The NZDF contingent lines up for a group photograph. WN-07-0036-77-tn.jpg.
After enduring two days of travel in a C-130 Hercules you couldn’t blame the NZDF contingent taking part in Exercise Suman Protector ’07 for being weary when they arrived in Malaysia.
The Hercules is a more than capable aircraft but travelling anywhere while wearing earmuffs for 20 hours tends to take the twinkle of enthusiasm out of anybody’s eye.
Fortunately the exercise made the long trip worthwhile.
For those that don’t know, Exercise Suman Protector is a Five Powers Defence Arrangements (FPDA) command post training exercise. All military action in the exercise is simulated by a computer and there are no real troops, ships or aircraft taking part.
This year’s event was hosted in an air conditioned tented camp at Butterworth Air Force Base in Malaysia. It allowed 49 NZDF personnel to work alongside almost 600 of their Australian, British, Malaysian and Singaporean counterparts.
The scenario saw a FPDA taskforce deploy into Malaysia to contain the imaginary failed state of Carrano, the borders of which encompassed a section of South Eastern Malaysia.
Carrano was determined to invade a large swathe of Malaysian land on its northern border, but was contained by FPDA forces over the course of the exercise.
New Zealand contingent sponsor Commodore Bruce Pepperell said he was impressed by the exercise and how the New Zealand contingent performed.
‘I wasn’t sure quite what to expect when we first arrived. It was a big learning curve but I was surprised with how well the contingent came together and how we acquitted ourselves throughout the exercise.’
Outside of working hours, which stretched from 7.30am to 6pm and included overnight watch-keeping shifts on some days, the deployment also allowed the NZDF contingent to meet and swap ideas with FPDA counterparts.
Much of this took place at the barracks on Base where the Kiwis were staying or during poolside chats at the Australian Defence Force bar 100 metres down the road.
RNZAF FLTLT Matt Walls said the social side of the exercise was a highlight for him.
‘As everyone in the military knows, when you’re away for a while with a group of like-minded people it’s almost impossible not to have a good time. The tri-series cricket tournament against Australia and the UK was a definite highlight.’
The next Suman Protector will be held in Singapore in 2012. It will continue to evolve and should be a worthwhile trip.