- The Honeymoon’s Over!
By LAC Matt Liddicoat
The signpost to Dili
The first day back at work after my honeymoon earlier this year greeted me with some news, “You’re deploying on OP GYRO for six months, pre-deployment training starts in two weeks.”
It had not come as a huge surprise because I have been applying for operations since I finished junior course. That’s why I joined the Air Force, to serve my country overseas on operation. For nearly six years I have been employed in the RNZAF Communication Information Systems (CIS) trade, about 80 percent of my career working with field radio systems. Deploying on OP GYRO as a Communication System Tech is the first time I have used my skills to aid a tri-Service operation.
I was a little nervous on my first day of pre-deployment training, after finding out I was the only Air Force person participating. Nervousness comes and goes and with the first day down, new friends made, it was all good. The training took up all of April and the first week of May. It was good to gain experience from the Army machine, learning such skills as counter vehicle ambush tactics, section assaults, detain and arrest, individual protection for gas agents, first aid, environment briefs and a week spent at the booming settlement of Waiouru doing live firing.
When OP GYRO 7 deployed from Ohakea in early June to Timor-Leste, we left the low temperatures and road rules of New Zealand and swapped them for the hot tropical heat and the mayhem roads of Dili. Timor-Leste is certainly an eye opener. My job on OP GYRO is to provide technical advice on all things radio to all members of OP GYRO, development of SOPs for all deployed CIS platforms, Maintenance of all OP GYRO radio equipment and systems. Although OP GYRO is a land based operation I have found no huge difference between operating with the Army as opposed to operating with the Air Force.
NVIS HF testing
The good thing about being CIS is that principles never change. Radios are radios and apart from a few minor settings they all do the same thing. Giving your advice to a platoon signaller is no different from giving your advice to a pilot. The work can be very busy at times, and the days when it’s quiet are made up with physical training and personal development. The hardest thing so far is leaving behind my beautiful wife, after only being married for five months.
Many of New Zealand’s finest soldiers, airmen/women and seamen/women have done active duty in the relativity new country of Timor-Leste. It holds a great sense of pride to follow in the footsteps of those who have come before me. Timor-Leste is a huge part of NZDF history.
I have enjoyed my time on deployment so far and look forward to experiencing the remaining time left.