10 October 2008

As reported by Jo McKenzie-McLean

It is not every day that a nine year old boy gets to fire a machine gun at terrorists.

Flynn Schikker, of Mount Somer School, spent the day at Burnham Military Camp after winning an art competition called Operation Kiwi where students had to design a machine for the army or draw a picture to remind troops of New Zealand.

Flynn said he designed a Kiwi-bot - a big rocket-toting robot shaped like a Kiwi, complete with lollipop holders and a fridge.

Flynn was escorted around the camp, along with two friends and his grandfather, and got to participate in a variety of army activities, including a ride in a light armoured vehicle (LAV), a field activity with the infantry and the confidence course.

"My favourite bits were attacking the terrorists and the confidence course," Flynn said.

"It was hard in some bits...It was very cool and awesome and there was lots of action. I was poking my head out of a truck and had a machine gun and was shooting a building. My friends shot guards and we caught Captain Black, but it was just pretend. The gun was real but it had fake bullets."

Flynn wanted to be a peacekeeper in the army or a military scout. "(The Army) just inspires me," he said.