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Logistics survivability in the battlespace

Basic all-arms skills are vital for our combat service support force elements and essential to our soldiers’ survivability and lethality on the battlefield.

06 June, 2025

116 soldiers from 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion (3CSSB) have been on Exercise Rorke’s Drift in the Tekapo Military Training Area honing their warfighting skills.

Soldiers from 3rd Catering and Supply, 3rd Workshop, 3rd Transport and 3rd Army Reserve Companies utilised a variety of weapons and capabilities throughout the 10-day exercise.

Soldiers used the New Zealand Army’s MAG 58 machine guns, LSW machine guns, MARS-L rifles, 40mm grenade launchers, whilst also using our Medium and Heavy Operational Vehicle (MHOV) HX58 as gun trunks.

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3CSSB exercise in Tekapo | New Zealand Army

3CSSB Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel (LTCOL) Valanda Irwin said this training gives our combat service support soldiers a better chance of surviving in combat zones.

“Exercise Rorke’s Drift is aimed at increasing the survivability and lethality of our personnel by building basic small-arms skills to fight their way out of harm’s way,” LTCOL Irwin said.

“Soldiers practiced tactics, techniques and procedures that would allow them to break contact with an enemy using the weapons and vehicles they would operate within deployed areas of operation,” he said.

A soldier runs in the field with a weapon in hand, a second soldier follows behind them. The clouds are overcast and the grass is dry.

Exercise Rorke’s Drift tested our Combat Service Support Soldier’s basic all-arms skills which are vital for survivability and lethality on the battlefield.

One small and three large Army vehicles on a road surrounded by dry grass, rolling hills and snow capped mountains in the background. A soldier stands above the vehicle in the front - it also has a red flag attached to the roof.

Exercise Rorke’s Drift tested our Combat Service Support Soldier’s basic all-arms skills which are vital for survivability and lethality on the battlefield.

A soldier in the prone position on the floor, fires rounds down range as shells exit the weapon.

Exercise Rorke’s Drift tested our Combat Service Support Soldier’s basic all-arms skills which are vital for survivability and lethality on the battlefield.

A soldier fires a weapon from the top of a MHOV in front of blue skies.

Exercise Rorke’s Drift tested our Combat Service Support Soldier’s basic all-arms skills which are vital for survivability and lethality on the battlefield.

Army vehicles parked in the Tekapo Military Training Area at sunset,

Exercise Rorke’s Drift tested our Combat Service Support Soldier’s basic all-arms skills which are vital for survivability and lethality on the battlefield.

LTCOL Irwin said this type of training is critical for our combat service support soldiers as it enables the force element to deploy as part of the New Zealand Army’s Motorised Infantry Battle Group (MIBG) or Company Group (MICG).

“It is essential for us to be ready to integrate effectively as part of the MIBG or MICG because logistics support also provides critical back up to our frontline units and enables them to achieve battlefield success.”