Duke visits
His Royal Highness The Duke of York visited members of 2nd Logistic Battalion at Linton Military Camp on 29 September.
He spent the day at Linton Military Camp where he reviewed a parade, viewed activities and displays, and shared a barbeque lunch with officers and soldiers of 2nd Logistic Battalion.
During the remainder of his visit, The Duke of York visited members of the RNZALR in Trentham Military Camp. The Duke of York has held the appointment of Colonel-in- Chief of the RNZALR since its formation in 1996.
Officers to Korea
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is strengthening its commitment to security in Korea, with the deployment of two officers.
Lieutenant Malcolm Hurly (Army) and Flying Officer Dan Abel (Air Force) departed New Zealand on 29 September for a six-month deployment.
Their departure lifts the number of NZDF personnel deployed to the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC) in Korea to three.
IT help in Samoa: the NZDF Mutual Assistance Programme
The communications and information technology skills of Samoa’s police are being boosted, courtesy of Royal New Zealand Navy Chief Petty Officer Barry Wilson, and the NZDF Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP).
Based at the police station in Apia, CPO Wilson is in Samoa for three years as part of the programme. A senior analyst programmer, he is helping develop and improve sustainable computer and IT capabilities for the Samoan police, and repair and maintain their existing facilities.
MAP enables the NZDF to provide professional and technical skills to participating countries in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia region. NZDF personnel frequently work alongside local defence and police personnel from participating countries, transferring skills and ideas, to ensure there is a "mutual" aspect to the assistance.
CPO Wilson coordinates police IT training, and advises and helps in the selection, installation, maintenance and administration of the police’s IT equipment. He also helps with the development of training programmes, and data bases for information sharing.
He says the position is professionally rewarding, and while there are occasional technical difficulties, "that’s what makes the job interesting. We source equipment from various areas, and some of it is relatively old, but we make sure we use it in the best way possible."
Prior to his posting to Samoa, CPO Wilson - who has a background in electrical/electronics as well as information technology, worked on developing applications for the NZDF intranet, as well as LAN management.
NZDF Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP) coordinator Major Andrew Morris says there are 14 countries involved in MAP; five in Southeast Asia and the rest in the Pacific. "The MAP with Samoa is part of NZDF's goal to assist South Pacific participants develop capabilities that will contribute to national stability and peaceful development. We are confident the work CPO Wilson is doing eventually contributes to strengthened security capability in the region.
"The MAP is about people - our people helping their people, but it is not just one-way. In my job I see our people gaining a lot from doing this sort of work. I have no doubt that both the NZDF and the Samoan Police have increased their professionalism because of the experience."