25 January 2006
Greytown man Lance Corporal Neil Skeet has recently left New Zealand for his fifth deployment in less than five years.
Farewelling his partner Mel and two children, four-year-old son Toby and six-year-old daughter Britton, on 19th Jan 06, 26-year-old LCPL Skeet left in December for a white Christmas in the Bamyan province of Afghanistan. Along with 93 other New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team personnel, he will play an important role in restoring and maintaining stability in the province. He will be co-ordinating the movement of freight, stores and personnel.
LCPL Skeet joined the Army in 2001. Since then he has been to East Timor, Antarctica, the Solomon Islands and Fiji with the Army. He will remain in Afghanistan for six months.
"The highlights of my career are when the New Zealand Defence Force chooses me to represent my country, service, and unit overseas," he says.
The Provincial Reconstruction Team is the seventh rotation of personnel to the area since September 2003.
Major General Lou Gardiner, Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, says New Zealand Defence Force personnel in Afghanistan can be proud of their contribution. "New Zealand's PRT in Bamyan has received high praise from both within Afghanistan, and from other countries," he said.
For further information contact Major Charmaine Pene, Army Public Relations, on 021 487 980 or (04) 496 0296