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Light Fighters Show Their Skills
22 May 2007
The soldiers of 2/1 RNZIR had the opportunity to measure themselves against their peers and demonstrate excellence in their chosen trade during the annual Top Soldier competition in Burnham and West Melton on the 27 – 29 Mar 07. The competition was conducted over three days, and soldiers were required to complete a series of 20 battle handling exercises that were designed to test the soldiers in a challenging and demanding environment. Stands covered rifleman cornerstone skills ranging from weapon handling though fieldcraft, navigation to first aid and more. All the stands were in keeping with the unit ethos of ‘fit to fight, fight smart and fight to win’ as the battle handling exercises required soldiers to demonstrate competence beyond ‘just’ the skills and drills, with a fair amount of initiative being required to deal with added complexity to gain maximum points.
Day one focused on testing fitness and endurance, agility and speed with soldiers conducting a timed forced march in Field Service Marching Order (carrying pack, webbing and weapon) FSMO, gaining bonus points for catching and passing the CO and RSM who had a ‘short’ head start. This was followed by negotiating the confidence course and a subsequent water obstacle in the swimming pool and finishing the day off with an RFL that was conducted carrying their personal weapons.
Days two and three saw the competitors split into two groups with one group moving on foot around a 16 km circuit conducting 11 stands focusing on battlecraft and weapons handling around Burnham Camp. The other group travelled to West Melton and conducted five stands involving live firing of section weapons, a fighting in a built up area (urban type operations) activity, and an ammunition re-supply task involving some mortar bombs, then swapping for the last day. A total of 440 points (20 points per stand) was achievable in the competition. A number of soldiers were away on course and providing assistance to Combat School courses: one hundred and thirty one soldiers participated in the competition however, providing a good snap shot of where the unit is with regards to the individual core skills required of infantrymen.
The 2/1 RNZIR Top Soldier for 2007 was PTE Daniel Matchett from Reconnaissance platoon with a score of 353, points with PTE John Pokai from Mortar platoon second with a score of 344 and PTE Steven Griffen from Reconnaissance platoon in third place with a score of 338. The top six soldiers earned themselves a place on a deployment to Brunei on Exercise Tropic Wing 07. LTCOL Allnutt, CO 2/1 RNZIR, said it was good to see the level of determination and commitment shown by the soldiers. “They were determined and committed to beating their peers and proving themselves ‘fit to fight’ physically, mentally and across their core infantry skills.”
“300, half left enemy tank in open, HEAT Action” LCPL Simon Ralph assesses PTE Peter Wood on his 84 M3 Carl Gustav SRAAW drills as he prepares to engage an enemy armoured vehicle. LCPL Ralph is also acting as the number two.
The Rolleston prison circuit, the pace is on with PTE Julian Matenga leading PTE Tyler Harding and co. Soldiers competed in a timed event to complete the circuit in the fastest time with bonus points awarded if they caught up with and passed the CO and RSM who had a 5 minute head start.
Reaction shooting. PTEs Buddy Rea, Laurie Clark and Evans Reed engage targets with their IW Steyrs with CPL Ronnie Keelan standing behind and assessing/safety supervising. Soldiers were assessed on weapon handling and marksmanship skills with the emphasis on obtaining hits on the target, whilst remedying stoppages that occurred due to pre-loaded magazines containing blank rounds.
PTE Benjamin Gibbens demonstrates agility and strength as he negotiates the Burnham Obstacle course ‘monkey bars’.
‘Javelin up’ PTE Casino Rangiahua moves a Javelin round to a waiting Anti-Armour detachment. Soldiers were required to analyse a situation and provide appropriate advice to the detachment on the approach route of the ‘OPFOR LAVs (courtesy of QAMR).
PTE Daniel Williams engages targets with the LSW C9 whilst being assessed on weapon handling and marksmanship. Belts of 5.56mm were pre-loaded with blank rounds to cause stoppages during target exposure forcing the soldier to remedy the stoppages quickly and efficiently to obtain hits on the target.
Water Obstacle. PTE Karl Nielson keeps his weapon and radio battery dry as he negotiates the river (Burnham Camp Swimming Pool). Soldiers completed a timed activity where they were required to negotiate an 8 foot fence, retrieve a radio battery (5 kg weight) and then complete three lengths of the pool before leaving the pool area over the fence.
PTE Luke Dixon (now LCpl) briefs SGT Paul Byrne on what he has identified in the observation stand. Soldiers were assessed on their ability to locate and identify objects and then communicate this information to a superior away from the observation point.
PTE Marcus Amosa engages targets with drill rounds after successfully assembling the GPMG blindfolded. Soldiers were assessed on their ability to strip the weapon correctly and were then assessed during a timed event to assemble the weapon and engage an enemy group whilst reacting to a fire control order.
PTE Micheal Shadbolt teeters on the point of either completing the rope swing or another dunking while negotiating the Burnham Obstacle Course.
PTE Ryan Gilbert engages targets with the P226 pistol whilst being assessed on weapon handling and marksmanship. Magazines were pre-loaded with blanks to cause stoppages and force competitors to remedy stoppages quickly or risk missing target exposures.
Ammunition re-supply. PTE Ryan Gilbert carries his FSMO and two 81mm mortar bombs to re-supply the ‘mortar platoon’. Competitors completed a 6 km timed event at West Melton range.
PTEs Samuel Abel and Benjamin Drummond emerge from the low wire obstacle (filled with water courtesy of the Burnham fire station) as they negotiate the Burnham Obstacle Course.
PTE Tyler Harding throws a grenade into his entry point on Penneville house prior to entering and clearing the room. Competitors were assessed on their ability to act as an entry man, room clearance and their ability to select the best response whilst reacting to different threats and enemy situations.
This page was last reviewed on 25 May 2007 and is current.
