critically think about the complex problems the NZDF faces in the international security environment, specifically in the urban environment, in order to help shape New Zealand’s future force. At the conclusion of the Land Warfare Symposium, key leaders discussed the way ahead and what they see as future requirements to providing a ready force.

Keynote speakers:Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Kevin Baff, RNZALC, MNZM: Framing the Challenge. Understanding the Urban Environment.

Dr Cathy Downes, Victoria University: Emergent forms of technology, cyber, information manipulation in the urban environment.

Brigadier General Romeo Brawner Jr, Commander 103rd Infantry “Haribon” Brigade, Philippines Army: 156 day War in Marawi.

Mr Scott Kinner, US Marine Corps: Future concepts for operating in an Urban Environment, Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group.

army25 09

Deploying to Afghanistan has been a career highlight so far for Lieutenant Penny Roy, but there’s much more about the military that convinces her she has made the right choice to become an Army officer.

through the recruiting process. “The recruiters mainly put me in touch with females that have specific questions about women in the Army, that they cannot answer themselves.”

A keen sportswoman, she had wanted to join the Army straight after college. “My mum did the Reservist training and marched out as a sapper. She was so enthusiastic about it I decided I’d like to join too. I was a bit slow getting on to the recruitment process so I enrolled at university and joined the Reserves in my second year.” She joined the Regular Force in May 2017.

Even though soldiers have completed their basic training when they arrive in Burnham Camp, it’s not all plain sailing from there.

“We have to deal with injuries, low self-confidence or people struggling with the course. We need to be able to help them through this and give them the right coaching or encouragement to meet the standard required of them.”

There are many positives: “Seeing Corps trainees get through or excel at different things is great, as is the pride they display on completion of the course.”

What’s the advice she gives soldiers in general?

“There are going to be times during your training when it is hard. But the important thing to remember is that thousands of people have done it before you and thousands will do it after you and that should give you confidence that you can do it too. It is possible, and self-belief is your best tool to getting through the tougher times.”

LT Roy deployed to Afghanistan as part of the tight-knit group of New Zealanders who are mentoring the Afghanistan National Army Officer Academy, helping to grow and build members of the academy.

“It was a great deployment, especially being able to use skills I have learned in the Army. But the comradeship is a really big one for me. I enjoy working with like-minded people and creating solutions for problems as a team.

reCruItIng ambassador roy sHows tHe way

LT Roy, 27, is second in command of Depot Company, RNZIR, in Burnham Camp, a role that requires her to work alongside soldiers who have recently finished their basic training. She is also a Recruiting Ambassador, which means she can tell potential Army officers what the job is really like, what the challenges are, and why she finds what she does so satisfying.

As a Recruiting Ambassador she had to complete an online training programme.

Her first task was to attend an information evening at St Hilda’s Collegiate in Dunedin. “I was on a panel with Navy and Airforce representatives. We each spoke for a few minutes about our career and opportunities then answered questions that the girls and their parents had about the NZDF. Overall there was quite a lot of interest in the Services and our messages were well received.”

She has also been available to field phone calls to answer questions that people may have about the Army when going

“That’s the good thing about the Army. There are always new things to learn, every day is different and you are always challenged.”

All currently serving uniformed members of the NZDF are eligible to join the Recruiting Ambassador Programme (RAP). To join, go to the RAP site on the NZDF intranet (there’s a link in the footer of the home page) and complete the online training package. Once you have completed training, you will be automatically added to the RAP database.

LT Penny Roy

10 armypeople

A former New Zealand Army nursing officer, Felicity Gapes has been awarded the highest international nursing award, the Florence Nightingale Medal, for her work in regions of conflict and instability.Now a Red Cross nurse, Felicity began nursing 34 years ago. During her time in the Army she served in Bosnia and Timor-Leste, and disaster relief missions in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Her Red Cross work has seen her nursing in Somalia, Darfur, South Sudan, Myanmar and across the Pacific.

She says she was “honoured but gobsmacked” to receive the award. “I’m just doing my job.”

Her time in the Army provided an excellent base for what she does now in war zones throughout the world.

“It gave me an understanding of operating in a humanitarian context and the effects of conflict and insecurity on those affected and how it disrupts the very fabric of their lives. Engaging with military and armed groups is common while working with Red Cross and often speaking the ‘same language’ at times can help in my working environment.

“In terms of security and risk mitigation, I think my time in the military has been invaluable. Even basic radio procedures has been transferable – although I did get laughed at by a couple of Kiwis in South Sudan who thought my please and thank you at the end of a radio call was quite special! 

“Deployments provided an understanding of working in areas where you have to rely on your team.”

Felicity has a wide range of nursing experience which she says has helped her navigate most of the health challenges she has come across. “I remember starting in the Army after being a Practice Nurse which gave me a solid grounding in general practice approach, and learning so much from the medics during field work. It is the same in this environment, you learn to do what we do with minimal resources and often in an insecure environment, and we adapt the response and training to reflect our patients’ reality.”

Some days involve sitting at a desk and “never ending reporting”. “But the days that involve field trips, travelling to places that aren’t in the Lonely Planet and supporting health programmes and the people that run them in challenging contexts makes this work unique, with amazing highs and unfortunately often tragic lows.”

She keeps in touch with friends she made in the Army. “For me one of the special and unique experiences of being in the military was the people I met and worked with, many of whom I remain friends with. Catching up with Army friends is fantastic and in true Kiwi fashion they have a presence in most corners of the globe.”

top award For Former army nursIng oFFICer

Former nursing officer Felicity Gapes tends her patients.

armytraInIng 11

By Judith Martin

The bushy black beards, the weapons slung cockily over a shoulder, and the barked commands in a foreign language all add to the realism.It’s not a village in the Middle East or South Sudan though, but an out-of-the way spot at the back of Trentham Camp. The hirsute men are actors, but those who are attempting to negotiate with them are all potential

United Nations observers, and they have come for this training from Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Fiji, China, Australia, Timor Leste, New Caledonia, Tonga, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

The training staff are mostly New Zealanders, and they are doing what TRADOC’s Collective Training Centre do very well, hence the large group of overseas students. Training has long been the New Zealand Army’s forte – think Cambodia, Africa, Afghanistan and Iraq to name but a few countries that have learned from New Zealand Army trainers – and the lessons underway are no exception.

They are to prepare United  Nations officers to deploy on operations, mainly as military observers.

unIted natIons mIssIon eXperts

The training has all been conducted in and around Trentham Camp, and has incorporated classroom learning, and practical sessions where students can put their knowledge into practice.

The ethnic characters are provided by a company called Virtus Ltd which specialises in providing actors from countries such as Syria and South Sudan who are experts in their cultures and language and also look the part.

Major Paul Corke, Officer Commanding of the CTC’s Peacekeeping Wing, says realism is vital when it comes to training. His students all speak English, but he is careful to ensure they all have a thorough understanding of what is going on.

“It’s good that we have different cultures on course because it prepares personnel for UN operations. They need to understand that culturally everyone approaches and completes tasks in a different manner, and that this can often add to the dynamics and performance of the team.

“New Zealanders tend to speak quickly, so when we are interacting with international students where English may be their second or third language, we need to communicate in a slow and deliberate manner using plain English.”

Major Corke says one of the most important things a UN military observer must have is respect for the diversity of the nation they are serving in/supporting.

“Often as a UN Military Observer (UNMO) you may have limited resources and support to conduct your duties; in this regard you need to back yourself, own the situation and trust your training and knowledge.”Respect diversity – Major Paul Corke.

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By Kathryn Ruge

One hundred soldiers from 2nd/1st Battalion RNZIR at Burnham Military Camp recently competed for the honour of representing the NZ Army at Exercise Cambrian Patrol in October, one of the world’s toughest military competitions conducted annually at Brecon Beacons in Wales.

Exercise Foxhound, the Battalion’s Skill at Arms exercise, routinely puts soldiers through their paces around the core tasks of shoot, move, communicate, and medicate. This year organiser Staff Sergeant Joseph van Arendonk took the exercise to a new level with some added twists.

“In addition to testing soldiers, we wanted a clear training outcome. So instead of it just being a box-ticking exercise, assessing whether soldiers have met the required standard, we added one third more tasks, made everything more difficult, and then used the exercise to evaluate our training capability.”

New experiences included rappelling, clearing a trench system of enemy combatants, an urban night raid, and the use of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear equipment, along with multiple complex medical scenarios.

Over four days and four nights, soldiers completed tasks across 14 stands at Burnham and West Melton, a “hellish” navigation challenge in dense bush at Oxford Forest, an urban raid and a night shoot. They transferred between

locations after 11pm each day, sleeping rough with only a single woollen blanket for warmth and shelter overnight.

Competing in arduous conditions increased their resilience, capability, adaptability, and team cohesion. Two meals a day were delivered via hot boxes with emergency rations in between but the workload meant there was no time to pay attention to feelings of hunger.

In addition to their usual pack and rifle, soldiers had to contend with body armour, a helmet, wet weather jacket, and mid-layers – all relevant for operations in urban environments. Tasks were combat focused, diverse and challenging, covering the breadth of tactical activities expected of a section.

One medical stand included a 110kg casualty evacuation where soldiers encountered disruptions along the way that required them to change their mode of transport throughout the loop and conduct CPR for up to 10 minutes. Elsewhere, sections had to provide security for the Explosive Ordnance Device team, clearing a route of possible Improvised Explosive

burnHam skIll at arms delIvers neXt level pressure test

Devices… then a simulated explosion created semi-conscious high trauma casualties where soldiers had to use tools and equipment they were unfamiliar with such as pelvic splints and an intraosseous device.

A mass casualty stand – where the number of patients is overwhelming for the resources available to deal with them – caught soldiers unaware, with an explosion in the ablutions area after they’d taken their packs off and were enjoying a brew. Offal, loud music, and a smoke machine all combined to assault the senses. Among patient injuries were abdominal protrusions created with sheep intestines.

Section commanders had no knowledge of the stands ahead of time so were unable to prepare their sections and had to rely on their ability to conduct a real time analysis of the specific challenges in front of them as they lead their teams through each stage.

SSGT van Arendonk said units can expect this exercise to increase in complexity and difficulty each year. “As the threats involved in modern warfare get more complex, we have to ensure we are preparing a highly adaptive force that is ready for a range of hostile environments.”

An undertaking of this scale and complexity does not happen in isolation and the Battalion is grateful for the support of more

than 60 personnel from the following units, without whom it would not have been possible: 2/4 RNZIR, 3 Field Squadron, Army Leadership Centre, 3CSSB, the Burnham Camp gymnasium, Mission Command Training School, and Defence Health School. The Battalion is also grateful to the Department of Conservation for their support.

The winning section was from Delta Company and they depart New Zealand on 7 October for build-up training with the 1st Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, Warminster, before competing in the Cambrian Patrol from 13–15 October.

The winning team.

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After much planning the 1 RNZIR top soldier and skill at arms competitions returned last month.

Day one saw the soldiers demonstrate their individual skills in a cut-throat ten hour straight, eight-stand competition. They battled through the elements of zone 24 in full Field Service Marching Order, moving from stand to stand in a round robin fashion. All arms call for fire, static observation, dry firing training tests, general service knowledge quiz, judging distances, buddy aid, radio telephone procedures, and a range shoot all assessed who the highest performing soldier at 1 RNZIR is, and who ultimately has bragging rights for the next twelve months.

Demonstrations of resilience, knowledge, concentration, attentiveness and a smooth trigger pull were all required to seal victory, with the prize being the soldier’s name on the Top Soldier Bayonet and a nomination for the SAS

parachute course. A very strong display of soldiering saw Recon and Surveillance Platoon take out the top eight spots. Of the 72 warriors competing, Private Ethan Jansen came third, PTE Chance Mita Matthews second and PTE Karlyn Butcher pulled through with an outstanding win. Bragging rights achieved.

Day two kicked off the section Skill At Arms competition where ten sections rotated through four tactical stands over two days. The Urban Container Village hosted a section urban assault with a med stand. They then conducted a route clearance along Tarn track and came across a friendly force abandoned vehicle from which they had to recover some sensitive equipment. From there they moved on to the defensive stand and attempted to construct 100m of

1rnZIr’s top soldIers

“After seeing what the first leg was like (on the map) and knowing the number of checkpoints to hit within the time allocated it just turned into a pump fest. The ultimate goal was to get to the last checkpoint in an effort to get some rest before the next 24 hours, stopping only for a max of two minutes every half hour to rest and share the weight of the gun and sig pack within the section. “Despite our efforts we were only able to reach the fourth checkpoint with two minutes to spare at which point we were informed that we had to walk back to a point which was back in the direction we had travelled. From this point onward to the pick up point it was a matter of not stopping to avoid the possibility of somebody going down. Temperature had dropped, visibility deteriorated and we were all fatigued.”

– CPL Michael Tahaafe, Team 63

CAT 1 wire in under 1 hour and 15 minutes before moving on to the Observation Post. At the final stand, sections were tasked to occupy an Observation Post. Section commanders received a scenario brief, delivered quick battle orders and were then required to observe and report on a Named Area of Interest and answer Priority Information Requirements. Sections were also assessed on how they achieved security and reacted to a risk of compromise.

“From a commander’s point of view there are several challenges that come to mind whilst competing against the rest of the Battalion. There is the pressure of wanting to perform well in order to obtain a high ranked position in the competition for your Company and more importantly for the actual Section you’re in control of. And also the need to maintain a highly motivated persona and command presence under the same physical exhaustion and mental fatigue as the soldiers you’re commanding, because as a commander you need to be the example for your soldiers. Any form of a weak commander will discourage their motivation and interest to perform.” – LCPL Bodie Flavell, Team 23A.

That night provided no escape from the pressure of the competition as the sections navigated their way around zone 19 in the dark. This navigation task was strikingly similar to second day of NZ (SAS) selection except it was run at night. At 0530 the soldiers were picked up and driven to their next stand location, and at 0600 they began their next stand with no sleep for the last 24 hours.

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After two more tasks, the tactical phase of the Skill At Arms was over. But there was still one more hurdle in the competition – the Waiouru Confidence Course. After weathering the snow, wind, rain and sleet which Waiouru loves to provide, the sky finally opened up to expose a tiny bit of warmth. That, of course, didn’t change the temperature of the stream which by now was polar, piercing and penetrating. Released at five minute intervals, the sections were reinvigorated for their final push.

Of the 10 sections competing, 21B (2 section, 4 Pl, V Coy) led by LCPL Shiloh Keene came third overall, 23A (1 section, 6 Pl, V Coy) led by LCPL Flavell secured second place, and 63 from Reconnaissance and Surveillance Platoon led by CPL Tahaafe were the overall winners.

Right: CPL Michael Tahaafe accepts first prize on behalf of his platoon.

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New Zealand Army Major Ange Sutton travelled to East Timor to mark the 20th anniversary of the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) deployment.

As a member of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) contingent, Major Sutton took part in the official commemorations on 20 September in Dili, including marching in a veterans’ parade.

Now based at Hokowhitu Campus in Palmerston North, Major Sutton deployed in November 2001 with the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), and again in 2010 with the International Stabilisation Force (ISF).

“I was looking forward to seeing how the country had developed since I was last there,” she said.

In 2001 she was a Private, stationed in the Belulik Leten settlement in the mountains near the border with West Timor. As well as conducting regular patrols of the surrounding villages, her Civil Military Affairs detachment helped rebuild and teach English at a local school.

“We would visit different villages daily and built strong personal relationships with the villagers,” she said.

“Teaching at the local school further developed that trust. We showed we were there to help and the Timorese really responded to that.”

It was that trust that led to Major Sutton becoming involved in one of the more dramatic experiences of her time in East Timor.

“One of the children I was teaching came to our base and asked for me, because one of the local women was in labour and they wanted me to assist.

“The trust was such that they immediately thought of me and that I would know what to do,” she said.

It was a traditional birth in a dark, warm hut with a fire going and only women allowed in to assist. There was no running water or any of what New Zealanders would consider necessities for a birth.

The mother delivered the baby safely but appeared to go back into labour immediately.

“I was okay at speaking tetum (an official language of East Timor), so I asked if there could be two babies. They laughed at me and said no but shortly after the mother delivered another baby, a son, with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck.

“The women thought he was dead but it didn’t take much to remove the cord from his neck and he started breathing. There was a lot of relief and gratitude.”

In 2010 Major Sutton returned to East Timor with the ISF, based in Dili. High on her list was making a trip to Suai to check in on the friends she had made during her earlier deployment.

“I remembered where our interpreter lived, so we visited his house first,” she said. “His wife recognised me right away and sent someone to get her husband.

‘We stayed at their house for the evening and went to visit the twins and another family I had become close to. It really was a fantastic experience to be able to reconnect with people I had shared seven months of my life with.

“It was personally rewarding to see the happiness in the local people and realise the impact that New Zealand soldiers had had on their lives.”

From 1999 to 2002 New Zealand deployed 5,000 NZDF personnel to INTERFET and then to UNTAET, making it the largest single deployment of New Zealand military personnel since the Korean War.

The NZDF remains committed to East Timor’s security and stability and maintains a strong partnership through the NZDF’s Mutual Assistance Programme, which provides training assistance to the Timor Leste Defence Force.

nZ army maJor reCalls unForgettable eXperIenCe durIng tImor deployment

“It was personally rewarding to see the happiness in the local people and realise the impact that New Zealand soldiers had had on their lives.”

– Major Ange Sutton

Above: Major Ange Sutton with the twin babies she helped deliver (pictured left), and reuniting with the same family several years later (pictured right).

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Army Command School in Waiouru has acknowledged the special significance of Timor-Leste by naming the main thoroughfare in its area “Suai Lines”.Officers who served in East Timor/Timor-Leste were trained at the Officer Cadet School of New Zealand and therefore Suai has a direct link to the Army Command School. Non-Commissioned Officers that served in East Timor had conducted their promotion coursing at The Army Depot prior to the Non-Commissioned Officer School being transferred to Army Command School in 2012. Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers who served as part of the battalion groups have returned to Army Command School as staff to share their knowledge and experience of leading in a modern Stability And Support Operation, which laid the foundations for many

similar deployments in the first two decades of the 21st Century.

On 27 September 2019 Army Command School officially opened ‘Suai Lines’. Staff, the Warrant Officer Promotion Course and the New Zealand Commissioning Course hosted guests who included previous Command Teams of Army Command School, and prior to 2012 Officer Cadet School of New Zealand, and Command Teams of the NZBATTs. The Timor-Leste Ambassador to New Zealand, Mr Cristiano da Costa,attended as did the Defence Advisor to Australia, Captain Christine Clark, and the Canadian Defence Advisor, Commander Edward Summers. Other guests included Land Component Commanders and representatives from the South Pacific Nations that had been in Linton with the Land Warfare Symposium, the Land Component Commander Brigadier Jim Bliss, and the Chief of Army Major General Boswell. The official guest for the day was Major General (Rtd) Martin Dunne, CNZM, QSO, Comd Dili Comd, New Zealand Senior National Officer 2nd In Charge International Force East Timor (INTERFET) 1999.

In September 1999 violence erupted in East Timor after a United Nations referendum where an overwhelming majority of its people voted in favour of independence from Indonesia. When the result became known, pro-Indonesian militias wreaked havoc, and more than a thousand people were killed.

The violence prompted an international outcry and the United Nations called for a multinational force to restore order and provide humanitarian assistance until a United Nations peacekeeping force could be organised. This resulted in the inception of the Australian led International Force East Timor (INTERFET). It was made up of more than 5,000 Australian defence personnel. New Zealand was the second largest contributor, dispatching a battalion, transport aircraft, helicopters and three naval vessels. By October 1999 more than 1,100

New Zealanders were in East Timor. It became the country’s largest military deployment since the Korean War.

After initially deploying troops to Dili, New Zealand forces were based in the Cova-Lima province, Suai. They took responsibility for patrolling the challenging southern part of the border with Indonesia. The New Zealand Army’s Battalion Headquarters for the operation was staged out of a former hospital building in Suai, which became known as “The White Tiles”. Patrols came into contact with pro-Indonesian militias a number of times and during one incident, in July 2000, New Zealand suffered its first combat fatality since the Vietnam War. In total, five New Zealand servicemen died in East Timor. By the time the New Zealand Army withdrew in November 2002 six battalion rotations had served in theatre.

army Command sCHool

oFFICIal openIng oF ‘suaI lInes’

Suai Lines is officially acknowledged.Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell (right) with the Timor Leste Ambassador to New Zealand, Mr Cristiano da Costa.

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book revIew

a life less ordinary the Life of colonel tris hegglun Obe, eDBy John Hegglun

Reviewed by Captain Jeremy Seed

Tris Hegglun OBE, ED was a Marlborough man, from a pioneering family who served as a mortarman in WW2 and rose to the rank of Colonel in the post-war TF whilst working, playing sport and raising a family.

This book, is the story of his life. The bulk of the text, over 300

pages, are diary entries and letters written by Tris Hegglun whilst serving in the NZ Army in WW2 and they are accompanied by a good selection of photographs. John Hegglun (Tris’s son) has written the introductory and concluding chapters. John’s chapters are fairly straightforward, factual accounts of events but not as amusing or lively as the war

writing, John lacks his father’s flair with a pen.

Hegglun’s war writing is primarily about life as a soldier and sporting activities undertaken while on operations. Tris represented his unit and the NZ Forces in rugby and as a rower. Operational matters get a brief mention, but due to wartime restrictions and presumably not wanting to worry his family, he tends to stay away from talking about fighting too much, but there are gems like this:

“Lead started to fly as we beat a hasty retreat for a mile. A shell landed close by our truck so I shut the door to keep it out...queer the things a chap does in action”

Tris Hegglun was a keen and obviously very skilled sportsman. He was not afraid of hard work but also not prepared to be taken advantage of or be mucked

around, he had an obvious sense of humour and comes across very much as a man you would want to be serving alongside or under.

Clearly his son considered it to have been a life less ordinary, but there can be no doubt, based on how engaged he was with sport, family the community and the Army, it was a life well lived.

Colonel Trevor Walker had only been in his new role for a few weeks when he realised what an incredible group of people his Youth Development Specialists were.

Colonel Walker is the new Assistant Chief Defence Reserves, Youth and Sport (DRYS), taking over from Captain Simon Rooke in August.

He was only three days into the job when he attended the opening of the Youth Development Unit (YDU) (Central) at Trentham and saw for himself the passion of the instructors in the newly developed Youth Development Specialist trade. He has since visited the YDUs at Burnham and Whenuapai and his admiration has only grown.

“They’re working sometimes with some pretty troubled young New Zealanders, so our soldiers, sailors and airmen are making a real difference to those kids every single day,” he said.

“It’s such a great part of the job, and I didn’t expect that. I’ve never had much to do with Limited Service Volunteers (LSV) before but watching our very capable people transform lives is incredible.”

The instructors had to develop a high level of emotional intelligence so they could work with and relate to the trainees, and that was paying off in other areas, with several topping courses as a result, Colonel Walker said.

“They’ve built that extra part to their skillset and they can deal with people a lot better. It’s a really rewarding part of the role – one of the highlights.

“By the end of my time here, I’d like to see it [the Youth Development Specialist Trade]

book gIveawayArmy News has two copies of Wings Williams’ acclaimed book “Shooting from the Shadows” to give away. Wings Williams spent 30 years in the New Zealand Army during which time he served on combat operations in Borneo and Vietnam with the NZSAS. The book, according to reviewer Captain Jeremy Seed, is a tangible record of the Army’s collective history, with each patrol undertaken in Borneo and Vietnam written about in detail, making for fascinating reading.

If you would like to be in the draw for a copy of “Shooting from the Shadows” send an email to armynews@nzdf.mil.nz with Shadows in the subject line.

Or you can send a stamped envelope to Army News, DPA, Defence House, 34 Bowen Street, Wellington 6012, with your details on the back.

as a very competitive environment that builds excellence, where people want to do the trade and we can build on the success that we’ve had.”

The LSV courses – with numbers of trainees expected to double to 1600 by the end of next year – are the more visible part of the DRYS portfolio but equally important are the Reserves and Sport aspects.

For Reserves, the challenge was making sure they were supported at the highest level, and work was ongoing to make sure the Services have what they needed out of their reserves, Colonel Walker said.

Sport was more internal but highly competitive, with the recognised Defence sports of adaptive sport, cricket, football, gold, hockey, netball, rugby, rugby league, softball, touch rugby and volleyball all vying for attention – and money.

“Sport is a good thing for all our people to participate in, as it builds stronger teams and all those great things,” he said.

“When you’re talking pure sports, it can get quite emotional about different codes, and there’s always resources that are wanted and needed but that has to be balanced

against the other needs of the Defence Force.”

Colonel Walker’s personal passion on the sporting front is surfing, and he brought back more surfboards than he cares to count following a three-year posting to Hawaii; he was the first NZDF soldier and only foreign soldier to be embedded in the United States Army’s 25th Infantry Division.

“I was certainly very conscious of that. I did the very best that I could, and made sure I was doing the right thing reputation-wise,” he said.

“I made sure I was adding value in everything I did, because it would have been easy to go there and not participate fully.”

For Colonel Walker and his family – wife Katrina and children Harry, 13, Libby, 11, and Ben, nine – the three-year posting was the longest they had lived in one place and they lapped it up.

“Being able to leave the house every day in jandals, shorts and a t-shirt, and not worrying about jackets and scarves, it changes your mindset about the world and makes you quite happy,” Colonel Walker said.

“It was immensely rewarding and fun, family and career-wise.”

Colonel Trevor Walker

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postIng assIstanCe wItHIn nZNew and enhanced posting assistance will be available to members of the Regular Forces (RF) who are permanently posted from 1 Oct 19. There have been a number of improvements to support members who are relocated from one posting region to another.

postIng and resettlement assIstanCe In nZ Package of support includes:

Familiarisation VisitMembers who intend to live-out can now visit their new posting region before moving. Meals, travel and accommodation will be provided for the member only.

Relocation AssistanceThe provision of travel, meals and accommodation will be provided to the member, their partner and dependants during relocation.

Household RemovalThe transportation and storage of household effects and personal belongings will be supported.

NZ Transfer GrantTo support members who live-out at their new posting region with expenses associated with relocation.

Temporary AccommodationTemporary accommodation is available if the member is unable to move into their new home at their new posting region.

Real-Estate AssistanceAssistance is available for home owners including reimbursements for: agent commission fees, advertising costs and auction fees. Increased reimbursement rates for mortgage repayment penalty charges and legal fees have been included.

unaCCompanIed postIngsMembers who are permanently posted to another region who maintain their primary residence at an alternative region may apply to be posted unaccompanied. Unaccompanied posting provisions include:

Barrack AccommodationWaiver of barrack charges (Non-cash benefit tax applies).

Initial Travel AssistanceDuty travel, meals and accommodation are provided.

Unaccompanied Posting AllowanceContributes towards the additional travel costs from the member’s current posting region to their new posting region.

Members currently receiving unaccompanied posting assistance will be transitioned onto the new policy or will be provided grand-parented provisions.

wHat’s your neXt assIgnment?The next selection for the New Zealand Special Air Service is in November 2019.

New Zealand Special Operations Forces have an important role within the NZDF. We must deliver precise results in sensitive, complex and difficult environments. Our people are innovative and agile.

We are looking for ordinary New Zealanders who are humble, disciplined, brook no sense of class and are committed to pursuing excellence.

We need people who work well in a small team and can make decisions in complex situations.

The Special Air Service selection course is open to men and women from the NZDF and direct entry candidates from other departments and the civilian workforce.

All the best to those attending the upcoming November selection course.

Visit http://org/nzsof/LP/Recruiting.aspx for more information and to download your application.

If eligible, members can access either:

• Posting and Resettlement Assistance within NZ; or

• Unaccompanied posting provisions.

Posting Assistance is available to members who are permanently posted to another posting region on:Enlistment, appointment, re-enlistment, transfer from TF to RF and permanent posting. Members can also access posting assistance for a permanent posting within the Manawatu–Wanganui region. (e.g. Linton–Waiouru and Waiouru–Linton).

A permanent posting is where the intended duration at the time of posting is no less than 18 months duration.

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The NZDF does a lot to train its soldiers, sailors and airmen for combat. A significant amount of time is put into weapons, physical and leadership training. However, there is another critical component to a warrior’s ability to thrive on the battle field, and that is mental toughness. Grit. The ability to push through any hardship, mental, physical or spiritual, all while maintaining composure in order to complete the task and ultimately win.

19. They were all eager to meet any challenge face on and benefit from the experiences they were about to have. Within the familiar and safe confines of the Airforce base, the volunteers were given the tools required to allow them to successfully complete the programme. Mental skills such as positive re-framing and self-

aumangea

talk alongside tactical breathing were there ready to be utilised at any moment. They were also provided some spiritual guidance from Herewini Jones, who worked to develop their inner warrior and expose some deep-rooted weaknesses.

These tools were quickly put to the test when the volunteers were whisked off to the areas of operation within the Whanganui region for the remainder of the programme.

Facilitators created multiple scenarios in several different environments to reflect the challenges a service person might face on deployment. The soldiers worked within close county, open country, urban and coastal environments, each providing their own unique challenges. Scenarios aimed to take each volunteer right to the edge, exposing them to their strengths and weaknesses, and allowing them to work their way back stronger and more resilient than before.

Course particpants learned how to control their minds and bodies when cold, hungry and tired. They learned to make rational and inventive decisions when under pressure and showed courage and self-reliance when in the middle of total chaos.

The Aumangea programme and it’s small but experienced group of facilitators understand that grit cannot be taught in the classroom, on the parade ground or in the gym, but is something you need to experience in order to become conditioned.

Twenty men stepped up to the start line in Ohakea for Aumangea

How cyber secure are you and your family? Understanding and managing cyber risk is essential for our Army, personnel, force families and the wider community to help keep information and technology safe.

More than just few of our favourite things are stored, shared and displayed online. Photos, emails, documents and the things you post on social media – they’re all alive and (mostly) on the internet. But, let’s face it, we’re generally not as careful about keeping those things as safe and secure in our online world as we are in our ‘real’ world.

We’re not wanting to worry you (well, maybe just a bit) but your personal information is highly valuable to attackers who are looking for easy ways to get information to use to their advantage, often to get money. Imagine the damage that could be done if an attacker accessed your bank account and helped

themselves to your savings, or signed in to your social media account and pretended to be you.

The NZDF is an official partner of the CertNZ Cyber Smart campaign happening on 14–18 October, with the aim to help every New Zealander improve their cyber security at work and home.

While you might not think of yourself as a likely target of a cyber-attack, how about taking these four simple practical steps to ‘make sure of it’?

1. Use a password managerIt’s really important that each of your online accounts has a different password – but remembering unique passwords for the numerous apps and online accounts we hold sounds like a challenge. The easiest way to both remember them, and secure them safely, is to use a password manager. It’s like an online safe that stores and manages your passwords

as possible. As well as adding new features, updates fix any issues or weaknesses that have been found. Updating software prevents attackers from using these vulnerabilities to gain access to your information. If you can, set the updates to happen automatically whenever a new version is available. That way, you don’t have to think about it.

4. Check your privacyIt’s important to know how much of your information you’re sharing, and who you’re sharing it with. We’re so used to sharing things online that we don’t always think about how it affects our privacy. But,

the information you share can enable attackers to access your data or steal your identity. Check that any requests for personal information are legitimate before you share your details. If a company or business asks you for information, think about why they might need it. If you’re not sure, don’t give the information.

More information is on the CertNZ website www.cert.govt.nz. You can also email the NZDF teams at Information Assurance (niat@nzdf.mil.nz) or Cyber (CISO@nzdf.mil.nz) if you have any concerns.

are you secure online?for you and keeps them safe using strong encryption. You’ll only have to remember the one strong password for your password manager, and it’ll do the rest.

2. Turn on two-factor authenticationAdding two-factor authentication (2FA) to your login is a simple way to add an extra layer of security to your accounts. It’s an easy extra step after you log in, like entering a code from an app on your phone. Take some time this week to enable 2FA on your apps and accounts. You’ll usually find the option to turn it on in the privacy settings of the app or account.

3. Update your devicesWhen you’re alerted to an update for your device, don’t ignore it — install it as soon

Interpersonal skills were crucial in this latest programme. Volunteers were required to rely on the generosity of the Whanganui Community in order for them to succeed, and were able to give back through participating in community work. The facilitators and staff worked with local MP’s and well respected members of the community to assist where they could to make a positive impact on several community led initiatives. Many of these people from the community were in attendance at the tabbing ceremony to congratulate the men on work well done.

An individual’s inner strength is no reflection of gender. Women interested in doing the programme often feel they are not physically strong enough to endure. However, Aumangea is more of a mental challenge, therefore, this should not be a deterrent to women who are current with their fitness testing.

“This programme had made each volunteer question their purpose, priorities and character, often revealing a different reality to what we once thought. The service

personnel of Aumangea 19 leave the programme better servicemen and women, leaders, partners, and people who now share a tight bond formed during shared adversity that cannot be explained but must be experienced to understand,” said FLTLT Andre Woods.

“I genuinely believe that Aumangea 19 is the single biggest life impacting event that I have ever been through. Prior to the course I wasn’t a stranger to adversity. I’ve undertaken physical challenges over long distances and duration, withstood the pressure of competing at international sporting events and pushed my boundaries while exploring the outdoors. However my personal accomplishments before Aumangea have no measure. The programme took me to a place where I was ready to confront myself, my raw self, just me. I was malleable and given the tools to mould and reset my frame of reference. To challenge what I valued. I have a new perspective, more grit and importantly, I am willing, able and ready to face challenge,” said LT Joshua Bishop.

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It was all about men when Linton Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess held what has become an annual event recently.The Man’s Day focus was on men’s health and leisure and incorporated networking and team building activities. One challenge was to sit the latest car driving licence test online, which resulted in not everyone passing, and a few suspect scores were challenged. If you think everyone else is a bad driver why not head to www.drivingtests.co.nz and prove you are not the problem?

Milwaukee Tools supported the event and frustrated those

constructing the kids’ BBQ tables. The challenge was made harder by an app called onekey that can disable the battery drills from your phone. Great fun for those watching, frustrating for those building. Kids balance bikes were donated by Mocka, and MYRIDE Palmerston North supported the event with the larger kids’ bikes and a technician to check the safety of the assembly. Waiting in the background having a ride in a fire truck with the 2 ER engineers were some special kids in need of a bike and a bit of fun in their life. Mess members donated the bikes to the foster kids whose faces lit up when let loose in the carpark to go for a ride. The feeling of giving back to the local community is one you can’t put a price on and was enjoyed by the members on the day.

BHB Academy from Palmerston North had trainee barbers under the pump with high demand for a

Defence Health School’s ‘Kinnaird Class’ graduated recently at Burnham Military Camp. After two and a half years of study, they will now be sent to bases all over New Zealand as fully trained medics.

men’s health and well-being focus of linton eventhaircut and facial shaves. A lot of self-taught shavers were exposed to some quality products from King of Shaves and new techniques to get a closer cut. With NZDF aiming for the 2025 smokefree policy members challenged themselves to try new options to quit in preparation. The conversation was sparked with the DHB offering quit packs, and a vaping demonstration as a step to quit.

PTE Phillip Vind RNZAMC is presented the RNZAMC Manaia for Top Army Student for Kinnaird Class. The award was presented by LTCOL Phil Wright, the Regimental Colonel for the RNZAMC.

PTE Vind also received the Peers’ choice award which is presented to the student who, as voted by their peers, displays the highest standards of courage, commitment, comradeship and integrity over the duration of their training. He received the award from the Commandant, NZ Defence College, Colonel Roger Margetts.

Warrant Officer Class One Tyrone Howard leads the graduating medics as they march past dignitaries, friends and family.

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By Kathryn Ruge

Distinguishing friend from foe. Pre-empting threats around the corner. Understanding and gaining the trust of unfamiliar populations. Supporting the rule of law. These are just some of the layers of a modern threat environment that require multiple disciplines to come together in order to operate effectively in an unfamiliar environment.

The complex Marlborough terrain provided such an environment recently for Exercises Delta Patrol and Grey Mantis – a combined training activity between soldiers from the 2nd/1st Battalion RNZIR and the 1st Command Support Regiment.

Set in the semi-autonomous island nation of ‘South Louisvoa’, the evolving scenario involved political unrest following a successful UN-mandated mission to defeat an invading ‘Waikatistani’ force. In response to the pro-Waikatistani ‘People’s Revolutionary Officers’ (PROs) movement, NZ Forces responded to an insurgent threat at the request of the South Louisvoan government.

The core focus of the training was to effectively integrate Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) resources. Hybrid teams of reconnaissance soldiers and snipers worked alongside electronic warfare and military intelligence, to support infantry platoons from Delta and Alpha companies. The exercise also included a platoon from 2/4 RNZIR along with Defence Health Organisation and the RNZAF’s 3 Squadron, which supported the forces.

The diverse terrain characteristics forced soldiers to constantly adapt to what was in front of them, having to move seamlessly between close country, lightly populated open country, and densely populated urban areas in any single mission. Patrols also had to work together to gain prior warning of threats to avoid any opportunities that could be rapidly exploited to gain an advantage.

Exercise Delta Patrol planner, Major Tim Ewing-Jarvie, was

to seek out and Close…

appreciative of the support from locals in the Havelock/Linkwater area. “We exercise a lot in that area and have developed strong ties with the community. We were kindly invited to speak at the Lions Club and welcomed back which is encouraging given how disruptive 100 soldiers with military vehicles can be.”

Major Ewing-Jarvie said the training reinforced the importance of thinking outside traditional corps silos.

“When timely decisions are needed, it’s critical that our actions are founded on, and contribute to, advantageous intelligence. We have to know what each of us is trying to do, and importantly how we can simultaneously protect and share information to cut down response times when opportunities appear.”

Being a highly adaptive combat force in the modern battle space demands this level of collaboration, and ISTAR communities of practice are expected to become increasingly important. In a world with ever-changing threats, it’s not always the strongest who prevail – it’s often the smartest.

Keeping one move ahead of potential adversaries through a well-rehearsed intelligence function is key to being a world-class military organisation that is valued by our Defence allies. Training together is the key to refining this quality.

Tū Tira – Comradeship – was especially evident when one of the soldiers broke his leg in remote terrain. He was promptly secured by his Platoon, treated to a very high standard by his Platoon Medic and evacuated by RNZAF No. 3 Squadron.

Snipers on motorcycle.

armytraInIng 23

Operations and intelligence briefing.

Real-time casualty evacuation.

Medic treats injured enemy.

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By Rebecca Quilliam

Huddled in a small, cold, concrete room, open to the elements on the top floor of an abandoned building in the dead of night, held captive with four others by a terror group, we waited for help. New Zealand’s Special Operations Forces’ Counter Terrorist Team (CTT) was on their way so our captors played screaming death metal music to interrupt their communications, laid trip wires and watched the stairwells, armed with guns. When help arrived, it was swift and precise. Watching the Special Operations Forces team train for real-life scenarios revealed how impressive the team is at their job.

The Special Operations Forces conducted a two-week exercise recently, to certify Counter Terrorist Team capabilities. Though this activity was conducted independently, Special Operations Counter Terrorist capabilities are designed to provide specialist support to the Police and the Civil Authority when requested, and at direction of the government. This includes small teams capable of working alongside Police and also larger elements when the safety of New Zealanders is threatened. It was a rare opportunity to see how the highly-skilled team honed these skills.

One part of the exercise involved extracting hostages held by an armed terrorist group. Playing the role of one of the five hostages, I waited in a small, cold room in a building normally used by the Fire Service for training, listening for signs the Special Operations Forces had arrived. The first came when one of the barricaded doors on the ground level of the building was forced open.

The second sign was when an explosion of simulation ammunition fired in the space outside our room, stopping the terrorists from harming their would-be victims. The team had taken the terror group members by surprise, arriving on the third floor quickly and silently.

they were to be called out at short notice, the CTT would be able to respond quickly and effectively.

“The plan for this exercise is to incorporate all of our squadron-level assets as well as involving other portions of the Defence Force, including No. 3 Squadron Helicopters and No. 40 Squadron C-130 Hercules to provide us with aircraft to move us around the country as soon as requested by Police.”

There were a lot of “moving pieces” involved in the training, he said.

“But I guess we thrive in complex situations and that’s what we’re all about.”

The Counter Terrorist Team is always on call to assist New Zealand Police and the Civil Authority in response to terrorist and asymmetric threats – particularly if a task is large or complex.

“As a team we can move in to assist the police. We have the highest trained operators in Counter Terrorism in the Defence Force, which means we can get out there and do our job with the greatest chance of success in rescuing hostages,” MAJ J said.

Everyone who joins the Team comes with a “common purpose”, he said.

speCIal operatIons ForCes praCtIsIng Counter terrorIst support

Entering the room with their faces completely covered, wearing helmets, night vision equipment and carrying rifles, CTT members ordered us to face the wall with our hands up. We were under no impression that the request was negotiable.

Two of my fellow hostages were “injured” by the terrorists in the melee, and were attended to quickly by the CTT medics and quickly evacuated to higher medical aid. The rest of us were lined up with our hands on the person’s shoulders in front of us and led out of the stronghold. We were placed in the new NZDF protected mobility vehicle, the Bushmaster, and driven to the safety of the waiting NZ Police at the cordon of the site.

The initial action was over in about four minutes, incredibly quick due to the complex nature of the hostage rescue operation. The team cleared other surrounding buildings and rounded up the last of the terror group. It was in a word, precise.

The Special Operations Forces is made up of a combination of personnel from the three services. They come from all different trades and bring a vast number of skills with them.

Major (MAJ) J* said the exercise was to practise the CTT tactical level of competency, within a broader Police response, so if

armytraInIng 25

“Everyone has their own individual role – nobody’s more important than anyone else and everyone works together to make the team function.”

After leaving Special Operations, support personnel (SOF enablers) can return to their own service bringing a vast amount of new skillsets, he said.

“We pride ourselves here by living by our tenets, particularly an unrelenting pursuit of excellence, which sets a high performance culture and we often see that this translates well to people on their return to their original service and they get intrinsic benefits of that.”

Lance Corporal (LCPL) T moved into the unit from the wider Army. As well as being 2IC for one of the unit’s teams, he is also an urban climber and qualified marksman.

Before the exercise, LCPL T and his team were building precise explosive charges needed to guarantee their entry into the building.

“All we know at this time is that there is a stronghold with multiple buildings. More information will come out in Orders and that will develop the roles we take from there.”

The CTT of New Zealand’s Special Operations Forces is a squadron that is always ready to go, he said.

“If anything does occur we don’t actually have to prep anything – basically our kit is all ready to go, so all we have to do is get mission updates, get orders and then we’re ready to roll out the door.”

The type of training the team took on was a “major drawcard” for signing up, he said.

It involved live shooting, fast-roping out of helicopters, rappelling tall buildings and working with explosives.

“Working with other services and Police is also great. The Air Force is more than willing to come to the party if they are available and we’re

more than happy to have them along as part of the team.

“For these big exercises, they are always a part of it, so generally every night we’ll be using them, which everyone looks forward to.”

Lance Corporal C, also from the Army, works in the Intelligence detachment.

LCPL C is expected to provide intelligence that supports the commanders and integrates with Police planning so they can resolve the task.

“The challenge will be to provide good imagery to analyse and to see if we can see where people are hiding and also getting imagery of the threats. We also have to sort out who’s who in terms of hostages and terrorists,” he said.

“I chose to move to Special Ops because I think this regiment is a great place to work. It’s got a lot of history, it’s a hard working unit and you want to be part of something special and challenge yourself, this would be the place to come to.”

* Identities are removed for security purposes.

26 armysport

Two Defence softball stalwarts (Captain Grant McCarroll (NZ Army) and Mr Ed Isaac (RNZN–retired) were inducted into the Softball NZ Hall of Fame at a Softball New Zealand function in Christchurch recently.

army soFtball leader InduCted Into tHe soFtball new Zealand Hall oF Fame

In order to be considered for acceptance into the Softball New Zealand Hall of Fame, nominees in the “Non Playing” category must have participated in three World Championships, and have been involved in 10 years of international competitions. Both Captain McCarroll and Mr Isaac were worthy recipients for nomination, and subsequent induction.

The MC for the evening, radio celebrity Phil Gifford read the inductees’ nominations. An abridged version of Capt McCarroll’s citation is as follows:

Grant McCarroll’s lifelong love of the game started as a seven-year-old at the Tawa Softball Club. When the family moved the Burnside Softball club helped his transition to Christchurch. He played all his junior softball at Burnside, playing alongside Murray Britt and Brett Williams with the three becoming lifelong friends.

Upon joining the Army in 1986 he made an immediate impact as a player, and additionally as a coach and administrator. His contribution to Army and New Zealand Combined Services Softball has been recognised with the following awards:• New Zealand Army Colour –

Excellence in Sport; and

• New Zealand Defence Force – Excellence in Sport – where he was the second person to receive this honour.

On the international front:• He was a non-travelling reserve

for the inaugural New Zealand U19 team, coached by Dale Eagar and captained by Mark Sorenson in 1985; and

• He managed the Black Sox from 1998 to 2006 and again in 2014 and 2015.

Grant managed the team when they won two World Championship gold medals in 2000 in East London, South Africa and 2004 in Christchurch, and a silver medal in 2015 in Saskatoon, Canada.Other accolades include:• Being named the Upper Hutt

Sport Administrator of the Year in 2004; and

• Being awarded the Wellington Sport Administrator of the year in 2004.

He has continued to share his love of the game with the children he has coached over the last 10 years at the Totara Park Softball Club, and the Hutt Valley teams that he has taken to Regional and National tournaments.

He has added, and continues to add, to the legacy of an amazing sport at club, provincial and international levels through the positive impact he has on others.

Of course none of this would have been possible without the people he has met along the way – in particular his wife and their two boys.

Captain McCarroll was joined and supported at his induction by DCA Brigadier Evan Williams, and

Army Softball lifelong team mates; Captain Wayne Small and Mr Doon Groves.

Ed Isaac was a well-respected and intelligent umpire who umpired at all levels nationally, and internationally.

He started as a Canterbury umpire and earned his badge at the 1982–83 Rothmans Men’s Tournament on the North Shore and received his ISF certification in 1985. Since that time, he has racked up an impressive array of appointments nationally and internationally. He served as NZ Softball’s Deputy Chief Umpire from 1990 through to 1996 and earned recognition with a Life Membership of the North Harbour Umpires Association.

He was NZ Softball Umpire to four ISF World Championships including umpiring in one final (the only final in which NZ was not a participant). He has officiated at nine other international men’s and women’s tournaments (including being awarded eight finals) and was named by the ISF with one other New Zealander as one of the top 20 international umpires of the 20th century.

He has officiated at more than 215 international games and officiated in the national league for 10 years.

Above: Captain Grant McCarroll (third from left, front) with, back row, DCA, then-Brigadier Evan Williams, and Captain Wayne Small.

Front, from left, Ed Isaac, MC Phil Gifford, and Doon Groves.

armysport 27

New Zealand Defence college

voluntary eduCatIon study assIstanCe

what is it?Voluntary Education Study Assistance (VESA) is a discretionary fund centrally managed by NZDC to provide financial assistance to members of the NZDF undertaking part-time study.

who is eligible?Regular Force or permanent civilian members of NZDF who have been employed/served continuously for 52 weeks. Reserve Force members in some circumstances..

what assistance can I receive?VESA provides assistance with study costs up to a set maximum in any financial year. There are different limits for postgraduate and undergraduate study.

what can I study?You can study a subject area that interests you, provided it’s on the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF).

How do I apply?Contact any Defence Learning Centre for advice on the application process. Alternatively, check eligibility, your obligations etc. by logging on to the ITD Learning Toolkit for more information or DFO 3/2016.

Defence Learning are accepting applications for semester three, 2019. Applications can be made within 60 days of the official study start date.

womens Ib CrICket tournament oHakea

end oF January 2020 – dates tbC

Format: 2 x games a day, T20, fast, exciting, action-packed, beginners welcome.

If you are interested in playing cricket for the NZ Army Womens team please contact the below POCs within your camp areas ASAP:

Trentham: rana.stevens@nzdf.mil.nz

Burnham: terry.horne@nzdf.mil.nz

Linton: kevin.hurrell@nzdf.mil.nz

Waiouru: christopher.fletcher@nzdf.mil.nz

Papakura: ben.lints@nzdf.mil.nz

army women (mIl/CIv) we want you!

28 armynews

PhoTogrAPhIc ExhIbITIoN by crAIg ANdrEW MAdSEN

2 – 16 NovEMbEr 2019 chrISTchUrch ArTS cENTrE

Free admission

hE ho_

IA AhAU I AM SoldIEr