One Force · Force’s improvised Explosive Device Disposal - Chemical, ... are not always known...

An update from the New Zealand Defence ForceIssue #1 | October 2008

oneforce

www.nzdf.mil.nz

Ordinary new Zealanders dOing extraOrdinary things

PacIfIc PragmatIsm

Defence technOlOgy

Veterans

Welcome to our One Force publication (formerly Defence Update). The new name and new look better reflect what we do and what we stand for as three services working as one force, being

the best in everything we do. You will see from the map at left, our Navy, Army and Air Force have camps and bases across New Zealand and are significant members of their communities.

Domestically we contribute by working with other agencies in such varied activities as protecting our oceans from poachers; defending our borders from incursion; explosive

ordnance disposal, and participating in search and rescue operations. But as the centre-spread demonstrates, by far our biggest commitment is to international security, in furtherance of

New Zealand’s foreign policy goals. A high activity tempo is the norm for the Defence Force, as our people, regular force and reservist, help to bring peace and security to

trouble spots in the Pacific and around the globe. New Zealand’s Defence Forces are trained and equipped for action in the most demanding

environments. The stories in One Force reflect these priorities, and are a reminder of the contribution being made daily by the men and women of the New Zealand Defence Force, ensuring that New Zealand is secure and

protected from external threat, now and into the future.

lieutenant general Jerry MateparaeChief of Defence Force

oneforce

An update from the New Zealand Defence ForceIssue #1 | October 2008

www.nzdf.mil.nz

Ordinary new Zealanders

doing extraordinary things in stressful environments

One Force provides information about the New Zealand Defence Force and activities of our personnel around the world. The opinions expressed in One Force are not necessarily those of the New Zealand Defence Force or the Ministry of Defence.

Editor: Sarah Chandler, Defence Public Relations, tel: 64 4 4960295, email: [email protected]

defence technOlOgy 8 Our pacific pragMatisM 10 veterans: a duty Of care 22

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where you can find us

a word of welcomefrOM the chief Of defence fOrce

Three services as one force, being The besT in everyThing we do

whenuapai air fOrce BaseHome to: No 5 Squadron (6x P-3K Orion aircraft); No 6 Squadron (5x SH-2G Seasprite helicopters); No 40 Squadron (2x Boeing 757; 5x C-130 Hercules); Expeditionary Support Squadron

devOnpOrt naval BaseHome to: Naval Support Command; RNZN Naval College; Joint Geospatial Facility; HMNZS Dockyard; Naval Combat Forces (2x frigates: HMNZS TE KAHA, HMNZS TE MANA); Naval Support Forces (1 x amphibious sealift HMNZS CANTERBuRY; 1x fleet replenishment vessel HMNZS ENDEAvOuR); Mine Countermeasures (MCM) and Diving Forces (1x MCM support vessel HMNZS MANAwAi); Hydrographic Force (1x hydrographic data vessel HMNZS RESOluTiON)

papaKura Military caMpHome to: 1 NZ SAS Group; Auckland Regional Support Group

waiOuru Military caMpHome to: Headquarters New Zealand Army land Training and Doctrine Group (lTDG): land Operations Training Centre; Tactical School; School of Artillery; logistics Operations School; Combat School; School of Signals; School of Military intelligence; Joint Services Catering School; The Army Depot; Officer Cadet School; NZ Army Simulation Centre; Army Marae

OhaKea air fOrce BaseHome to: No 3 Squadron (14x uH-1H iroquois helicopters; 5x Bell 47G Sioux helicopters); Flying Training wing (14x Airtrainer; 5x Beech King Air)

lintOn Military caMpHome to: HQ 2nd land Force Group; 1st Royal New Zealand infantry Regiment; 16th Field Regiment (artillery and air defence), 2nd Engineer Regiment; 2nd Signals Squadron; 2nd logistics Battalion; 2nd Health Services Battalion; 2nd Military Police; linton Regional Support Centre; linton Administration; School of Military Engineering

trenthaM Military caMpHome to: Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand; HQ Military Studies institute; Trentham Regional Support Battalion,; 1st NZ Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron; 1st NZ Military Police Company; Trade Training School; 1st NZ Military intelligence Company; logistics Executive

wellingtOnHeadquarters New Zealand Defence Force. Home to: Joint logistics Services Organisation; Personnel Branch; Planning Branch; Strategic Commitments and intelligence Branch; Development Branch; Communications and information Systems Branch; legal; Navy staff; Air staff; Army General Staff; Finance Branch, Recruiting; Ministry of Defence; vANZ; Office of Chief of Defence Force; Defence library; Security; logistics; Defence Transformation Programme.

wOOdBOurne air fOrce BaseHome to: Ground Training wing

BurnhaM Military caMpHome to: HQ 3rd land Force Group; Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles (Armoured Reconnaissance);2nd/1st Battalion (infantry); 3rd Field Troop (2nd Engineer Regiment); 3rd Signals Squadron; 3rd logistics Battalion; 2nd Health Services Battalion; 3rd Military Police Platoon; Burnham Regional Support Centre; Burnham Administration Centre; NZ Army Band; Joint Services Health School; Army Adventure Training Centre

teKapO Military training area

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our valuesCouragECommitmEntComradEshipintEgrity

A robot from the Defence Force’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Squadron moves into place and detonates a charge, instantly destroying the suspect container.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Over the past year the EOD Squadron has responded to 139 callouts – 89 explosive ordnance disposal tasks, and a further 50 dealing with improvised Explosive Device Disposal (iEDD).

The EOD Squadron has also been conducting joint exercises with Police, Fire, Airport Security and Customs at the tactical and operational levels. The threat of terrorist groups using chemical, biological, radiological or even nuclear devices to carry out an unconventional attack has become more pronounced.

The Government has taken a proactive approach to such threats. Earlier this year Defence Minister Phil Goff opened a new Defence Force EOD headquarters and training facility at its Trentham base, near wellington.

it is part of a $22 million investment to enhance the Defence

Force’s improvised Explosive Device Disposal - Chemical, Biological and Radiological (iEDD-CBR) capability.

vice-Chief of the Defence Force, Rear-Admiral Jack Steer says the new EOD headquarters is a significant step forward for the New Zealand Defence Force: “it brings together into one place our expert operators from across the Navy, Army and Air Force. This new facility allows us to build on the experience of our personnel who have worked on mine clearance and unexploded ordnance disposal around the world.”

Three other conventional EOD units will be located close to the central business districts of our three largest cities - Auckland, wellington and Christchurch.

At the opening of the Trentham facility, Defence Minister Goff noted that without this capability our country would be unable to guarantee the level of protection required against terrorism and sabotage, and New Zealand’s ability to host internationally significant events would be limited.

“Clearly, having this type of capability is in New Zealand’s national interest. while we sincerely hope there will never be a day when we need to respond to a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear threat on our own shores – we are nevertheless prepared,” said Mr Goff.

PreParedfor The worsT:bomb squad

it’s 8.45am and police have cordoned off a city block in central Christchurch. A suspicious package has been found in a public car park – a large coffee tin wired to a plug and filled with an unknown liquid. Maliciously motivated or a benign prank? No one is taking any chances.

ordinarynew Zealanders

DoiNg extrAorDiNAry thiNgs iN stressFul

eNviroNmeNts

The toilet’s a long drop, the place is constantly dusty, washing is done by hand, and they’re running low on instant pudding – apparently it’s energy food here so it’s okay to indulge.

welcome to Chunuk Bair, a Kiwi forward patrol base in the Yakawlang district, in the north western part of Bamyan Province, Afghanistan. in this stunning Hindu Kush area, overlooking the District Capital of Nayak, the Kiwi-One patrol conducts daily meetings with local villagers and government officials, as they work to improve the lot of the Afghan people.

The New Zealand Defence Force has 135 NZ PRT personnel working in Bamyan Province and a two person medical mission in support of the Canadian-led Multinational Medical unit at Kandahar Air Field, in southern Afghanistan. They form part of seven nations working together within this medical facility to provide the highest level of medical care available in the southern Afghanistan area of operations.

“The unpredictability and tempo of war means that the numbers and types of injuries are not always known before arrival,” says lieutenant Soren Hall of the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps.“ The reality that some injuries are not survivable is also a lesson learned very early in your time at the Multinational Medical unit.”

July 2005 Cabinet approves a domestic Chemical, •Biological, radiological and conventional explosive (CBre) explosive ordnance disposal and improvised explosive Device Disposal (eoD/ieDD) capability

Cabinet approves funding of $21.7 million for •capital procurement and an ongoing annual operating budget

government response times dictate that units •be located close to the central business districts (CBD) of Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland

72 personnel (including 7 civilian positions) to •staff the squadron by 2010

90percentoftheequipmentidentifiedforthe•project has been procured at a cost of just under $10 million

1st NZ ExplosivE ordNaNcE disposal squadroN

4 | one Force one Force | 5

New Zealand provides two united Nations Military Observers and one Staff Officer to the uN Mission in Sudan monitoring the comprehensive peace agreement between the Government of National unity and the Government of South Sudan.

in the dry season temperatures climb to 50 degrees celsius. in the wet it doesn’t just rain, the sky just turns to water and 30 minutes of

rain is enough to cause enough damage to the roads to cease vehicle movement for days.

“This is a very difficult and complex country, fractured many times and not easy to describe as simply a fight between North and South or Muslim and Christian,” says New Zealand’s Captain Aaron wright. “There are many underlying currents and it will take a concerted, sustained

effort by the international community to rectify, something i wonder if our western lifestyle has the stomach for. i pray for the lives of the millions of innocents here that we do.”

in Timor-leste a Royal New Zealand Air Force iroquois helicopter crew serving with the Defence Force recently performed a life-saving evacuation when they saved a baby suffering from respiratory difficulties.

The baby girl was born five-weeks premature, and was unlikely to have survived if it wasn’t for the quick actions of the iroquois crew who flew 20 nautical miles off the coast of Dili to the mother’s home on Atauro island.

RNZAF iroquois detachment commander Squadron leader Daniel O’Reilly said the emergency medical team administered constant CPR to the infant during the flight back to medical facilities near Dili: “if we’d arrived 30 minutes later it’s likely she would have died.”

New Zealand’s Commander of Joint Forces Major General Rhys Jones says these are just some examples of “Ordinary New Zealanders

doing extraordinary things in stressful environments”.

He says the New Zealand Defence Force currently has around 600 people deployed throughout the world, serving on 15 peacekeeping operations, uN missions and defence exercises, from Antarctica to Sudan, the Solomon islands to Timor-leste.

in the past year Defence Force personnel have served in uN missions in lebanon, iraq, Sudan, the Republic of Korea, and Kosovo. At the same time non-uN missions in the Solomon islands, Afghanistan, Sinai, Timor-leste and the Arabian Gulf illustrate New Zealand’s commitment to global peace.

Chief of Defence Force lieutenant General Mateparae says participating in united Nations and other appropriate multi-national peace-making and peacekeeping operations underlines New Zealand’s wider commitment to collective security and our credentials as a good international citizen.

“it is clearly in New Zealand’s national interest to have a robust, combat-ready Defence Force that can quickly and actively get involved – be it in our own backyard or the other side of the world,” says lt Gen Mateparae.

Defence Minister Phil Goff says that given the increasing focus on the need to intervene in failing states, military intervention will generally be an essential component in controlling and stabilising a situation to prevent widespread death and destruction.

“But for the resolution of conflict to be sustainable, we need more wide-ranging interventions to deal with the causes of state failure including actions to build institutions of state and social services, and deal with issues of ethnic, tribal or religious conflict.

“An effective and efficient Defence Force, trained and equipped for combat, but also with the skills for peacekeeping is essential. So too are the complementary whole-of-government actions necessary for the peace to be sustainable,” he says.

nOn-un MissiOns in the sOlOMOn islands, afghanistan, sinai, tiMOr-leste and the araBian gulf illustrate new Zealand’s

cOMMitMent tO glOBal peace

AGE OF NZDF PERSONNEl< 24 33%25-34 25%35-44 23%45-54 13%55 > 6%

Today i visited Baghulak, a very poor village of about 500 people which is nestled in a mountain valley that’s isolated for six months of the year. i had been to Baghulak twice before, but today was the first time i was able to reach the village since winter.

i was meeting the Head of Shura (village head man). Down a steep dirt pathway, past some donkeys, through a compound gateway, around stacks of stored cut grass and past rows of ‘fuel cakes’ (dried animal dung); i eventually reached his mud home. The accompanying faint odour (not in any way offensive) confirmed for me we were in quarters above the animal stalls.

A dozen or so menfolk followed me in and we sat with backs to the walls, on simple but comfortable mats of thick woven Geep (Afghan sheep). i tried to settle

into the space that was reserved for me. My combat vest, with all its ammunition pouches, and a rifle still slung across my body, made for uncomfortable sitting. i soon dispensed with caution and removed it, to the knowing nods of my hosts.

Surrounded by these local menfolk i felt at ease in this room – a bit like being on a marae back on the East Coast. The situation, they explained, was simple but dire: These people needed our assistance to develop a spring well so they could irrigate their crops this summer otherwise they would have to start leaving the land of their forefathers (and the fathers before them) for a very uncertain future.

All conversation focused on the much needed water and they were looking to the NZ Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) as their last and only hope.

i was trying to develop and evaluate a course of action to provide immediate, meaningful, and sustainable assistance to these people. i was careful not to say something that would give them false hope but

i also felt the need to give them some hope. i chose to compromise and told them i would convey their situation to Governor Sorabi as a matter of urgency.

Their plight left me with an uncanny feeling when it came time to leave. As i drove away i felt drained, and sat quietly while we bounced our way down the mountain pass. As i mulled over the options to help i took some comfort in the village name, Baghulak, and the thought that maybe, just maybe, there is a ‘Bag-of-luck’ in store for them.

That was when i made my second decision of the meeting, and said aloud, to no one in particular, “Righto, that’s it ... we have some serious work to do!”

The village did get its water well and spring well repaired by the next NZPRT rotation.

To read the full version of this story, and others from our people on overseas deployments visit the NZDF website [www.nzdf.mil.nz].

in search of a ‘bag of luck’

Recently returned from a New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team rotation in Afghanistan, Major Syd Dewes gives an account of a day in a local village.

MaJOr general rhys JOnesCommander Joint Forces


in what is a major milestone for the Ministry of Defence and the Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 modification and upgrade programme, the first of two aircraft (NZ7571) returned to New Zealand from Mobile Aerospace Engineering in Mobile, Alabama.

Chief of Air Force, Air vice-Marshal Graham lintott said, “To see the first Boeing arrive back in New Zealand is a reward to all those involved in this project. The increased capability of this aircraft will provide a significant boost to the Air Force’s airlift options. we will have the ability to rapidly change the role of the aircraft to any given task, converting from standard passenger configuration to a combination freight/passenger, full freight, Aero Medical Evacuation (AME) and viP set up.”

TAuPO, the fourth of four inshore Patrol vessels (iPvs) being built entirely in New Zealand, was launched in whangarei Harbour in July. The ship follows the launch of iPvs ROTOiTi, PuKAKi and HAwEA, and is one of seven new Navy vessels under ‘Project Protector’. inshore Patrol vessels will patrol the New Zealand coastline and the South Pacific, and conduct maritime surveillance in support of other agencies such as Customs and Fisheries.

Gunner Jordan Barratt prepares mini-unmanned Aerial vehicle ‘Kahu’ (Maori for “Hawk”) prior to launch at waiouru Army Training

Area during field tests.

New Zealand’s home grown Kahu, (devised by the Defence Technology Agency at Devonport), has been the key component in

the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance Battlelab for some time, but had its first successful night flight during AEON (Army

Exercise on Nemesis).

REMuS is the acronym for Remote Environmental Monitoring units, robotic ‘torpedoes’ that navigate without a human crew on board and without cables connecting them to research vessels. They are one of the growing class of ocean instruments known as autonomous underwater vehicles, (Auvs). REMuS vehicles can dive to 100 metres deep and are capable of conducting an 80 km survey at a speed of 3 knots. Testing the REMuS, Navy warrant Officer Bernie Reihana noted that although NZ has no ‘enemies’ as such, it’s important to be able to support New Zealand’s friends. “we could be tasked to support one crisis, like mine countermeasures, while our allies operate on another front.”

“The new weapons Training System is an invaluable addition to the NZ Army, helping us provide world-class training for our

soldiers utilising the latest technological developments. The innovative piece of equipment gives the Army the ability to use a variety of weaponry in high-tempo, real-time and challenging

situations, without the intervention of adverse weather conditions”. - Chief of Army Major General lou Gardiner on the

weapons Training System at waiouru.

The NZ Army successfully tested the Javelin medium range anti-armour weapon (MRAAw) in its first live firing at waiouru earlier this year. The Javelin, a shoulder launched man portable anti-tank missile system, provides land forces with a medium-range capability against armoured vehicles and other targets. The medium-range anti-armour weapon is capable of defeating threats at a range of up to 2,500 metres.

The NH90 is an advanced medium utility helicopter. it can undertake a variety of roles (such as troop transport, search and rescue and

counter terrorism) and is a significant improvement on the iroquois helicopter.

“These new helicopters represent a quantum leap forward in terms of capabilities from our present vietnam war era iroquois helicopters.

They are a vital enabler for all three Defence Force Services, for military and peacekeeping operations, for police and counter-

terrorism work and for civil emergencies in New Zealand and the Pacific.” - The Minister of Defence

An air-to-surface live missile firing was successfully conducted in a joint exercise involving the Royal New Zealand Navy Frigate TE

KAHA, Naval Seasprite Helicopters from 6 Squadron, and an Air Force P3 Orion. “This is an important demonstration of the Seasprite and

Maverick missile capability. it is also a very good example of sailors and airmen and women working together to bring to bear that

capability,” said Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Tony Parr.

Technology

“Having the right Defence technology, and giving our sailors, soldiers and air men and women appropriate levels of training with that equipment, means we do not expose our people to any undue risks when they deploy on active operations. For New Zealand, it means our Defence Forces can provide a credible response to challenges, be they close to home, or on the other side of the world”

chief of defence force lieutenant general Jerry Mateparae

Unmanned aerial Vehicle ‘KahU’

Weapons Training sysTemnh-90 helicopter

javelinInshore patrol vessels

Boeing Upgrade REMUS UndERwatER Robot

Navy, air Force successFully test Fire missile

8 | one Force

while the white hull of the giant uS hospital ship, uSNS MERCY, might have rested quietly in the waters of the Coral Sea off Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, aboard and ashore her crew of military and civilian volunteers were incredibly busy.

Part of Pacific Partnership 08, a uS Pacific Fleet deployment to South East Asia and the Pacific, they were providing medical, dental and engineering support – with Port Moresby the last leg in a four month journey that had already taken in the Philippines, vietnam, Micronesia and Timor-leste.

The uSNS MERCY, a hospital afloat, had a medical staff of around 900, four operating theatres, a CT scanner, and an intensive Care unit. A multi-national, multi-disciplinary team included internal medicine specialists, paediatricians, dermatologists and all manner of surgical specialists drawn from the uS and partner nations Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

Also lending a helping hand was a team from New Zealand that comprised a Navy doctor, three nursing officers, medics from the Navy, Army and Air Force, and an environmental health officer. The New Zealand team would spend a good deal of time ashore providing primary health care, diagnosing and treating local village people.

New Zealand’s Surgeon Commander John Duncan, director of naval medicine at the Devonport Naval Base, says it was great to be involved: “we were responsible for surgical screening and identifying patients that would benefit from surgery,

referring them on to the MERCY surgical team – patients with cataracts, hernias and many other surgical conditions.”

This is just the latest example of New Zealand’s pragmatic commitment in the Pacific. Peace support operations are some of New Zealand’s most tangible and high-profile commitments to collective security in this region.

in Timor-leste, New Zealand has about 180 Defence Force personnel and 25 police as part of a uN security and capacity-building mission, as well as providing troops as part of the Australian-led international Security Force. Following riots, gunfights, looting and burning in Dili in mid 2006, Timor-leste Foreign Minister José Ramos Horta asked for more help.

using Boeing 757 and C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, a deployment of New Zealand Defence Force personnel was sent to help bring security, peace and confidence back

to Timor-leste.

Timor-leste’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, on a recent visit to this country thanked New Zealand for the assistance: “when we asked for it, you sent your men and women,” he said. “They have gained the respect of our people. we know New Zealanders are our good friends.”

As a partner in the Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon islands (RAMSi), New Zealand supports development and security work, including capacity building for local police, and the maintenance of law and order on the streets and at key sites such as Rove Prison.

A 44-strong platoon provides New Zealand’s current contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission, working alongside other supporting nations, which include Australia, Tonga and Papua New Guinea. RAMSi has made a real difference to the stability and security in the Solomons. However, the situation there

remains volatile and minor incidents can still escalate rapidly.

Chief of Defence Force lieutenant General Mateparae says RAMSi is a Pacific response

“the challenge for our defence Force is

to maintain mobile, responsive forces

that can respond to calls for help from

the region.”lieutenant general Mateparae

chief of defence Force

one Force | 13

Our Pacific PragmatismHer name is mercy, and tHat’s wHat Her Humanitarian mission was delivering. The Pacific

22 island countries and •territories8 million people•30 million sqkm of •oceanbroad ethnic groups: •melanesian, Polynesian and micronesianNZ has strong •connections due to migration, travel, trade and history


to a neighbour’s request for help.

“The impact of globalisation has transformed the security environment in the Pacific,” he says. “The South Pacific will therefore continue to be a key focus for the New Zealand Defence Force as the negative aspects of globalisation bring trans-national threats to the region’s doorstep.

“The challenge for our Defence Force is to maintain mobile, responsive forces that can respond to calls for help from the region.”

Recent examples of the New Zealand Defence Force’s agility in the Pacific include the Royal New Zealand Air Force taking part in a multi-agency exercise involving New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, the Cook islands, the Forum Fisheries Agency and the uS Coast Guard, which aimed to catch and deter people from illegal fishing in Pacific countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).

Earlier this year, the New Zealand Defence Force also participated in a six-nations exercise in Noumea, Exercise Croix Du Sud, which brought together military forces from France, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, vanuatu and Papua New Guinea to practise joint and combined training for disaster relief-type activities. Our involvement included the mutli-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury, a detached hydrographic support unit, an infantry platoon, two iroquois helicopters and support personnel.

in addition, a 40-strong contingent of medics deployed to the Cook islands by C-130 Hercules aircraft under Exercise Tropic Twilight, to provide health and dental support. The Defence Force also conducted a number of secondary tasks in the region including delivering emergency supplies by C-130 Hercules for victims of severe flooding in the eastern province of Oro in Papua New Guinea.

all-Of-gOvernMent apprOach“the whole of government context of ourworkinthePacifichasincreasedsignificantlyandislikelytogrowfurtheraspolitical unrest and violence are growing featuresofthePacificlandscape.Thishasbeen demonstrated by recent events in Fiji, tonga and the solomon islands as well as historical examples such as Bougainville. Internalinstabilityposessignificantriskstoour foreign policy objectives of a peaceful andprosperousPacific.Thestabilityandsecurity that the work of the Defence Force bringstothePacificarecornerstonesofbeing able to achieve economic growth and investment, sustainable development, and effective government in the region. Without the commitment and professionalism of the New Zealand Defence Force alongside other New Zealand agencies in the region many of these goals could not be achieved,”

Ministry of foreign AffAirs And trAde’s Chief exeCutive siMon MurdoCh

keePing our

waTers safe

One morning late last year, Joint Force Headquarters personnel monitoring the Automated identification System (AiS) noted that a tanker registered in China – the PiNG AN HAi - was anchored in the waters of the Coromandel Peninsula.

The NZ Customs liaison Officer to the NMCC (NZC-lO) checked Customs information on the vessel and found it had been cleared from Tauranga to proceed to Taiwan. But in anchoring inside NZ territorial waters, the vessel had committed a breach of Customs law.

The first report that the PiNG AN HAi was anchored was of concern to Customs because it was in contravention of its clearance to proceed overseas.

The NMCC’s initial task is to determine what is the greatest possible risk to New Zealand in the situation, and how to deploy the assets available to mitigate that risk.

The possible risks ranged from relatively minor (illegal anchoring) to more serious concerns such as illegal landing of people or goods, or environmental damage from ballast water or tank cleaning.

The NZC-lO consulted the Maritime Operations Officer (J33M) to see which naval vessels were in the area that could be diverted to investigate the vessel if required. HMNZS TE KAHA had just sailed from Devonport and was advised to prepare to be tasked for this.

NZ Customs advised Ping An Hai’s agent her Outbound Clearance had been revoked and the agent should direct the tanker

to return to Tauranga. in the course of the conversation with the agent, it was discovered the vessel might be cleaning tanks or discharging ballast, which would pose a pollution hazard.

HMNZS TE KAHA was directed by the J33M to conduct a visual inspection and ascertain if the vessel was conducting any activity inconsistent with anchoring under ‘Force Majeure’, in particular cleaning tanks or discharging ballast.

A Navy Seasprite helicopter from 6 Squadron joining HMNZS TE MANA for previously planned activity, was then directed to conduct a visual inspection of the Ping An Hai to ascertain any discharge overboard which could also lead to pollution.

When contacted by TE KAHA, the Ping An Hai advised she had anchored to seek shelter from the previous evening’s high winds.

TE KAHA and the Seasprite confirmed no sign of pollution from the vessel. After no pollution risk was established, Maritime NZ and Department of Conservation were

no longer concerned about the vessel’s presence. The tanker advised she had been ordered to sail by her agent, and left for Tauranga.

This incident illustrates how the command and control mechanisms between civil agencies and the NZDF work to benefit New Zealand as a whole.

The NMCC is under the governance of Customs and brings together several agencies: the New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand Customs Service, Ministry of Fisheries, Department of Conservation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Maritime New Zealand, and the New Zealand Police.

hmnZs te mana

PIng an haI

hmnZs te Kaha

Auckland

Coromandel

THE DEFENCE FORCE AND THE NATiONAl MARiTiME

COORDiNATiON CENTRE

The case of The PING aN haI IllusTraTes The NMcc IN acTIoN

established in 2002, the national Maritime coordination centre coordinates maritime patrol and surveillance

information and activity to ensure the best outcome for new Zealand from a whole-of-government perspective.

“The NMcc provides an important and effective bridge between the NZDf and those government agencies that need access to the New Zealand Defence

forces’s assets”

rear admiral David ledsonchief of Navy


our globaldePloymenTsantarCtiCa NZDF personnel deploy to Harewood and Scott base

during the summer season in support of New Zealand’s Antarctic Programme (NZAP). RNZAF C-130 Hercules provide flights.

afghanistan NZDF currently provides a 135 personnel Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), leadership training support to the Afghan National Army, military advice, and operations and medical support. Twice a year a C-130 Hercules and 35 personnel

deploy to the Middle East to support troop rotations.

iraq - A Military Advisor has been attached to the united Nations Assistance Mission in iraq (uNAMi) since 2005.

israEl - Since 1954 the NZDF has provided uN Observers to the

united Nations Truce and Supervisory Organisation (uNTSO).

Kosovo - NZDF provided a staff officer for the united Nations interim Administration Mission in Kosovo from 1999 - 2008.

lEbanon - NZDF provided a 10-person Explosives Remnants of war Disposal Team. The team located, mapped and destroyed

unexploded ordnance. The 12 month commitment ended earlier this year.

pErsian gulf - in May 2008 the Navy’s frigate TE MANA spent

three months providing maritime support and security operations as part of a Coalition Task Force in the Gulf.

rEpubliC of KorEa - NZDF staff support operations, watch-keeping and corridor control to the united Nations Command Military Armistice Commission (uNCMAC).

sinai pEninsula - NZDF provides a 26 person contingent to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in driver tasking, courses and training along with monitoring the operation of the Egyptian Border Guard Force.

solomon islands - Since 2003 the NZDF has provided support to the Participating Police Force (PPF) with a platoon of 43 currently in theatre conducting local and provincial presence patrols and security patrols as part of the military component of the Regional

Assistance Mission Solomon islands (RAMSi).

sudan - NZDF provides Military Observers and Staff Officer assistance to the uN Mission in Sudan (uNMiS).

syria - Since 1954 the NZDF has provided uN Observers to the united Nations Truce and Supervisory Organisation (uNTSO).

timor-lEstE - The NZDF is involved in the united Nations Mission in Timor-leste (uNMiT). An infantry company of 148 people is deployed, and helicopter support from the RNZAF (2 helicopters and 32 people) provides aero-medical evacuation, and moves stores and personnel as part of the ANZAC Aviation Group.

unitEd statEs of amEriCa - Since 2003, an NZDF National Planning Element (NPE) and operational support has been based at uS CENTCOM in Florida for liaison and planning.

As at 1 September 2008 there were 661 New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed on peace keeping operations, uN missions and exercises around the world.

2008


afghanIstan

suDan

IraqegyPtIsrael

/syrIaKOsOVO

rePublIc Of KOrea

usa

sOlOmOn IslanD

s

anta

rct

Ica

PersIan gulf

tImOr-leste

Deployments overseas can offer the ultimate in military experience, but for

families they can offer fear and anxiety.

By Carol Voyce, Deployment Services Officer

Peaceof mind:suPPortiNg

FAmilies

it was April 1941 when Gunner Henry Pierson boarded the Niew Amsterdam at wellington, bound for distant shores. with his fellow comrades, he had volunteered for service abroad. Medically cleared and with some basic pre-deployment training behind him he was embarking on a journey with an unpredictable outcome. Four years later he was fortunate to return, but his deployment had been marked by intermittent and unreliable contact from home and a great fear of the unknown for those he had left behind.

Thankfully, some 67 years later, this true life scenario is ‘history’.

How things have changed! Nowadays you still see the tears at airport departures and homecomings, but behind the scenes a very different situation is unfolding. with more than 700 service personnel on deployments in 16 locations worldwide, a new perspective on family support has emerged. Not only do we prepare our soldiers to an outstanding level of expertise, we also prepare and support their families for and during their journey ahead and on their return.

Deployments are a way of life for our Regular and Territorial Force Service Personnel. For many, deployments overseas offer the ultimate in military experience, but for families they can offer fear, anxiety and the unknown. Both service personnel and their families must make huge sacrifices for a deployment to be a success.

Deployment Services Officers and welfare Support Officers have one objective: ‘Peace of Mind’ for those at home and those abroad.

The key to this is quality, timely information. Prior to deployment families learn about deployment locations, the daily lives of the soldiers, security states, welfare support systems and strategies for coping with change, anxiety and new responsibilities.

importantly, they meet with others in the same situation and establish their own network systems. Armed with great resources, everyone can be well prepared for a separation, as the fear of the unknown and sense of isolation diminish.

Media coverage often focuses on disasters and tragedies, and deployment locations, in a world of unrest, feature highly on their agenda. This coverage can be frightening and unsettling for those at home but Support Services are just a phone call away to help set the record straight. Our family support service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

while those at home are always in the thoughts of deployed Service Personnel, they are able to concentrate on their job abroad if they know support is on hand for their loved ones. A regular newsletter offers news and views from deployment locations and with informal get togethers and tour updates, our efforts towards achieving and maintaining ‘peace of mind’ are constant.

while reunions may present new challenges we find that for many, lives end up being enriched by the separation. There’s a sense of pride in knowing that the many sacrifices made by all have enhanced the lives of those less fortunate than us for so much longer.

Family commitment has enabled our Service Personnel to bring stability to fragile nations far away. Thanks to Gunner Henry Pierson, his comrades, our soldiers and our families of today, we now have a recognised system in place which allows those who continue to admirably serve their country, to have, for their families and themselves, peace of mind.

sustainabilityDEFENCE

Rear Admiral Jack Steer, vice Chief of Defence Force with his ceremonial vehicle, a Hyundai Grandeur diesel. This vehicle uses only 7.9l/km and emits a low 208g/km of CO2.

Staff Sergeant Rob Mowatt outside the recently completed Trentham barracks. The new barracks building includes integrated solar water heating for providing hot

water and space heating and is designed to reduce the consumption of gas by up to 70% during the warmer

months of the year.

A range of sustainability initiatives have been undertaken over recent years and

effort has been ramped up this year with the development of an NZDF “Sustainable

Practice Action Plan” and the appointment of Dr Graeme Benny as NZDF’s “Sustainability

Champion”.

“we all have a part to play, not only being friendlier to the environment, but in doing

things better and more efficiently. it’s about reducing our impact on the environment and

at the same time being safer and more cost effective in our business practices. we’re

aiming to integrate sustainability across NZDF. we’ve already started doing it and it’s making

a difference” says Dr Benny.

NZDF became a partner agency in the Govt3 Towards Sustainable Practice public sector leadership programme in 2005 and has integrated sustainability considerations into a range of projects over recent years, such as:

Energy efficiency improvements at existing camp and base facilities • Energy efficient design of new and leased buildings such as Defence House • in central wellington and new barrack accommodation at Trenthamwaste recycling • More fuel efficient and climate friendly models introduced into the NZDF • vehicle fleet, andMore sustainable products introduced into the NZDF office products • catalogue.

As a single agency, NZDF is the largest energy user and greenhouse gas emitter in the public sector. within the Govt3 programme NZDF therefore has an important role in contributing to Government’s goal of making New Zealand more sustainable.

The focus of the current programme is to improve our practices in buildings and other facilities, procurement, waste minimisation, water conservation, transport and managing greenhouse gas emissions. “initially we’re keen to improve our information in these areas and develop the capacity of our people to make effective change,” says Dr Benny. “Already we’re seeing significant improvements in the monitoring of energy use in buildings as well as fuel use across all NZDF vehicles and platforms. But in order to successfully manage these issues we need our people to be aware and committed to improvement”.

Over coming months NZDF will be promoting the programme and working to further integrate sustainability into current policies and business practices. “Sustainability within the Defence Force is not a short term project. it will become business as usual and will benefit us all,” Dr Benny says.

NZDF is improving its business practices by making them more environmentally and socially sustainable.


Territorial Force personnel, part time naval reservists, and RNZAF active reservists help the Defence Force meet its operational commitments at home and internationally. The approximately 2500 Territorial Force and Navy and Air Force reserves are made up of New Zealanders from a range of professions, and include accountants, lawyers, students and politicians.

As volunteers they are expected to maintain a good standard of fitness and must commit a minimum of 20 days each year to training, including night parades, weekend exercises, longer exercises and promotion courses.

Historically Territorial Force personnel have comprised around 10 per cent of deployed troops to Timor-leste, but they currently make up about three quarters of NZDF personnel deployed to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon islands. Territorial soldiers and Officers have also been active on peacekeeping missions to lebanon, Sinai, Bosnia, Sierra leone, Bougainville, Afghanistan, and iraq.

Reservists in each of the services bring to their tasks valuable skills they gain in their civilian lives. As part time soldiers they have the best of both worlds: a normal civilian life while also experiencing the challenges of military life.

ROYAl NEw ZEAlAND NAvAl vOluNTEER RESERvENaval Reserves have existed in New Zealand since 1860, when local citizens volunteered to train as part time sailors to help regular naval forces defend New Zealand and her interests. Reservists are typically people with regular jobs (although some are tertiary students or full time parents) who get paid for the spare time they spend as a member of the Naval Reserve. They work along side Regular Force personnel in the Navy’s ships and support the Navy’s contribution to operational missions overseas. There are currently around 260 people in the Naval Reserve. life in the Naval Reserve is busy, challenging and never boring. in addition to their full-time civilian occupations, Naval reservists are also high achievers in their roles as ‘part time sailors’. There are four main Naval Reserve units located in Auckland, wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin and a sub unit in the port of Tauranga.

RNZAF ACTivE RESERvE (AR-F)The RNZAF currently has a Territorial Air Force comprising predominantly band members and Air Traffic Controllers. in a new initiative, Chief of Air Force, Air vice-Marshal Graham lintott (below) has recently announced the implementation of the RNZAF Active Reserve (AR-F). AvM lintott says having a workable Reserve capacity will provide units with another option to overcome any personnel shortfall in meeting their annual outputs. “it is my intent that the AR-F personnel will become an integral part of our team as we work towards being an Air Force that is the best in all that we do”, he says.

“Becoming part of the Territorial Force has provided me with excitement and direction, and prompted me to push the boundaries of what i believed were my physical limits,” says Private Tracy Anderson (pictured here, on right, with medic Sarah Blundell).

“i was at a point in my life where i had gone as far as i could with work and study. My next steps were to either work overseas or begin a PhD. Both seemed unappealing at that point in my life. My life has been enriched by the quality of the people i have met, the challenges that have been put before me, and what i have been able to achieve. i have an understanding of what team work is now, which i didn’t have previously and would never have had if i had not joined the TF. it‘s had a positive flow-on in my personal and working life.”

in civilian life Tracy Anderson is a non-sworn member of the NZ Police in wellington, and works on initiatives involving stopping family violence. She became firm friends with medic Sarah Blundell as they dug in together on a recent exercise.

TERRiTORiAl FORCE wOMEN

TERRiTORiAl FORCES EMPlOYER SuPPORT COuNCil (TFESC)The Territorial Forces Employer Support Council was set up in 2006 to promote service in the Territorial Forces and to facilitate good relations between part time Reserve personnel and their civilian employers.

Although legislation already provided for reserve forces to train without risking loss of employment, the Territorial Forces Employer Support Council interacts with employers and employer groups about any concerns they have as employers of Reserve personnel - such as letting staff deploy during busy periods of work. The council also communicates to employers the importance of Reserve Forces for the generation of New Zealand’s strategic military capability and the advantages of having employees train in the military.

The TFESC recently began an awards programme in recognition of employers who are particularly supportive of their TF employees. This year they named law firm Minter Ellison Rudd watts as 2008 Employer of the Year in acknowledgment of their support of solicitor and Territorial Nick Jones (pictured left). Nick says he was grateful about the way Minter Ellison viewed his recent deployment to the Solomon islands as a member of the Territorial Forces:

“My employer saw my deployment as being a part of my development as a lawyer and as a person. They really wanted to see me get out there and learn leadership in the ‘school of hard knocks’ environment”.

Reserve personnel have always been a valued asset and an integral part of the New Zealand Defence Force.

Territorial Force soldiers now have their New Zealand Army training recognised with formal industry qualifications by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

working with ‘learning State’, the Army has aligned soldier training with management and business qualifications. The NZQA-accredited qualifications are gained through a combination of promotion courses and unit-based training and can be attained by both junior and senior soldiers.

“The initiative means that soldiers and their employers benefit from

nationally recognised civilian qualifications.” says Major ian Bateman from the Army’s industry Training and vocational Qualifications unit, ArmyQual.

Fulltime soldiers who have completed their Junior Non -Commissioned Officer (JNCO) training received National Certificates in First line Management and Adult Education and Training in a ceremony at linton Camp on Thursday 31 July.

Both qualifications are made up of a series of unit standards that the soldier achieves through recognised prior learning and recognition of current competence for training, skills, and experience gained through the workplace and on courses.

As soldiers progress through their careers and complete other courses, or work as instructors, they will build on these skills to gain further qualifications.

TERRiTORiAl FORCE QuAliFiCATiONS RECOGNiSED

“formalising aspECts of army training with nZqa standards CrEatEs a win-win-win situation for thE soldiEr, EmployEr and thE nZ army” - MAJOR BATEMAN

The besT ofboTh worlds: reserve forces


NZDF’S OFFiCiAl ARTiSTSNEw ZEAlAND HAS APPOiNTED OFFiCiAl wAR ARTiSTS TO viSuAllY RECORD ARMED CONFliCT AND OTHER ASPECTS OF MiliTARY liFE SiNCE 1918. THREE OF OuR RECENT ARTiSTS ARE PROFilED BElOw.

COliN wYNN

Born in wellington in 1950, artist Colin wynn is one of New Zealand’s leading sea and landscape artists. He began painting professionally in the early 1970s when he moved to the west Coast town of Reefton to be near the coast. in 1983 he was invited by the Royal New Zealand Navy to be their artist, a part-time position which involves several weeks’ work every year. “it’s been really interesting. it’s taken me to many places in New Zealand and around the world that i normally wouldn’t get to,” he said.

MATT GAulDiE

Captain Matt Gauldie, 32, was appointed the New Zealand Army’s official artist in April 2005. later that year he completed basic training at waiouru to gain a better understanding of life in the Army. Captain Gauldie trains, lives, patrols and works with soldiers, often in the harsh environments in which they work, to best capture the experiences of his subjects. He says his five weeks in Afghanistan gave him an insight into all areas of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team’s work, on patrol and in its Bamyan compound. His popular exhibition, Faces of Courage: Through the eyes of an artist, opened in Auckland in April.

MAuRiCE CONlY

The RNZAF’s last official artist was the late Maurice Conly. He travelled extensively to RNZAF areas in the Pacific and also took two tours to the Antarctic. Squadron leader Conly was born in Dunedin and received his art training there. His acrylic work “Sunderland in Hangar” shows a Sunderland NZ4116 ‘S’ being worked on by maintenance personnel at lauthala Bay, Fiji, while ‘ventura attack on Rabaul’, shows RNZAF venturas over Rabaul township, Papua New Guinea.

Painting by Colin wynn, official Navy artist

Painting by Colin wynn, official Navy artist Painting by Matt Gauldie, Army artistPainting by Matt Gauldie, Army artist

Painting by Matt Gauldie, Army artist

Painting by Maurice ConlyPainting by Maurice Conly

Gallantry medals stolen from the Army Museum at Waiouru in December 2007 were returned to the Army Museum waiouru in a formal ceremony on 21 October. Chief of the NZ Army Major General lou Gardiner (below right) said:

“we are very excited having the medals returned to their rightful home at the Army Museum waiouru and the ceremony acknowledges the professionalism and dedication of all those involved in their successful return, including the New Zealand public.”

The returned medal sets include nine victoria Crosses, two George Crosses and an Albert Medal, stolen from the Museum in the early morning of 2 December 2007. The medals were recovered through a dedicated police investigation, and aided by the generosity of lord Michael Ashcroft and New Zealand businessman Mr Tom Sturgess, who offered $300,000 for their safe return.

meDAls returN to righTful home

SGT Murray Ken Hudson, GC

nZ army Joins uPskilling ParTnershiP Programme

The Commanding Officer of the Army’s Military Studies institute, lieutenant Colonel Richard Taylor, says many of the Army’s new recruits reflect the characteristics of the wider workforce, including having poor literacy and numeracy skills that could stop them from achieving their full potential.

“The upskilling partnership will help us to identify the literacy skills of all of our soldiers, and target specific training to address any individual skill shortages that are identified.

“By committing to this programme, the Army is ensuring that its junior soldiers are given the foundation skills they require for personal development and career

progression,” lieutenant Colonel Taylor said.

under the upskilling Partnership Programme, the New Zealand Army will use Skills Check, a testing tool adapted by the Ministry of Education for New Zealand employers, to conduct diagnostic testing of all new recruits and junior soldiers.

The results of these tests will be used by Army Education Corps personnel to develop remedial programmes where required, so that every soldier is able to meet the range of literacy challenges he or she encounters. These programmes may include formal instruction, one-on-one tuition, and working in small groups.

The upskilling Partnership Programme

is a multi agency initiative led by the Department of labour to assist and encourage employers to create training programmes to improve the literacy, language and numeracy skills of people in the workforce.

The Manukau institute of Technology is the tertiary education partner in this programme. “As a specialist in applied and vocational training, MiT welcomes the opportunity to deliver this programme in the context of Army training and life,” said Dr Stuart Middleton, Director of External Relations at MiT.

this year the new Zealand army joined the government’s literacy, language and numeracy upskilling partnership programme to enhance its soldiers’ development and provide more fulfilling career paths.


“Should veterans receive better treatment than other New Zealanders?,” was the question asked.For those gathered in the room – politicians, legal experts, veterans’ representatives, and the Chief of Defence Force, the answer appeared to be a simple but definite ‘yes’.

This was the launch of the law Commission’s discussion paper on a review of the war Pensions Act 1954, the first step on a journey to reform the war pensions system.

in late 2007 the Government tasked the law Commission with reviewing the Act. As veterans’ Affairs Minister Rick Barker points out, the current war Pensions Act is out of date and needs to be rewritten in order to meet the needs of current and future veterans.

“The government is committed to ensuring that the care and services we provide to veterans are of the highest possible standard, and the legislation which underpins this effort needs to reflect the changing face of our veterans’ population and take a more holistic approach to the welfare of our veterans,” he says.

The law Commission’s starting point for the discussion paper has been to develop a set of overarching principles – high among these being the provision of greater entitlements for veterans than are available to others.

The logic is simple: a career in the Armed Forces differs from all other occupations. People are required to subject themselves to the risk of death or injury, and they are obligated by law to obey orders and, as such, they have a duty to fight and kill if necessary. Therefore, there is a place for a special allowance to be paid to people who have been put in harm’s way by the State and suffered as a result.

Sir Geoffrey says over the years there have been piecemeal changes to the legislation but this is the first thorough review. Other issues identified include improving accountability and transparency in decision-making, and addressing modern battlefield ailments like post traumatic stress disorder.

“Any new legislation must meet the needs of service personnel in modern conflicts,” he says.

there are an estimated 45,000 veterans in New Zealand.•WWii veterans make up the single largest group, about 20 per cent of the total veteran population.•Around 5000 currently serving members of the NZDF are veterans.•

MakiNg a SubMiSSioNThe law commission will accept written submissions on their discussion paper until 28 November 2008. These can be sent to:Lecretia SealesPO Box 2590, Wellington 6001or [email protected] addition, meetings will be held at rsas in Whangarei, auckland, Tauranga, ruatoria, Napier, Wanganui, Wellington, Nelson, christchurch and Dunedin at the end of october and beginning of November.

A dutyof CAre

15,855 veterans receive War Disablement Pensions for disabilities that are deemed •attributable to, or aggravated by, service. Between 3,500 and 4,000 veterans are actively case managed.•

unrehearsed and without fuss, the rows of veterans quickly formed up and began to march. Despite their years, a tight and precise formation emerged, legs and arms in perfect unison.

Not just a remembered skill it seemed, but more automatic than that. Almost as if it were something etched into the very DNA of these old soldiers – another of the lasting legacies of their service in a conflict that our nation had too easily consigned to history.

But that was the very point for the thousands of vietnam veterans and their families who had gathered in wellington for Tribute 08 this year - for New Zealand to collectively recognise their service and remember.

Prime Minister Helen Clark summed the special week of events up like this:

“it is about acknowledging and apologising for the wrongs of the past. it is about respect for those who gave loyal service. it is about dealing with the legacy of the past now and in the future. it is about sharing memories of what happened. it is about reunion. And it is about welcoming our veterans home officially.”

The welcome included a mayoral reception, and an honour parade down the streets of wellington to Parliament. Family members carried photos of the 37 New Zealand personnel who lost their lives into Parliament’s legislative Council Chamber where a vigil was held, part of a whakanoa or healing ceremony. There was also a wreath laying ceremony at the National war Memorial.

it was from here that the veterans marched again so splendidly to a commemoration event at the Basin Reserve. Royal New Zealand Returned Services Association National President Robin Klitscher observed the sense of hurt and bewilderment felt by those who had retuned from war hoping to find normality again.

Chief of Defence Force lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae concluded with the simple words vietnam veterans had longed to hear for almost four decades: “Thank you for your service; thank you for your sacrifices; thank you for your contribution to New Zealand. i know it is long overdue, but to our New Zealand vietnam veterans - welcome home.”

when a framed copy of the war Pensions Act 1915 was symbolically passed from Ministry of Social Development Chief Executive Peter Hughes to Chief of Defence Force lieutenant General Mateparae, so too was a duty of care.

Previously the administration of war Disablement Pensions had been split between veterans’ Affairs New Zealand (vANZ) and the Ministry of Social Development. But the handover ceremony marked a change from 1 July 2008, whereby vANZ became the sole agency responsible for delivering all aspects of war Disablement Pensions.

vANZ, a semi-autonomous agency within the New Zealand Defence Force, then became an operational unit of the Defence Force – improving the lines of accountability and better recognising the life-long responsibility of the Chief of the Defence Force to

veterans.

“The transfer of responsibility for the care of veterans with disabilities is a significant event,” says veterans’ Affairs Minister Rick Barker. “This single agency approach is driven by the goal of making it simpler and easier for veterans to access the services and support they need.

lt Gen Mateparae says the New Zealand Defence Force views these changes as a real opportunity to enhance the quality and effectiveness of services provided to our veterans.

“vANZ now has the end-to-end ownership and accountability for the entire war Disablement Pension process and for the co-ordination of services to veterans. As the Chief of Defence Force ultimately i am accountable and veterans should know that this is a responsibility i take very seriously,” he says.

Our responsibilities

triBute 08

veterAns:


the defence fOrce is cOMMitted tO wOrKing with new Zealand’s

yOung peOple. as well as the tri-service lsv cOMpany and yOuth life

sKills cOurses, each Of the three services has its Own prOgraMMes

that highlight service careers and prOMOte the defence fOrce

values Of cOurage, cOMradeship, cOMMitMent and integrity.

one Force | 25

arMy careers experience (ace)

air fOrce challenge

Kia Kaha is designed to make young Naval recruits cognisant of their responsibilities

to uphold the Navy’s core values of ‘Commitment, Courage, and Comradeship’. The

programme highlights to Naval Basic Common Trainee Graduates (BCTs) the consequences

and risks to themselves, their families, the Royal New Zealand Navy and local communities

of poor judgement and bad decision-making aboard ship and within the community. The

BCTs are usually spoken to by leaders in the community and various role models. At the

most recent Kia Kaha session, former Petty Officer Physical Training instructor (POPTi),

former All Black Captain wayne (Buck) Shelford gave a motivational talk about exercising

good judgement and decision-making for everyday life; in sport, socially and in teams. Buck

spoke of his time in the Navy and the goal setting that required him to make choices about

his actions (‘Do i go out with the boys or prepare for tomorrow’s game?’). His key messages

to trainees were, ‘look after your mates, set personal goals and maintain standards’.

The New Zealand Army hosts students in Years 11, 12 and 13 during the school holidays,

who may be contemplating an army career. Students live in a military camp for a week,

talk with soldiers from different trades and are exposed to various aspects of army life,

including physical training. The Army Careers Experience (ACE) is designed to help students

gain an understanding of the various career options within the NZ Army by providing a realistic

and honest representation of trades and careers options as well as lifestyle to allow a better

informed career choice.

Every year the RNZAF runs a week-long challenge for high school students at Bases Ohakea and

whenuapai during the school holidays, where students get to fly in military aircraft, participate

in team building and discover the nature and range of all Air Force trades.

Of the 2008 Air Force Challenge, Ella Barrett said:

“what i thought was great, was how the entire week was packed with activities. There was very

little time to be bored. it was also awesome how we were able to visit almost all the trades in

the Air Force and get an insight of what life is like living on base”.

Ben Johnson added “Meeting new people from all over the country was definitely one of the

best parts of the Air Force Challenge and the new friends that i made in my syndicate just made

the whole trip enjoyable. My awesome syndicate leader, F/S Jacqueline Doolan-Tindall, also

made my trip enjoyable. She was fun and energetic and answered all my questions”.

The HMNZS Canterbury Scholarship was established by the RNZN Navy in

2005. The scholarship, which is funded from the Navy’s non-Public funds,

marks the long and supportive relationship between the RNZN and the

province of Canterbury. it entitles the winner to $10,000 towards domestic

tuition fees and course related costs or living expenses. The purpose is to

support school leavers from Canterbury in their first year of study at the

university of Canterbury in any discipline. This year’s scholarship winner,

Rachel Standring, is studying papers in Music, Chinese and law. She

describes herself as being “ecstatic and incredibly proud” on hearing she

had been awarded the scholarship. Canterbury Scholars are required to

demonstrate and identify with the RNZN values of courage, commitment

and comradeship.

Kia Kaha

Quinton Heke (pictured) was one of eighty trainees from the limited Service volunteer (lSv) Course who graduated in a recent march out parade, reviewed by the Minister for Social Development and Employment, Ruth Dyson.

lSv is a six week residential programme at Burnham military camp designed to increase the number of New Zealanders between the ages of 17 – 25 entering employment or further training. The course focuses on developing self confidence, motivation, initiative and team work. lSv is a combined initiative between the NZDF and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). MSD provides the operating costs while NZDF delivers the expertise and training personnel. Based on the 1645 British army model, lSv trainees wear military uniform and are subject to military law while resident at Burnham camp. Trainees also operate within the Army structure of Section, Platoon and Company.

At 25, Quinton Heke was the oldest trainee at the latest lSv course. He came from Te Awamutu and had strong supporters there who believed the training at Burnham

would provide a good starting point for turning his life around. His life experiences, which could be classified as colourful, enabled him to provide good advice and support to the younger trainees. He exceeded expectations consistently and was presented the ‘Officer Commanding Top Trainee Award for All Round Excellence’ and the ‘Peers’ Choice Award’.The Officer Commanding of the lSv Company, Major Cate linton says the lSv is not the “boot camp” it is sometimes described as, however it does demand high standards in terms of attitude and behaviour.

“lSv is no walk in the park. The participants are challenged continuously throughout the six weeks, and boundaries are pushed. Quinton rose to the challenges presented and approached the course with maturity and commitment. He achieved outstanding results recognised not only by the staff, but also by his peers who elected him for the ‘Peers’ Choice Award’,” Major linton said. On returning to Te Awamutu, Quinton took up employment with a company maintaining power pylons (TEMCO) and intends to put into practice the life skills developed throughout his six weeks at Burnham.

it is estimated that more than 70 per cent of trainees find employment or go on to further training within two months of completing the lSv course.

hMnZs canterBury schOlarship


careers

Exercise MARu was a recent multi-national, multi-agency exercise and part of the international Proliferation Security initiative. The exercise included ships from New Zealand, Australia, France, and Singapore.

During Exercise MARu i was the Boarding Team officer for HMNZS TE KAHA; others taking part were members of the NZ Customs, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), NZ Police and boarding teams from the uS Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy. Our boarding team spent a day with a camera crew recording practice boardings for a documentary-style DvD.

The practice phase of the exercise involved a weekend at sea to run through the planned events involving all four ships, and aircraft from New Caledonia, Japan, and NZ. During this phase, each country practised boarding RESOluTiON several times, greatly increasing all our skills in the area.

How did i get this great job? i joined the Navy in 2005. if you saw the ‘Snotties’ Tv show you will have seen me under training! By September that year, i’d earned my Grade 3 Officer of the watch certificate – the bottom rung of the climb to command at sea.

i served in the small patrol craft HMNZS MOA, then went to Canada to serve in HMCS AlGONQuiN – a big Area Air Defence Destroyer.

while in Canada i gained my Bridge watch Keeping certificate and became their ship’s Boarding Officer. i was promoted to lieutenant this year and joined TE KAHA. i’m now working on getting my Anzac frigate endorsements for my Bridge watch Keeping certificate during the big Five Power exercise off Malaysia later this year.

At college lance Corporal Craig Terry was always taking things apart and putting them back together again, “just to see how they worked”.

Now he can indulge his passions for electronics daily - as an electronics technician in the New Zealand Army.

Craig, 23, joined the Army five years ago to study electronics. “i decided i could join the Army, receive my training there, and then i’d be equipped with a civilian qualification i could use later in life should i choose to leave.”

Craig has just finished studying for a National Diploma in Engineering and has completed most of his block training at wellington institute

of Technology (wElTEC),

He also learns on the job at 3 workshop Company, Burnham, where most of his time is spent maintaining or repairing electronic equipment. while training to work on a variety of equipment, lance Corporal Terry most enjoys the optical side of it, for example, the night vision gear soldiers use in the field.

Now that he is fully qualified Craig is seeking a teaching role to train young Electronic Technicians. “i’m looking forward to teaching and passing on my skills and knowledge. The Army is kind of like being at school in that you always have all your mates around, but you’re working and training at the same time.”

Capturing the perfect shot is all part of the job for leading Aircraftsman (lAC) Rachael Main.

The 22-year-old says she’s always had an interest in photography and it’s a skill she’s been honing since joining the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 2004.

“i’ve always had a huge interest in photography and joining the Air Force as a photographer was a way to get experience and skills without a student loan.”

Once accepted on to the Junior Course, photographers start four months fulltime training. This has them looking at the way light falls and photography theory, while the practical side teaches them about different styles, from portraiture and large group shots, to aerial and technical.

This initial four months is then followed by two years on-the-job training, where the

photographers are sent out into the field to get clicking.

“The best way to improve your photography is to be always facing new challenges,” says Rachael.

During their two years training the photographers build up a folio, showcasing their talent and skills. Then it’s back into the classroom to make short documentary videos and learn how to work in variable conditions in the field.

Rachael’s career has taken her around the world, where she has captured the New Zealand Defence Force in action.

“As photographers we really do get some great experiences. i’ve been over to london photographing the unveiling of the NZ war Memorial, to Australia on an exercise with 3 Squadron in Townsville and i’m just about to go to Timor-leste for three weeks. These are the sort of jobs that really make me enjoy this career.”

PROFilE: lCPl Craig Terry - Electronics Technician

PROFilE: lAC Rachael Main - Air Force Photographer

PROFilE: lT Aston Talbot - Boarding Team Officer

Do you want to work in a variety of environments such as on board a ship, at a Naval Base or on deployment? would you enjoy assisting with disaster relief with members of other forces and other countries? An occupation in the RNZN is more than a job, it’s a career. Are you interested in gaining skills, working with state of the art equipment and having a job that changes from week to week?

Contact Navy Careers by calling 0800 GO NAvY (0800 696 289).

Have you got what it takes to be an Officer? A Gunner, a Cook or maybe an Educator? interested in gaining a trade qualification such as plumbing, carpentry or telecommunications? There are many Army careers to choose from, from apprenticeships to careers supporting Army operations to combat and specialist roles such as fire-fighting and education.

For all general Recruiting enquiries please phone 0800 NZ ARMY (0800 69 2769).

Are you ready to step up? There are two ways you can take the first step towards a career in the Air Force. Careers can be split roughly into four different areas: Aircrew, Ground Officers, Technical Trades and Operations Support Trades. whatever you choose to do, you can be sure your training will be world class and that we’ll help you every step of the way.

You can apply online at www.airforce.mil.nz or you can give us a call on 0800 Air Force (0800 247 367) and we’ll send you an application pack.

opportunitiesfor an extraordinary career

electrOnic warfare

OperatOrs As an

electronic Warfare

specialist you will be

responsible for operating

electronic systems that

collect, interpret and pass

on information to the

ship’s Warfare team from

sources surrounding the

ship. electronic Warfare

specialists analyse

electronic emissions

and operate a range of

modern and sophisticated

recording, receiving and

analysis equipment.

0800 go nAvy

infOrMatiOn systeMs

OperatOr As an

information systems

operator you will work with

a range of information

systems technology from

single user computers

to powerful servers. you

will work with the latest

software and hardware

in one of New Zealand’s

largest computer networks.

0800 nZ ArMy

divers on successful

completion of the

Defence Diver course

you’ll be employed with

the operational Diving

team at hmNZs Philomel,

performing routine diving

tasks. these include

ship’s hull maintenance

and assisting the Police

and other civil authorities

in searching for missing

persons, evidence

searching and disposal

of suspected improvised

explosive devices.

0800 go nAvy

intelligence OperatOr

your job will be to record,

collate and process

information from a variety

of sources, following

the ‘intelligence Cycle’:

Direction, Collection,

Processing and

Dissemination. you will

need to be analytical and

able to operate under

stressful conditions in front

line in field conditions.

0800 nZ ArMy

seaMan Officer (Warfare, Navigation, ship handling) to be a SeamanOfficeristoaspireto be the Captain of your own ship, a challenging responsibility that requires leadership, professional knowledge and skill, as well as experience. you will have the opportunity to command from an early stage of your career. 0800 go nAvy

supply technician, As a supply technician, your day will vary between physical training, unit and specifictrade training. your basic soldier skills are always maintained, and you get to enjoy the benefitsof the Army lifestyle. 0800 nZ ArMy

driver As a driver, you will be trained to operate your vehicle by day and by night, anywhere in the world, and in all weather conditions. you will be driving, operating and maintaining general service vehicles and will

gain a range of licences and licence endorsements. 0800 nZ ArMy

cOMBat systeM

specialists Combat system specialists intercept and interpret data and information from surrounding sources using state of the art sensors that interlink rADAr, soNAr and satellite based systems. Following Basic Common training, you will complete a specialised course at the maritime Warfare training Centre at Devonport, Auckland. 0800 go nAvy

pilOt once you’ve completed pilot training, you’ll concentrate on organising and conducting military operations and tasks throughout NZ and the world. required: A minimum of 18 NCeA level 2 credits in english, maths and a science subject, preferably physics. 0800 Air forCe

engineering Officer As anEngineeringOfficeryou’llmanage the maintenance of rNZAF aircraft and their mechanical, avionics and armament systems. you’ll be responsible for the safety, airworthiness and availability of aircraft. required: A minimum of a level 5 diploma in engineering (aeronautical or electrical) 0800 Air forCe

aircraft Mechanic As an Aircraft mechanic you’ll be a member of the ground crew, responsible for maintaining all aircraft mechanical systems used on rNZAF aircraft. 0800 Air forCe

safety and surface

Mechanic As a safety & surface mechanic, you’ll be a member of the ground crew, responsible for all aspects of maintenance required to support rNZAF aircraft operations. 0800 Air forCe


NZA 0957 Rcrtmnt-99x210-p 1 7/10/08 4:04:21 PM

Get into a job with a difference. The Navy is a ‘World Class’ innovative and technologically advanced organisation, we are expanding and

right now we are looking for the right people with the right attitude to fi ll a wide range of exciting and

challenging positions. We will give you all the skills you need to contribute, and have a boat load of fun

at the same time. So if you’re looking for excitement, challenges, a great team and you think

that you’ve got what it takes - contact us today.

www.navy.mil.nz Call 0800 NZ NAVY FREE TXT ‘NAVY’ to 5030

NVY2273 Navy News June_real.indd1 1 22/5/08 16:14:31






















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One Force · Force’s improvised Explosive Device Disposal - Chemical, ... are not always known...

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