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Training Underway for Solomons Rotation
17 July 2007
The fourth rotation of New Zealand Defence Force personnel to deploy to Solomon Islands is completing pre-deployment training at RNZAF Base Ohakea.
The first section of the contingent will leave New Zealand for Solomon Islands on July 18, with the main body leaving on July 22. The contingent they are to replace returns to New Zealand on July 26.
Of the 43 strong contingent, 30 are Territorial Force personnel from 5th Wellington-West Coast – Taranaki, and 7th Wellington – Hawkes Bay Battalions.
The Territorial personnel have spent the last four months preparing themselves to reach a directed level of capability. The contingent will now hone its skills to an operational level.
The contingent commander, Major Sholto Stephens says the personnel deploying to Solomon Islands have been undertaking a wide variety of training, including driving light operational vehicles, weapon handling skills, revising their use of the Army’s new radios, and advanced first aid and combat life saving.
“We'll be doing many different tasks when we arrive in the islands but our main one will be interacting with the locals, finding out what’s going on and doing what we can to encourage stability.”
The NZDF personnel are expecting to work closely with the 35 New Zealand police who are already working in Solomon Islands. They will be based at Guadalcanal Beach, from where they will conduct their patrols to local villages and islands.
A contingent member has designed a crest specifically for the deployment. It represents the two primary contributing units -the rising phoenix and the stag’s head have been superimposed as one single image to represent the temporary merging of personnel from 5 WWC T and 7 Wn HB Battalion Groups to provide the pre-deployment with a composite Rifle Platoon.
This page was last reviewed on 27 July 2007 and is current.
