OUR NEW SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY COVID-19 ANZAC DAY, LOCKDOWN STYLE - ISSUE 512 MAY 2020 - NZDF

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OUR NEW SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY COVID-19 ANZAC DAY, LOCKDOWN STYLE - ISSUE 512 MAY 2020 - NZDF
ISSUE 512
                                                                                  MAY 2020

                                                               OUR NEW SERGEANT
                                                               MAJOR OF THE ARMY
                                                               COVID-19
                                                               The NZDF effort

                                                               ANZAC DAY,
                                                               LOCKDOWN STYLE

TŪ KAHA COURAGE   TŪ TIKA COMMITMENT   TŪ TIRA COMRADESHIP   TŪ MĀIA INTEGRITY
OUR NEW SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY COVID-19 ANZAC DAY, LOCKDOWN STYLE - ISSUE 512 MAY 2020 - NZDF
SMA.NET
           ISSUE 512 MAY 2020
                                                     Tena koutou to                        Maybe more fitting of
                                                                                           the ceremony was the
                                                                                                                                     Time away in Special Operations
                                                                                                                                     and in the Joint Operations
                                                                                                                                                                              As Sergeant Major of the Army,
                                                                                                                                                                              I have two masters – principally
                                    NEWS             you all.                              acknowledgement of WO1 Clive              HQ has kept me distal to this            the Chief of Army and you the
                                                                                           Douglas, SMA and warrior. Warrior         modernising land force and so I’ll       Army, importantly I am a servant
 The Army’s new SMA                        02                                              15 is a close friend and mentor           need your help. I don’t pretend to       to both. Over the next two to three
                                                     What better chance to offer a
                                                     wide greeting and introduction as     making this small but meaningful          know it all, but come into the role      years I’ll be working toward the
          Bamyan range                     03                                              task to recognise him a pleasure.         with fresh focus and an eye for          ends of ‘warrior development’ and
                                                     your new Sergeant Major of the
      clearance to begin                                                                   He set out three years ago to grow        readiness detail. The first 90 days      the ‘wellbeing of our teams’ (W2)
                                                     Army. Last week, under the watch
     Covid-19 pandemic                     04        of Chief of Army Major General        our Army, sustain its qualities and       will seek to engage and connect          – both are required for a balanced
                                                                                           to leave the ‘jersey in a better          as our Covid-19 levels allow. If you     force. I look forward to meeting
    response continues                               John Boswell, DSD I was privileged
                                                     to be bestowed the honour of          place’. Sergeant Major, Mr Douglas        have opportunities in your units         you and trust you’ll help me get
                                                     the coloured coat of arms and         – ‘Dougie’, well done, you’ve             or formations, then I intend to get      out of the capital at least once a
                               PEOPLE                                                      achieved that. From us all, thank         along and see you. I’m prepared          month. Nga mihi tenei kia koutou.
                                                     the SMA’s jacket. It’s a uniquely
        Anzac Day under                    06        humbling experience to serve the      you and good luck in the next             to get dirty, to move, to run and        Stay safe & get after it!
              lockdown                               organisation for many years and to    challenge of personal study and           shoot depending on your unit’s
                                                                                                                                                                              WO1 Wiremu Moffitt
                                                     be recognised so honourably as its    projects. For me the path is new          schedules.
           Life in Vanuatu:                 14                                                                                                                                16th Sergeant Major of the Army
                                                     senior soldier.                       and exciting.
           Awa Melbourne
          PTE Kylie Smith:                  15
            combat driver                            As a young soldier Warrant Officer Class
 VE Day – 75 years on                      20        One Wiremu Moffitt thought his military
                                                     career might be brief.
                           TRAINING
                HRTU trains                 10       Thirty years after joining however he is
                continuously                         taking on the mantle of the military’s top
     A year at Duntroon                     13       soldier – Sergeant Major of the Army.
  Burnham’s new drive                       17       On the eve of taking over the SMA role
        training track
                                                     he talked to Army News about what
                                 SPORT               inspired him to join, his experiences
               Army Cycling                26        over the years, and what is important for
                                                     today’s soldier.

                                                     When did you decide                   What did your
                                                     you wanted to join the                time in the Special
                                                     Army?                                 Operations Force
                                                     There was always a keenness to
                                                                                           teach you?
                                                     join the services and that interest
                                                                                           There’s a bias here but I think
                                                     started while my father was
                                                                                           SOF exemplifies culture and                The new Sergeant Major of the Army,
                                                     serving in 1 Ranger Sqn in our
                                                                                           purpose. It’s no secret to military        WO1 Wiremu Moffitt.
                                                     home town of Papakura. Like him,
                                                                                           organisations, but from a reflective
                                                     I pursued a pathway as a ‘boy’
                                                                                           point there are valuable lessons
                                                     soldier and entered the Army as a                                               NZDF has great people and
 Many of the activities featured in this issue                                             I learned about deep culture
of Army News occurred before the Covid-19
      distancing restrictions were in place.
                                                     Regular Force Cadet.
                                                                                           and the impact it has on the way          capable platforms – in the Army          When we talk about
                                                                                                                                     our platform is the people.
                                                                                           we do business. SOF culture is
                                                                                                                                     Reinforcing traditional components       an agile Army – how
   Cover: The Army’s new Sergeant Major of                                                 formed through a blend of strong
the Army, Warrant Officer Class One Wiremu           What were your                        values and shared experiences,            of fighting power ensures our            do you see that?
   Moffitt (left) who takes over from Warrant
     Officer Class One Clive Douglas (right).        aspirations when you                  often attained through a selection        soldiers have sustained investment
                                                                                                                                     across physical, cognitive and           Agile for many will be seen rightly
                                                                                           process, some form of shared
             Photo: Corporal Chad Sharman.           joined?                               discomfort or the many evolutions         moral parts. To me that means            in the context of speed – and how
                                                                                           that follow.                              better education and learning            fast we react. I tend to equate
                                                     Look, to be very honest I figured                                               opportunities (especially for NCOs),     agility as the rate of change in the
                                                     just a few years in the Army would                                              greater focus on Think-Move-             environment, with the ability to
                                                     do. Naively, a thought was to gain                                                                                       identify key changes distinctive
                                                     some experience and coursing          You spoke about                           Shoot combatives, the integration
                                                                                                                                     of Man-Machine-Learning, and             to our business. There’s a
                                       NZArmy
                                                     before trying out for the Unit.       training, what in                         an emphasis on physical fitness,         nimbleness or light-footed nature
                                                     A year at Cadet School brought
                                                     me back to reality and taught
                                                                                           particular stood out?                     endurance and resilience.                to this agility. Our adaptability
                                                                                                                                                                              matches perceptive thinking with
                                                     some life lessons. I’m forever                                                                                           a shape-shifting culture where we
                            NZDefenceForce                                                 In terms of skill development,
                                                     thankful to those instructors
                                                     who armed us with a mixture of
                                                                                           Special Forces are one of the             What are the                             bend the organisation to meet the
                                                                                           purest practitioners of the                                                        effects of change.
  The Army News is published for the Regular
                                                     good soldiering, discipline and a
                                                                                           individual training system. They
                                                                                                                                     challenges young
  and Territorial Force and civilian staff of the    willingness to compete. Posted to
                                                                                           maintain an 80/20% individual-            soldiers and officers
                           New Zealand Army.         1 RNZIR and harnessed by some
                                                                                           collective rule for good reasons,         face today?                              What advice would
                           Editor: Judith Martin     wonderful NCOs, those former
   Ph: 021 240 8578 E: armynews@nzdf.mil.nz          traits went on to serve me well in
                                                                                           balancing some fairly wide-ranging                                                 you give a young
                             www.army.mil.nz                                               skill sets. At its core, members          The Army is in a good place in
                     Printing: Bluestar, Petone.     my initial career path.
                                                                                           need to grasp pure fundamentals           terms of kit, capability and training    person thinking of
          Design: Vanessa Edridge, DPA, NZDF
          Editorial contributions and letters are
                                                                                           with an exceedingly fine standard         systems but I’m sure there are           joining the Army?
                                                                                           and this ensures every member             soldiers who will set me right.
  welcomed. They may be sent directly to Army
News and do not need to be forwarded through
                                                     What are the changes                  can fulfil a life-taking or life-saving   There are challenges in every            I’m always going to be a champion
normal command channels. Submit them to The          you have noted during                 role, often under pressure and high       role and generation, the trick is to     for the Army and look to inspire
            Editor, Army News, DPA, HQ NZDF,                                               stakes. Formed over weeks, years                                                   future members of Ngāti
    Private Bag 39997, Wellington, or by email.      your time in the                      and decades this system ensures
                                                                                                                                     clarify those that matter most. The
                                                                                                                                     Defence posting process can be           Tūmatauenga. We need to be open
Deadline instructions: Army News is published
   on the third Tuesday of each month, except
                                                     Army?                                 quality martial skills, but more          draining to our service personnel        and candid with our new people,
   January. Please have all contributions to the                                           importantly it’s the accountability       and families, especially those           allowing them to make informed
                 editor by the first of the month.   Technology and tempo. The most        at team level that creates cognitive      where dual incomes are needed.           decisions based on the realities
  Nothing in the Army News should be taken as        obvious contrast appears to be in     ‘thinking soldiers’ who are adaptive      I also think we need to pay attention    of a soldiering career. Far beyond
    overriding any New Zealand Defence Force
regulation. Readers should refer to the relevant
                                                     the field of technology and how it    in thought and flexible in action.        to our unaccompanied and single          the trade and skills ‘specs’, this is
        service publication before acting on any     progressed with surprising speed.                                               soldiers, their barracks, amenities      about our story as a first rate land
            information given in this newspaper.     It has most certainly made us                                                   and camp support systems.                force. I’d ask recruits to understand
                                  ISSN 1170-4411
     All material is copyright, and permission to
                                                     better but at a cost of investment    What do you feel                             The last challenge I’d raise is       the Defence Force – that what we
     reproduce must be sought from the editor.       and additional training. The second                                                                                      do is just as much a calling as it is
                                                     aspect of change would be pace        the Army should                           more closely tied to operational
                                                                                                                                     service and the advantages of            a great job. I would highlight the
                                                     and tempo. After a long hiatus        do to maintain its                        self-assessment in the real-world.       differences young New Zealanders
                                                     between operations, Army began
                                                     to deploy with greater scale and
                                                                                           reputation as a highly                    While it’s not our role to drive or      will find in the job, and more so the
                                                                                                                                     influence utilisation, it can be a       differences they will make. Besides
                                                     frequency.                            regarded light fighting                   significant force-multiplier to train,   this, that they would enjoy a unique
                                                                                           force?                                    deploy and recover as military           culture of camaraderie and kinship,
                                                                                                                                     units in an operational cycle.           team activity, travel and a career
                                                                                                                                                                              of learning.
OUR NEW SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY COVID-19 ANZAC DAY, LOCKDOWN STYLE - ISSUE 512 MAY 2020 - NZDF
ARMYNEWS 03

A MESSAGE
FROM THE
LAND
COMPONENT
COMMANDER

2020 Version 2 (A Revised Training Year)
As we emerge from the shadow            Iraq back to NZ, deployed and
of Covid-19 Alert Level Four and        continued to sustain operations in
Three lockdown, it is timely to take    Iraq, Afghanistan, the Sinai, Korea,

                                                                                      NZDF SIGNS
stock of where we are at and how        South Sudan, and the United Arab
we transition to operating in the       Emirates. This was only possible
new normal. No two individuals          by the outstanding effort of those

                                                                                      CONTRACTOR TO WORK
have had the same circumstances         deploying, those providing the
under the Covid-19 response; some       training, and their units and families
worked, some isolated at home or        that support them.

                                                                                      ON FIRING RANGES IN
barracks, some became overnight            Thirdly, we supported to the
primary school teachers, and some       Government’s Covid-19 response,
continued the mission deployed          involving up to 600 Regular and
overseas. Regardless, we all were       Reserve Army and assigned Joint
asked to step up and play our part
in the New Zealand response to
Covid-19. We are not there yet, but
are well on our way and are set
                                        Health and MP personnel either
                                        committed, or ready, to act through
                                        the country. They were employed as
                                        liaison and planning staff, managed
                                                                                      AFGHANISTAN
to transition through Covid levels
toward a more normalised routine.
                                        Isolation Facilities, conducted
                                        environmental health and logistics
                                                                                     The New Zealand Defence Force has signed a contract to
This has been possible through          assessments, and prepared                    carry out additional clearance of five firing ranges used by
adherence to our ethos and values,      additional mortuary, security and
a fair bit of patience, some good       distribution capabilities. That              its Provincial Reconstruction Team in the Bamyan province
humour, and keeping our focus on        we were not required in greater              in Afghanistan.
the mission, our individual wellness,   numbers is testimony to all of NZ’s
and our families.                       adherence to the lockdown and the            The contractor, Organisation            International Security Assistance        10 other contenders, after being
   On lockdown, the Land                capacity of our response. As Kiwis           for Mine clearance and Afghan           Force introduced a new standard          deemed the best option to meet
Component had four priorities.          we should all be proud of this.              Rehabilitation (OMAR), sent a           for range clearance, which was           the NZDF’s requirements.
Firstly, to protect the force. By          Our fourth priority was to                team to the area recently to make       then adopted by the Afghan                  The Afghan Directorate of Mine
isolating the force in barracks and     regenerate the force, and over the           an initial assessment and set up        Directorate of Mine Action               Action Coordination, which will
at home, we reduced the chance of       past eight weeks this has been               field offices. Non-technical survey     Coordination.                            oversee the clearance work, has
transmission of Covid-19 between        about setting the right conditions,          teams will then go to the area to          To meet that new standard             estimated that it will take up to
our soldiers, our workplaces and        planning activities and events               start work.                             the NZDF has signed a contract           52 weeks to complete. However,
our whanau. It also allowed us to       to return to training safely, and               The NZDF operated the ranges         with OMAR, an Afghanistan-               the work will be spread over two
continue to undertake emergency         to make up the lost time in what             to fire non-explosive small-arms        based organisation that has been         calendar years, because much of
services and support, essential         is a new training and operating              rounds, as well as some high-           operating for 27 years.                  Bamyan Province is covered by
ab-initio training in Waiouru, and      environment.                                 explosive rounds, for a decade             It is experienced in range-           snow for five to six months each
to be ready to deploy (Covid free)         At mid-2020, the effects of               until the Provincial Reconstruction     clearance work and has extensive         year, which will have an impact on
to any security or disaster relief      Covid-19 on the NZ and world                 Team left Afghanistan in 2013.          history working with aid-related         de-mining activities.
contingency.                            economies, and the effects on the               Before the NZDF team started         non-government organisations                The combined value of
   Secondly, we sustained               security environment are not fully           operations the land was used by         throughout Afghanistan.                  contracts signed with OMAR
operations by preparing and             known nor predictable. Our ability to        Russian and United States forces           The tender document released          and Afghan Directorate of Mine
conducting essential PDTs under         operate under Covid-19 conditions in         for live firing.                        by the NZDF in early February            Action Coordination is about NZ$
different Covid alert levels, we        the next 6–18 months and potentially            When the NZDF team withdrew          placed greater weight on aspects         6.2 million, subject to currency
recovered Op MANAWA from                beyond like we did pre-pandemic              from Afghanistan in 2013, it            such as health and safety,               fluctuations.
                                        will be challenged. A new normal             cleared the firing ranges in            methodology and qualification of            The worldwide Covid-19
                                        for training, engagement, capability         accordance with the standards of        personnel involved than on price.        pandemic has already affected
Above: Land Component Commander
                                        introduction into service, and               the time.                               It also placed an emphasis on            the project, slowing the contract
Brigadier Jim Bliss (right) and Land
                                        operations will exist.                          However, after the NZDF              mine awareness education.                process, and it may have further
Component Sergeant Major WO1
Paul McIntosh.                          Continues page 6...                          deployments finished, the                  OMAR won the tender from              impact.

NZDF Savings Schemes – further innovation
and Covid-19 impacts
Further exciting                        shock for some members. However,          turbulence for KiwiSaver schemes         to cash or conservative. They then        on investments. Milestone Direct
                                        most members have time on their           and other managed funds, including       locked in their losses. It will be        also has some very good resources.
developments are pending
                                        side and hopefully over time are          the NZDF Savings Schemes. During         many months, if not years, before         These resources are available to
for the NZDF Savings                    able to adjust their settings to save     the most volatile period combined        members are able to recover those         any Defence community member,
Schemes, says NZDF                      more. Of course, with any forward-        funds under management for our           “losses”, said Joseph. “Everyone’s        not just members of the NZDF
Benefits Manager Mark                   looking calculation a number of           schemes dropped from $545m to            situation will be different. Members      Savings Schemes.
Williamson.                             inputs need to be provided to             $460m before they started climbing       who are particularly anxious about           For those Defence community
                                        arrive at the dollar figure you’ll be     again. Members would have noticed        what is happening to their funds are      members more anxious about their
The next members’ statements1           provided. These inputs include            this drop in their own fund balance.     able to give us a call to discuss the     finances there are also additional
due in early June, show members         how much you have invested, your             The reality is that these losses      best option for them”.                    resources including a guide for
how much of a weekly income their       contributions, inflation, and your        (and gains) are paper only until            And, according to Joseph “for          those facing potential financial
funds might provide at age 65,          current fund choice. If you’ve got        the member attempts to withdraw          those of you with surplus funds,          hardship because of changes in
through to age 90. According to         queries regarding this, please            funds or switches investment             there is the opportunity to buy more      household income. There is also
Mark this will provide members with     contact Mercer in the first instance.”    portfolio. Then the loss (or gain) is    units while prices are still relatively   the opportunity for online financial
another powerful tool to help with         In 2018 Mercer introduced tools        locked in.                               low, by either putting more money         capability training.
their decision making. “Post Covid      projecting how members’ fund                 So what should members do             into the New Zealand Defence
19, saving for retirement will be       balances would look at age 65. This       when faced with “black swan”             Force KiwiSaver Scheme or the
more of a challenge for many of us.     tool has now been refined to reflect      events like this? Ex NZ Army             FlexiSaver Scheme.”                       To find out more:
This new tool helps our retirement      the member’s current investment           Major, Joseph Darby, now head               Market turbulence is likely to
                                                                                                                                                                     Google Force Financial Hub
planning, clearly setting out in 2020   setting. It remains interactive so        of Milestone Direct Ltd (NZDF’s          continue for some months before
                                                                                                                                                                     and check out the Covid-19 page.
dollars how much weekly income          that the member is able to move           preferred financial advice service)      we see a return to a degree of
                                                                                                                                                                     NZDF Savings Schemes; or
our investments may provide,” said      the settings to see what their funds      advises that the best option for         normality. Fund manager, Mercer,
                                                                                                                                                                     our Financial advice service
Mark. “The figures may come as a        will look like if contribution rates or   members is to do nothing. “The sad       has developed a number of short
                                                                                                                                                                     (Milestone Direct Ltd); or email
                                        portfolio are changed.                    thing is that many members were          videos explaining how investment
                                                                                                                                                                     benefits@nzdf.mil.nz
                                           This innovation comes against          panicked by what was happening to        markets operate and why Covid-19
1   For the New Zealand Defence
                                        a backdrop of extraordinary               their funds, and switched portfolio      has had such a significant impact
Force KiwiSaver Scheme and DFSS
OUR NEW SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY COVID-19 ANZAC DAY, LOCKDOWN STYLE - ISSUE 512 MAY 2020 - NZDF
04 ARMYMISSION

  COVID-19
  Our Response
The New Zealand Defence Force        NZDF personnel are providing
                                     planning, liaison, and specialist
                                                                            This changed to 150–200 when we
                                                                            moved to Level Three due to fast
                                                                                                                    and virtual environments enabled
                                                                                                                    remote learning, simulation,
continues to support the all of      operational and logistics support
                                     to the Operational Command
                                                                            food restaurants opening.”              emulation and coaching. We
                                                                                                                    couldn’t do things the same way, so
government response to Covid-19      Centre and the National Crisis
                                     Management Centre. They are also       1 CSR
                                                                                                                    we adapted.
                                                                                                                    Quickly moving to Alert Level Three
by providing personnel to augment    helping NZ Police with operational,
                                     intelligence and quarantine/           1st Command Support Regiment
                                                                                                                    and then onto Alert Level Four had
                                                                                                                    a huge effect on day to day work
the various organisations involved   isolation planning support.            (1 CSR) found innovative ways           for soldiers within 1 CSR. However,
                                        One person is working with the      through the Covid-19 lockdown           given the unit’s technical nature and
in dealing with the pandemic.        Ministry of Foreign Affairs and        to make the enforced isolation a        familiarity with using technology
                                     Trade, and one is providing planning   rich training environment for our       to support commanders, the unit
                                     and liaison support to the Ministry    soldiers, leveraging technology         was well postured to continue with
                                     of Health.                             to find new ways to educate,            valuable training. This occurred
                                        In camps and bases efforts          assess and collaborate for our          over a range of platforms, from
                                     are being made to continue with        communicators, electronic warfare       Zoom and Skype, to Facebook
                                     garrison activities, training and      operators and intelligence staff.       Messenger and Microsoft Teams.
                                     exercises (see page 10)                   1 CSR is spread over three           These platforms provided the
                                        At Linton Camp, two groups of       camps, with six different trades        ability to remain in daily contact to
                                     16 chefs have been working 21 days     and two different Corps, with           conduct O-Groups, deliver lessons,
                                     on, 21 days off. The messes have       technology a key enabler for all our    briefs and presentations based on
                                     been supported by other soldiers       outputs. The nationwide Covid-19        personal study.
                                     from 2CSSB who are helping             lockdown merely forced the unit to
                                     with the front of house, cleaning      double down on different ways to
                                     and setting the dining room for        rise to the challenges of distributed
                                     all meals. “This support has been      learning and training. Our soldiers
                                     fundamental in the operation of        have continued to develop their
                                     the mess,” says Staff Sergeant         knowledge and skills in a wide          Above: Major Oliver Lynn briefs the
                                     Jonathan Bailey.                       range of areas, including: coding,      All of Government team who are
                                        “Our daily output has not           networking, communication theory,       running the Isolation, Quarantine and
                                     changed since moving to the            military knowledge, analysis, formal    Repatriation border operations at
                                     various alert levels, and we were      presentation, training and writing      Police National Headquarters.
                                     feeding more than 300 personnel        skills. The use of unclassified         Right: Major Lynn at work with the
                                     within Linton during Level Four.       collaboration tools, applications       repatriation team.
OUR NEW SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY COVID-19 ANZAC DAY, LOCKDOWN STYLE - ISSUE 512 MAY 2020 - NZDF
ARMYMISSION 05

LOCK DOWN
TRAINING –
All part of the picture for TAD
By Judith Martin

Keeping a bubble
of 181 Army
recruits safe and
motivated during
the Covid-19
lockdown has been
a challenge, says
The Army Depot
(TAD) Commanding
Officer Lieutenant
Colonel Dean
Gerling.
However, he says he is gratified by
the way his instructors have dealt
with the situation, and also by the     The staff and recruits have been       As Waiouru Camp gymnasium              for LTCOL Gerling, whose wife,        the situation we find ourselves.
attitude of the recruits themselves.    practising physical distancing, with   and swimming pool have been            Squadron Leader Bethany Gerling       This includes managing children’s
   TAD has two courses under            recruits maintaining close contact     closed since Alert Level Four          is Head of Army Psychology.           school activities, and working from
instruction, Recruit Regular Force      bubbles within their platoons. Their   was introduced, physical training      The couple, who have two young        home,” he said
(RRF) course 396 with 104 recruits,     close contact bubble has been like     has been conducted outside             children, were both required to be      As the nation now looks to
and RRF397 with 77.                     their household, with all members of   utilising recruit’s own pack and       fully involved in their work roles.   moving down through the Covid-19
   “The way we have been training       the same platoon being in the same     webbing, as well as conducting         They have attempted to balance        Alert Levels, TAD continues to
our newest members of the Army          bubble. Anyone outside of that has     body weight classes.                   the demands of the Service and        review the way they operate and
has continued to evolve since the       been considered a casual contact.         Every recruit course has            that of keeping things on rails at    looks forward to graduations and
Alert Levels were announced,” says         Instructors have been maintaining   individuals who decide the Army        home, to varying levels of success    the next arrival of candidates in
LTCOL Gerling. “Our instructors         casual contact, ensuring separation    is not for them, and the current       and often resorting to bribery (of    August 2020.
have shown remarkable flexibility as    by physical distancing. However,       courses have been no different.        the kids). “Across the NZDF and
our soldiers and officers always do;    when required, they have been          “We always lose a small                New Zealand, people are finding
they get on with the task to get it     wearing personal protection            percentage, some recruits try it and   new ways to lead and command in
completed.                              equipment, especially in places like   just don’t like it. We realise being
   “Due to the changing Covid-19        range shoots.                          a soldier isn’t the right choice for
Alert Levels, TAD has only                                                     everyone. We have had a couple
                                           Official advice, says LTCOL
conducted one family day this                                                  who wanted to release when we
                                        Gerling, was to provide instruction
year – there is normally one per                                               were at Alert Level Four, but we
                                        in groups that were as small
course – which is an opportunity                                               have kept them safe in Waiouru
                                        as possible to minimise risk of
for family members to visit their                                              and looked after them, ensuring
                                        Covid-19 infection. “It was a real
soldier-in-training. In addition, the                                          they had their mobile phones so
                                        balancing act, ensuring consistent
course’s mid-course breaks had                                                 they could keep in touch with their
                                        messaging and providing a safe
to be cancelled, but the recruits                                              friends and family.”
                                        environment to ensure training
understood why, and were pleased                                                  The Covid-19 lockdown has been
                                        could continue.”                       interesting on a personal level
that we kept their training up.”

                                                                                                                       LTCOL Gerling discusses progress
                                                                                                                       with an instructor.

                                                                                                                         Private Ruby Dunn, from            17-year-old college students,
                                                                                                                         Mitimiti in Northland              developing a rapport, and
                                                                                                                                                            encouraging them to book in and
                                                                                                                         played an important                utilise the free dental service
                                                                                                                         screening role during              available to them.
                                                                                                                         Level Four of the                     When the DHB dental facilities
                                                                                                                         pandemic.                          closed, their staff were briefed
                                                                                                                                                            and requested to assist at Covid
                                                                                                                         A serving Reservist with           19 screening stations. Roles
                                                                                                                         Dental Services in FHO, she is     required were traffic control,
                                                                                                                         employed as an Oral Health         administration, or nasal and oral
                                                                                                                         Therapist with the Northland       swabbing stations. PTE Dunn
                                                                                                                         District Health Board (DHB).       had no hesitation in volunteering
                                                                                                                         Graduating from Auckland           her services. She undertook
                                                                                                                         University of Technology in        training in nasopharyngeal and
                                                                                                                         2018 with a Bachelor of Health     oropharyngeal nose and throat
                                                                                                                         Science in Oral Health, her        swabbing, the current diagnostic
                                                                                                                         normal clinical dental day         method used to take oral and
                                                                                                                         would consist of examining         nasal samples for Covid testing.
                                                                                                                         and treating children aged             “I felt being in the Army helped
                                                                                                                         0 – 18 years. Prior to Covid 19,   me stay calm in such a high-
                                                                                                                         Ruby was engaging with local       pressure situation,” she said.
OUR NEW SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY COVID-19 ANZAC DAY, LOCKDOWN STYLE - ISSUE 512 MAY 2020 - NZDF
06 ARMYPEOPLE

A message from LCC – Continued from page 3

The Land Component cannot wait
for 100% clarity or understanding
before acting. We must plot our           Covid-19 has
route with known waypoints and
then be agile of thought and action
                                          had a significant
to adjust to new and emerging             impact on our
situations and opportunities. All
our actions must contribute to            2020 training
our mission and we must continue
to prepare for all operational
                                          year and we must
contingencies and be ready to             adjust and train
support at home and abroad.
   Our approach to training the
                                          differently than
force has required adjustment             before.
and a reset. The loss of training
time, has been compounded by
some, predominantly overseas,             on Covid-19 travel and border
training locations and activities now     permissions, they are important
being unavailable. Unfortunately,         milestones to strive to achieve and
a number of collective training           to focus our preparatory training on.
activities has had to be cancelled        Other key activities that are
or adjusted. Ex Southern Katipo 20,       currently in planning, but yet to
our premier joint collective exercise,    be confirmed, include conducting
has been re-shaped to provide us          Public Duties in the UK, the
with training space and time to           50th anniversary exercise for
regenerate, whilst retaining some         BERSAMA LIMA in Malaysia
core joint training outcomes. This        and Singapore, and sending a
adjustment, however, has provided         team to the Australian shooting
some opportunities for individual         competition. At home, we will host
and collective training.                  the Singaporeans for Ex THUNDER
   As part of TRADOC (NZ)’s Army          WARRIOR and will be prepared to
Individual Training Evolution (AITE),     support APEC, America’s Cup and
individual training will speed up         Women’s Rugby World Cup.
its transition from the traditional,         Covid-19 has had a significant
one-size-fits-all approach to a           impact on our 2020 training year
modern learning system. This              and we must adjust and train
includes leveraging blended               differently than before. We are
learning techniques, e-learning and       blessed to have the space, the
technology to support instructor          ranges, the diversity of terrain to
delivery and student learning.            conduct good training activities,
   As a result of Covid-19 we have        including live field firing at both
had to cancel a number of courses         Waiouru and Tekapo.
and re-schedule others between               The Land Component also has
now and next year. We have put            the people and commanders to
our priority on individual career,        reset the force under a new training
All Corps promotion, and trade            regime. To do so takes flexibility,
courses, with TRADOC (NZ) set             agility and mission command. The
to conduct more than 140 courses          Land Component is empowering
between the start of July and             unit, schoolhouse and junior
Christmas this year. In doing so, we      commanders to lead our training
can focus on growing our base of          through this reset. We know that
well-trained and competent soldiers       these leaders the skills, the attitude,
and small teams ready to undertake        and the drive to bring us success.
a higher degree of collective                We have done a great job so far,
training in 2021.                         on behalf of the Land Component
   Collective training, this year,        Leadership Team, thanks for
will focus on our generating high         your efforts thus far, take the
readiness force elements for any          future opportunities that present
population support and population         themselves, look after yourself, your
protection tasks and missions.            whanau, and your mates.
These are our contingency forces,
and are our priority. Between now         Land Component Commander
and December we will undertake a          Brigadier Jim Bliss and
number of exercises and activities,       WO1 Paul McIntosh
including live field firing, to grow
and maintain our combat capability.
These exercises will ensure we
have well prepared and trained
individuals and groups proficient
in our core warfighting skills, able
to concentrate as combined arms
groups, for training activities in 2021
which focus on joint land combat,
our high-end warfighting role.
   Critical collective training
activities in 2021 will include the
SARI BAIR Series, Ex TALISMAN                                                       Sofie Perkinson, aged 11 from Belmont
SABRE/HAMEL in Australia,                                                           on the North Shore created a poster
potential deployments of a Combat                                                   to display alongside her teddy in her
                                                                                    window.
Team to the US Joint Readiness
Training Centre, and a Task                                                         She was concerned and sad that the
Group HQ to Joint Warfighting                                                       usual Anzac Day remembrance events
Assessment, also in the US. Whilst                                                  and marches were not taking place
these activities will be dependent                                                  this year.
                                                                                    Sofie suggested it might be fun for
                                                                                    children who are taking part in local
                                                                                    bear hunts to cut out the poppy and
                                                                                    get the teddy to hold it in his/her paws.
                                                                                    With the help of her dad Duncan
                                                                                    she shared her work with the local
                                                                                    community via local Facebook groups.
                                                                                    Sofie, who’s also a Girl Guide said that
                                                                                    ‘then people could print it out and
                                                                                    colour it in themselves’.
                                                                                    Her Great Grandfather Fred Philpott,
                                                                                    was a New Zealand war hero and
                                                                                    prisoner of war survivor of WWII.
OUR NEW SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY COVID-19 ANZAC DAY, LOCKDOWN STYLE - ISSUE 512 MAY 2020 - NZDF
ARMYPEOPLE 07

ANZAC DAY
UNDER LOCKDOWN
By Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Chris Mullane

There is no doubt that Anzac
Day 2020 was like no other. It
is true that many of us did miss
gathering for traditional Anzac
commemoration ceremonies,
however there has been much
to celebrate in the wide-ranging
  demonstrations of Kiwi
     ingenuity and creativity that
        have sprung up as a result.

                                            Various scenes from Stand at Dawn.
                                            Photos: Petty Officer Chris Weissenborn
OUR NEW SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY COVID-19 ANZAC DAY, LOCKDOWN STYLE - ISSUE 512 MAY 2020 - NZDF
08 ARMYPEOPLE

    In the weeks leading up to Anzac       twos to lay a floral tribute and pay

                                                                                    New book confirms
    Day, during our daily exercise we      their respects at the Devonport
    witnessed ever-increasing window       Memorial or used various online
    displays of teddy bears and other      options to came together to

                                                                                    dramatic increase in
    favourite stuffed toys wearing a       commemorate with family members
    poppy. Many families adorned           or old comrades elsewhere in New
    their fences and porches with          Zealand and overseas. Others,

                                                                                    number of New Zealand
    home-made poppies of all sizes,        while still respecting Level Four
    and wreaths of many descriptions       Rules, pushed the envelope a
    lovingly crafted from egg cartons      little. One example was a Dawn

                                                                                    soldiers at Gallipoli
    and other recycled materials. Yet      Ceremony held in Bayswater. At
    others flew flags or displayed         6.00am, strictly observing two
    home-made banners bearing the          metre spacing, a small number of
    words “Lest we forget” or “We will     local residents, including veterans
    remember them”. For the most           young and old, gathered at O’Neill’s
    part our local schools were already    Point Cemetery to lay wreaths at
                                                                                    Two New Zealand Defence Force historians have published an e-book confirming
    linked up with pupils online from      the military headstones of two           that the number of New Zealand soldiers who served at Gallipoli in 1915 was more
    the start of lockdown and amongst      young Maori soldiers from World          than 16,000 – almost double the accepted number of 8,556.
    the ‘in your home bubble’ activities   War One. Bill Rimmer played Last
    children were encouraged to create     Post. The Ode was then recited in        The book builds on previous           about 170 per cent attrition, of         the campaign. Twice as many
    and share wonderful examples of        Te Reo Māori by currently serving        research carried out in 2016, which   which about half were caused by          New Zealand families as
    how they wanted to acknowledge         Navy veteran Leading Seaman Te           was widely reported at the time.      a dysentery epidemic that raged          previously thought had at least
    those who had served. This             Orangapumau Elia and in English             Phenomenal and Wicked:             through the Allied forces on the         one member on the peninsula
    impromptu community involvement        by me. This was followed with a          Attrition and Reinforcement in the    peninsula.                               in 1915.
    was in part encouraged by the very     lament played by piper Chris Lucas.      New Zealand Expeditionary Force          “This very high attrition rate           “We think that this goes a very
    rules imposed by lockdown.             And then after a minute silence the      at Gallipoli, by Defence Force        seems to have been common to             long way towards explaining
       Somehow, the restrictions of        bugle sounded Reveille and the           Historian John Crawford and           all the Allied contingents fighting      why Gallipoli had such a
    Level Four strengthened community      brief ceremony was over.                 Senior Advisor Heritage Matthew       at Gallipoli,” Mr Crawford said.         profound effect on contemporary
    bonds and our connection with              It was a fitting way to honour the   Buck, is the culmination of five      “The infantry battalions in the          New Zealand society, and why it
    the privations experienced by          two soldiers who, while undertaking      years of research.                    New Zealand and Australian               continues to have such a central
    earlier generations in times of war,   pre-embarkation training at Narrow          The research was highlighted       Division were losing about 30            place in our national memory.”
    disaster and pandemics. Perhaps        Neck, had died from Influenza.           in 2016, when Mr Crawford             per cent of their strength every            The book is the result of
    this spontaneous community             One had died on November 2, 1918         discovered the notebooks of           month, which was double the              cooperation between the Ministry
    response offers a message to           barely a week before the war ended       the Deputy Assistant Adjutant         attrition rate of the British infantry   for Culture and Heritage, the
    those organising future Anzac Day      and the other died on November 11,       General of the New Zealand and        on the Western Front.”                   NZDF, Archives New Zealand
    commemorations. Yes, tradition is      1918 only nine days after Armistice      Australian Division in Archives          Another key to the research           and Statistics New Zealand.
    important but there are many ways      was declared. Their service              New Zealand.                          was the more recent discovery            Mr Crawford and Mr Buck
    of honouring the fallen other than     numbers show they had joined                The book also provided insight     of financial records that show           followed a research trail from
    just the usual style of ceremonies     the Army together – 84749 Pte            into the planning undertaken          exactly how the New Zealand              Archives New Zealand to the
    which follow a time-worn pattern       T. Chase and 84750 Pte T. Oneroa.        prior to the main body of soldiers    forces were distributed over the         Australian War Memorial in
    largely inherited from our British     They were probably close mates.          leaving New Zealand in 1914,          course of the campaign.                  Canberra to piece together
    forebears. Perhaps it is time to       They lie buried side by side.            Mr Crawford said.                        “The financial records                a story that corrects faulty
    develop our own particularly               For over 100 years they have            “New Zealand’s political and       confirm that relatively few of the       assumptions that for decades
    New Zealand format for such            been our sons too. We will               military leadership were well         thousands of men who became              distorted how we saw our nation’s
    important community events             remember them!                           aware that losses in a major          sick or wounded at Gallipoli             involvement at Gallipoli.
    – honouring the past and also                                                   war were likely to be extremely       returned to their units during              Partly for their work in
                                           • Chris Mullane, ONZM, MBE, is a         heavy,” he said.                      the campaign,” Mr Crawford               establishing the new numbers, in
    celebrating the present?
                                             Vietnam veteran and a staunch             “However, their extensive          said. “The only way that the             2019 Mr Buck received a Chief of
       This was epitomised on Anzac
                                             advocate for veterans.                 preparations were almost              New Zealand Expeditionary Force          Defence Force Commendation
    Day itself, by the many ways in
    which people ‘stayed alone’ while                                               overwhelmed by the scale of           could stay in the battle was by          and Mr Crawford received the
    ‘coming together’. Many stood                                                   the losses that were actually         pouring in thousands of fresh            Defence Meritorious Service
    at dawn by their gates, some                                                    experienced – more than 2,700         reinforcements.                          Medal.
    sharing impromptu ceremonies                                                    killed and many thousands more           “We now know that up
                                                                                                                                                                   The book is available for free at:
    on Bluetooth speakers with their                                                becoming sick and wounded.”           to 17,000 New Zealand
                                                                                                                                                                   https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/
    immediate neighbours. Throughout                                                   By late September 1915 the         Expeditionary Force personnel
                                                                                                                                                                   gallipoli-campaign-numbers
    the day people came in ones and                                                 infantry had typically suffered       had a direct connection with

Bugler Bill Rimmer plays the Last Post.
OUR NEW SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY COVID-19 ANZAC DAY, LOCKDOWN STYLE - ISSUE 512 MAY 2020 - NZDF
ARMYPEOPLE 09

    ANZAC DAY IN
    AFGHANISTAN
By Major Shay Bassett                       Because we’re in an Islamic             dividing the commemorations up         we now serve on operations than to
                                            country, the early morning brews        into several services all conducted    our own homeland New Zealand.
For the small contingent of New Zealand     were drunk without the traditional      concurrently, and within the bounds       Another unusual aspect of
                                            component to make them ‘gunfire’.       of the rules.                          this year’s Anzac Day was being
Army personnel based at Camp Qargha,        Nevertheless, it hit the spot, nicely      With a large number of Australian   able to see real poppies. Due to
and working with the Afghanistan            aided with freshly baked Anzac
                                            biscuits to accompany the coffee
                                                                                    soldiers also based at Camp
                                                                                    Qargha, the numbers were not
                                                                                                                           it being spring here, wild poppies
                                                                                                                           are currently blooming and are
National Army Officer Academy, Anzac        before we commenced a number            wanting, and with our limited          relatively easy to find, which
Day started before sunrise with coffee      of commemoration services held
                                            simultaneously throughout the
                                                                                    strength as Kiwis this meant trying
                                                                                    to spread ourselves as wide as
                                                                                                                           provided another link with our
                                                                                                                           military past. Serving with the NZDF
from about 4am.                             base, starting just on the cusp of      possible to ensure New Zealand         often provides the opportunity
                                            first light at 4.30am.                  was represented as well as it could    of experiencing Anzac Day in
                                               Due to currently operating under     be on the day. As may be seen          numerous and varied locations.
                                            Covid-19, a maximum number of 10        by the photos, the rallying point      This year was another example of
                                            people are only to be assembled         for each of the commemoration          this for the Kiwi team in Qargha.
                                            in one location at one time, and        services were fuel drum fires,         Our memories of 25 April 2020,
                                            strictly two metres apart of            each one having been modified          while inevitably sombre, are still
                                            course! As a result, the Anzac          by members Australian Light Aid        fond ones that each member of our
                                            Day committee, which consisted          Detachment to show an Anzac            group can take away with them.
                                            of Kiwis, Aussies, and Turks (a         theme. The fires served as a
                                            situation that was rather unique),      poignant reminder of the sacrifices
                                            came up with an elegant solution.       made by our forefathers, 105 years
                                            We didn’t hold just one event, but      ago, in a land far closer to where

                                          Major Nigel Gattsche in Lake Ferry
                                          on Anzac Day.
OUR NEW SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY COVID-19 ANZAC DAY, LOCKDOWN STYLE - ISSUE 512 MAY 2020 - NZDF
10 ARMYTRAINING

LIFE IN
LOCKDOWN:
A HIGH READINESS EXPERIENCE

By Lieutenant Ashton Lovell        Could a deployable force be            firstly, the HRPG deployed within      an environment where contactless
                                   maintained and trained despite         mandated response times without        support was required was another
For the High Readiness Task Unit   the restrictions placed on all
                                   citizens? How could the high
                                                                          being tested and potentially with
                                                                          Covid-19; or secondly, the HRPG
                                                                                                                 obstacle to work around. Drop
                                                                                                                 zones were created for 1RNZIR
(HRTU) the Level Four lockdown     readiness output be met under
                                   these conditions? If Covid-19
                                                                          did not deploy within mandated
                                                                          response times in order to be
                                                                                                                 CSS Company to drop off items
                                                                                                                 required for training or general
announcement on the 23 March       spread widely and rapidly, could       tested. There was an alternative       quality of life. On delivery the
                                   the New Zealand Army guarantee         outcome. This was to screen and        HRPG storeman would thoroughly
presented some unique and          a deployable force, on short notice,   monitor the HRPG over a two week       disinfect delivered items before
                                   that was completely virus free to      period in isolation—confirming as      issuing them for use.
uncertain challenges.              support the South West Pacific?        best as practicable that no one           Maintaining an acceptable trained
                                      With only two days to prepare       had Covid-19 without testing—          state during this time was another
                                   before entering Level Four             and maintaining this bubble by         factor to consider. Training for this
                                   lockdown, these were the questions     eliminating exposure to others.        group of soldiers was placed under
                                   the HRTU were required to answer.         The preparation for this had to     extra scrutiny: every training activity
                                   Several courses of action were         be fast. Soldiers were immediately     had to be segregated from the
                                   developed and considered before        informed so they could give a          general Linton Camp population to
                                   a final decision was made: the High    timely warning to their families,      minimise contact with the outside;
                                   Readiness Platoon Group (HRPG)         the quarantined barracks had to        social distancing and group sizes
                                   consisting of an infantry platoon,     be vacated by all occupants and        while training needed to be well
                                   company headquarters element,          thoroughly cleaned, and areas          considered; finally, a different
                                   medics and enablers from signals       around both the barracks and 1         risk profile needed to be adopted
                                   and intelligence would move into       RNZIR lines were cordoned off.         as the last thing anyone wanted
                                   enforced quarantine. This required     These actions were carried out to      to do was divert limited medical
                                   all personnel in the HRPG to move      minimise the risk of exposure from     resources away from the Covid-19
                                   into an isolated zone with the         anyone outside the HRPG and to         pandemic. As such the focus for
                                   HRPG becoming its own bubble.          ensure the areas the group were        training was largely on maintaining
                                   The isolated zone included Travis      using were hygienic and could avoid    the ability of the group to deploy
                                   barracks and certain training areas    contamination by Covid-19.             overseas, while also continuing to
                                   within Linton Camp that allowed the       Moving into barracks as a           build the fundamental skillsets that
                                   HRPG to maintain its deployability     group also presented difficulties:     would allow the HRTU to transition
                                   and trained state. The HRPG would      if one person were to get sick,        towards more complex training as
                                   remain there for three weeks before    it could spread rapidly through        the alert levels moved down.
                                   rotation with another platoon group.   the general population creating a         This meant that regular activities
                                      The primary reason for enforced     cluster. As a result, a wing of the    to maintain deployability such as
                                   quarantine was based on the            barracks was isolated purely for       fitness testing and range shoots
                                   proposition that – at the time –       anyone suspected of illness. These     were conducted, but also that
                                   it could not be guaranteed that        personnel could be placed into         a focus on small team training,
                                   testing equipment would be             isolation, with contactless meals      at either section level or below
                                   available to test the HRPG for         delivery and daily checks by the       was adopted. This allowed the
                                   Covid-19 within their mandated         medics for progress without risk to    practice of activities such as
                                   response time. This created            the wider group.                       urban clearances utilising HRTU’s
                                   two unacceptable outcomes:                Maintaining logistical support in   façade facility and other areas
ARMYTRAINING 11

around Linton Camp. Being able
to continue this training was vital
to enable the transition to live field
firing activities during Exercise
Venom 1 in late May and early June.
    The final key challenge during
this time was boredom. Boredom
was an aspect of lockdown that
most of New Zealand will probably
relate to and it was no different
for the HRPG. To alleviate some of
this boredom, as well as the stress
of being isolated away from family
during lockdown, an entertainment
committee was created to come
up with ideas for weekends and
downtime. The results were
activities like socially distanced
cricket in the 1 RNZIR quad, quiz
nights and a highly entertaining
costume evening.
    Moving into a post lockdown
environment it’s important to reflect
on the lessons learnt over this
period. In an uncertain situation, the
success of the HRPG to maintain
an R1 response was attributable to
two key things: firstly, a considerate
appreciation of the commander’s
intent at all levels which enabled
the development of innovative
training practices; secondly,
resilient soldiers and their family
units living the axiom of ‘to serve’
without complaint in an uncertain
and stressful time. This allowed the
HRTU to conduct business as close
to usual in a unique time.
12 ARMYMISSION                                                                    LCPL Desiree Arnold uses the ANPRC-150 radio.

LINES OF
COMMUNICATION
By Andrew Bonallack                    “At the end of the day, this can
                                       be set up anywhere in the world,”
Effective                              says CPL Parker. “It’s not just for
                                       eight miles to the ship. We can
communication                          go the length of the country. It
informs the                            operates between 3 to 30 MHz.
                                       Ultra-High Frequencies (UHF)
leadership                             will pass through objects but
decision. Or in                        High Frequency (HF) is more
                                       malleable. It doesn’t go through the
other words: what’s                    ionosphere, it bounces off.”
                                          The mission was a
the weather like                       communication success for the
where you are?                         Department of Conservation as
                                       well, who established a repeater
Based on ‘lessons learned’ from        antenna on a peak halfway along
previous Sub-Antarctic missions,       the harbour. But it still relied on line
Operation Endurance 2020 and           of sight.
HMNZS Canterbury embarked                 CPL Parker says their system
four signallers from 2nd Signal        was the ultimate backup, and could
Squadron to set up an all-round        link in with all other systems in use
communication network on               on the island. “Even satellite phones
Campbell Island.                       are difficult here. There’s something
   Traditional Very High Frequency     about this area. They use a low
(VHF) line-of-sight communication,     earth orbit, more at equatorial
from the ship to the shore, had        latitudes, and so there’s less of
been used for previous visits to       them to pick up.”
Campbell Island, and would be             He says it was a new experience
again, but this had been unreliable.   to work with Navy and experience
HMNZS Canterbury, spending its         Navy communications. The
nights going back and forth in the     signallers’usual mode of operation
vicinity of Perseverance Harbour       would be to drive somewhere and
entrance, needed a means of            establish a communications set-up.
communicating with Beeman Hut          “Everyone’s enjoyed their time
base, at the far end of the harbour,   down here. For us, lessons learned
past substantial ranges over 400       would be to have more frequencies.
metres high.                           Our one frequency worked best at
   But line of sight isn’t an issue    certain times of day. The sun hitting
for a High Frequency Near Vertical     the atmosphere during the day can
Incidence Skywave (NVIS), which        make things work differently than
sends an encrypted HF signal           at night.”
straight up, bouncing off the             Commander Martin Walker,
ionosphere, and back down again        Commanding Officer of
to a receiver – HMNZS Canterbury.      HMNZS Canterbury, says good
   Corporal Harry Parker, with         communications was something
three signallers, organised the        they wanted this time around.
establishment of an antenna and        “When it was fogged in at sea, it
equipment at Beeman Hut, and           was clear there, and they could tell
ensured it was continually manned.     us, and it could aid my decisions. It
It meant that even with inclement      something we’ll definitely push for
conditions at sea, or high winds at    in future operations.”
the harbour entrance, Canterbury’s
Commanding Officer could be
assured that conditions near
Beeman Hut favoured anchoring in
the harbour.
ARMYPEOPLE 13

    WARFIGHTING SKILLS, FRIENDSHIPS,
    AND SHEEP JOKES – A YEAR AT DUNTROON

LT Berryman (left) and LT Calder-Steele.

In January 2019,                           Upon arrival in Canberra, there was
                                           an adjustment period of getting
                                                                                   The 18 month curriculum at
                                                                                   Duntroon is broken up into three
                                                                                                                          I am graduating into the Royal
                                                                                                                          New Zealand Army Logistics
soldiers Tony                              used to the 40 degree days and          six month classes. This sees you       Regiment. I am looking forward to      “During my time
Calder-Steele and                          frequent sheep jokes, however we        progress from III Class where          continuing to learn and progress       in Duntroon
                                           quickly settled in to the Australian    you learn foundation warfighting       in the NZDF and hope to further
Mitchell Berryman                          way of life. We undertook 18 months     techniques and are assessed in         develop my skills and leadership       I gained the skills
were selected
                                           of training and graduated on 28 April
                                           2020 as the newest lieutenants of
                                                                                   command of a section, through to II
                                                                                   Class which has a focus on platoon
                                                                                                                          whilst working within the workshop
                                                                                                                          once again. Tony is graduating into
                                                                                                                                                                 and knowledge to
to begin their                             the New Zealand Army.                   command in an offensive and            the Royal New Zealand Infantry         become a leader
                                              I started my career with the         defensive operations environment.      Regiment and is likewise excited for
commissioning                              New Zealand Army in 2013                The course concludes with stability    upcoming challenges.                   in the NZ Army
course at the                              and enlisted as an automotive           and complex operations packages                                               and learnt that
                                           technician. While posted to             undertaken in I Class. One of
Royal Military                             16th Field Regiment Workshop            the key benefits of studying at                                               failure can lead to
College – Duntroon
                                           I became qualified in my trade
                                           and was promoted to Lance-
                                                                                   Duntroon is the level at which the
                                                                                   Individual Military Appreciation
                                                                                                                                                                 success.”
in Australia.                              Corporal. During my Junior
                                           Non-Commissioned Officer Course
                                                                                   Process package is delivered,
                                                                                   practised and assessed throughout
                                                                                                                                                                 – Lieutenant Mitchell Berryman

There were many                            in 2018 I found that                    the 18 months. We are far better
                                           I wanted to be challenged further as    placed to begin a career of planning
highlights, writes                         a leader and the idea of becoming       as a result of this aspect of the
newly graduated                            an officer really intrigued me.         curriculum.
                                              Tony comes from a similar               There were many highlights to
officer, Lieutenant                        background having joined as an          my training in Australia however,
Berryman.                                  electronics technician in February
                                           2011. He completed postings in
                                                                                   the one that will last was the
                                                                                   friendships I made during my time
                                           workshops and was promoted              over there – not only locals, but
                                           to Corporal in 2017. Though he          also the plethora of internationals
                                           enjoyed his previous role, he had for   who study there. During my time
                                           some time considered making the         in Duntroon I gained the skills and
                                           move out of the ranks.                  knowledge to become a leader in
                                                                                   the NZ Army and learnt that failure
                                                                                   can lead to success.
14 ARMYPEOPLE

OUR PEOPLE
ACTING WARRANT OFFICER CLASS TWO,
AWANUIRANGI MELBOURNE
                                                                                  enforcing law i.e. curfews,
Acting Warrant                             What does a normal                     provision of housing, evacuating
Officer Class Two,                         day at work look like
                                                                                  people, protection of women and
                                                                                  children to name a few. It has been
Awanuirangi                                for you?                               challenging not having extra military
Melbourne, is                              I would love a normal day, or even
                                                                                  on the ground, and military assets
                                                                                  to assist. I have been providing
currently based in                         a week, to look something similar      as best I can information back to
                                           to what we are afforded in NZ.         NZDF and MFAT, giving situational
Vanuatu.                                   However a day can change very          awareness here in Vanuatu, with
                                           quickly from what you thought          the hope that we can all work
                                           you might be doing, to what            collectively in making things work
                                           you actually end up doing. The         for the people of Vanuatu. Eyes and
What is your usual role                    VMF is tasked with many duties,        ears on the ground.
at post and how long                       ranging from providing security
                                           for their president and many
have you been there?                       other dignitaries, crowd control,      How has Covid-19
                                           security around elections, enforcing
My role is known as the Foreman
                                           government directives, training in
                                                                                  affected life for you
of Works, where primarily I am
embedded into the Vanuatu Mobile           their specific skill sets and every    (and your family) in
Force (VMF) in their Engineering           now and again managing some
                                           construction work. Very adaptable,
                                                                                  Vanuatu and how did                     and the people here as best we
Platoon. There are many aspects to
it, but I assist in training in vertical   very flexible.                         it affect NZ’s support                  could. You could say we are lucky
                                                                                                                          to be in a position, to be able to do
construction, project managing of                                                 for Vanuatu after the                   so. Thankfully as we speak Vanuatu
construction tasks, assessing and
                                           What have you and                      cyclone?                                has no Covid-19 cases.
quality assurance of tasks, general                                                                                         Support to TC Harold from NZ
engineering tasks, and other               your team been                         It has been quite an experience in      has been outstanding, and we know
military related matters that                                                     knowing the environment that we
I might be able to assist in. Although     focusing on during                     live in is medically inadequate to
                                                                                                                          that in normal circumstances NZ
                                                                                                                          Inc would be here in a much larger
right at this moment my HADR cap           Vanuatu’s response                     deal with Covid-19 should it ever       capacity, providing much needed
is in full swing as we coordinate the
recovery of affected islands from
                                           to Tropical Cyclone                    arrive. The upheaval of people in       skill, resources, and manpower. The
                                                                                  the decision making to return home      response from the Vanuatu Govt/
Tropical Cyclone Harold.                   Harold?                                or stay, was unsettling with many       National Disaster Management
My partner and I arrived here on                                                  friends and colleagues choosing         Office was affected because of
5 December 2018, so we have been           To date distribution of aid supplies   to return to their homes, for many                                              From top: WO2 Melbourne (centre)
                                                                                                                          the fear of Covid entering through
here approximately 16 months.              to affected areas, assessing           reasons. Everyone was supportive                                                with Vanuatu colleagues; WO2
                                                                                                                          the transportation of aid supplies.
                                           damaged islands, security of key       of decisions made – our focus was                                               Melbourne helps unload emergency
                                                                                                                          We can only learn, and be more
                                           installations, patrolling streets,                                                                                     supplies following Tropical Cyclone
                                                                                  on staying and supporting Vanuatu       prepared if this happens again.         Harold.
ARMYPEOPLE 15

Private Kyla Smith has been
a combat driver for just over
two years.
“I chose to be a driver in the Army     “As a driver you also go through
because it seemed interesting and       Junior and Intermediate combat
there was eventually deployment         driver courses.
opportunities. I also liked the idea       “Being based in the South
drivers get to travel in New Zealand.   Island our most common drives
   “I’ve always enjoyed driving.        would be to Tekapo or through
Growing up in the Far North my Dad      Arthur’s Pass to the West Coast.
taught us to drive, including a 4wd,    Being so junior I can only drive a
from when we were young as he           MSV, Mog, HX 60 and HX 58.
used to take us diving and hunting         “During your familiarisation
with him.                               courses you’re taught skills
   “The Army provides the               under a driving instructor like
opportunity to sit all your Licence     how to handle tricky situations.
classes from 1 through to 6 and         Yes sometimes it can be scary
provides familiarization courses        but prior to being sent out on
on each of the vehicles that you will   tasks you’ll go through training
be driving from Pinzgauer to Man        and courses to make sure you
HX Variants.                            understand how the vehicle
                                        handles under different loads
                                        and terrains. It’s up to your
                                        driving skills then, and how
                                        you assess the terrain and trust
                                        the vehicle.”
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