Army Reservists to be tested in challenging annual exercise

The exercise, based in the Waiouru Military Training Area, provides Reserve Force personnel with an opportunity to hone their skills and ply their technical expertise in a large-scale training activity, within different scenarios and utilising a range of capabilities and equipment used by Ngāti Tūmatauenga, the New Zealand Army.

The exercise replicates the scale and complexity of operations soldiers could encounter on overseas deployments and builds on Exercise Italy, a recent urban peacekeeping exercise conducted recently in Whanganui.

Whanganui local Corporal Ray Stewart, a section commander for 5^th/7^th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR), is looking forward to continuing his training during Tauwharenīkau within more complex scenarios.

During the Whanganui exercise, his team provided security for a Forward Operating Base, patrolled streets and provided security for ‘local’ community meetings.

Challenges included being in the centre of a confrontation between village representatives.

He says it was a realistic glimpse into security and stability operations.

“Some of the scenarios were challenging but the training is in a supportive and safe environment where we are encouraged to be put into situations we may not have experienced before. 

“As a section commander my priority is to give orders based on what the commander wants achieved, manage my section and ensure they are prepared for a variety of situations,” says Corporal Stewart.

Corporal Stewart spent five years as a youth development specialist working at the Youth Development Unit (YDU) at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea. 

This included working on the Limited Service Volunteer courses for unemployed 18-24 year olds who are not studying or training, and Services Academies within secondary schools, fostering skills and values to help senior students take positive roles in society.

Another Tauwharenīkau participant will be Lance Corporal Tom Oldham, a New Plymouth-based medic from Central Health Support Squadron, Defence Health Organisation. He also took part in Exercise Italy.

In Waiouru, he’ll either be a medic as part of a section, or assigned as a detachment medic working with a commander, doctor, nurse and another medic.

“I will be furthering my leadership and clinical skills so having a perspective of the challenges and problem solving that a platoon medic faces was a great experience.”

A medical detachment is designed to triage and stabilise a patient on or near the location of their injury giving them a higher rate of survival. Once stabilised, ideally emergency services would extract them from the location to the nearest hospital.

“I’ve been learning the basics of medic roles on night parades which allowed me to step up into the role of platoon medic. I completed my Junior Non-Commissioned Officers course last year and this has allowed me to develop those skills and put them into practice in a peacekeeping security role,” says Lance Corporal Oldham.

Moving from Australia, Lance Corporal Oldham joined the NZ Army Band in 2017 playing the Tenor Horn.  After serving four years the 25-year-old decided to pursue physiotherapy study and is now at New Plymouth Hospital as a qualified physiotherapist.

“A friend advised I join the Reserve Force in a medical capacity when beginning study. Since joining, I have worked and learnt alongside doctors, nurses, medics and Reservists with a wealth of medical experience in their civilian employment that have enhanced my learning in the medical realm.

“Joining the Reserve Force has given me a family culture and support network that I wouldn’t have had, and the opportunity to continue playing with the Army Band on a part-time basis.”