Auckland-born soldier finds his mark with the NZ Army and hones skills with Royal Gurkha Rifles

Now the 28-year-old Burnham-based soldier is a Section Commander in the New Zealand Army's 2nd /1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (2/1 RNZIR), leading soldiers in one of the battalion's most specialised infantry capabilities – the Fire Support Group (FSG). 

Corporal Van der Griend recently took part in Exercise Pacific Kukri in the South Island, supporting training alongside visiting soldiers from 2nd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles (2RGR), an elite Nepalese branch of the British Army.

Corporal Van der Griend attended Albany High School before spending Year 12 at Vanguard Military School, where he was Deputy Head Boy. He returned to Albany High School to complete Year 13 before enlisting in the Army in 2016. 

For him, joining the military was never in doubt.

"When I was a kid, I used to say I wanted to be a knight, but since knights don't really exist anymore, the Army seemed like the next best thing."

Military service runs deep in his family, with relatives having served in the New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Air Force, New Zealand Police and the Dutch military. 

After completing recruit training, Corporal Van der Griend began his career as an infantry soldier before being selected for the battalion's Fire Support Group, where he progressed through the ranks from a junior crew member to section commander. 

His inspiration came early in his career while watching FSG soldiers in action during a battalion exercise.

"I remember sitting there freezing in the dark and hearing the countdown before all the machine guns opened up. Seeing the tracer rounds and grenade machine guns firing down range, I thought, 'I want to be that guy up on the hill with the big guns'."   

Today, he leads soldiers operating specialised infantry heavy weapons and is responsible for planning and coordinating fire support during exercises and operations.

"As a section commander, my job is to lead the gun line, conduct fire planning and advise commanders on how our weapons can best support the battle. It's about delivering the right effect at the right time and helping create the conditions for our infantry soldiers to succeed." 

The biennial Exercise Pacific Kukri enables NZ Army and Royal Gurkha Rifles to train alongside each other, strengthening combat capability and improving interoperability in New Zealand's unique and dynamic training environment.

Major Samuel Ackers, Officer Commanding B Company, 2RGR says, “Our soldiers really appreciate the experience they gain from the challenging New Zealand terrain and value the opportunity to build capability alongside the NZ Army in such a distinct environment.” 

Commanding Officer of 2/1 RNZIR, Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Mateparae, says the training reinforced the NZ Army’s ability to work closely with international partners in an increasingly complex security environment.   

"Exercise Pacific Kukri gave us the opportunity to train together here in New Zealand, share knowledge and strengthen relationships that underpin effective operations.”

For Corporal Van der Griend, one of the highlights was the opportunity to exchange professional knowledge with Gurkha counterparts while demonstrating the capability of NZ Army's Fire Support Group. 

"It was good to compare the way we do things and see how closely aligned we are. They were impressed with our skills and how quickly we could operate our weapon systems, and it reinforced that we can work effectively together if required." 

Based in Burnham Military Camp and Tekapo Military Training Area, the exercise also showcased the value of New Zealand's training environments.

Corporal Van der Griend says, "Tekapo is one of the best training areas in the country. You've got hills, streams, open country and constantly changing conditions. It gives us realistic training that prepares us for a wide range of environments." 

Over his decade of service, Corporal Van der Griend has deployed internationally, on operations including in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea.

He said those experiences, combined with opportunities to work alongside international partners, have shaped him as both a soldier and a leader. 

"The opportunities the Army has given me have been incredible. I've been able to work with partner nations, deploy overseas and continually challenge myself." 

His role demands physical endurance, as well as technical expertise and strong leadership.

"Everything we do is built around teamwork. We operate in small teams where everyone has a critical role. The equipment is heavy, the work is demanding and everyone relies on each other to get the job done."

The Grenade Machine Gun, for example, breaks down to three main parts each averaging around 20kgs. With one of these pieces and a tin of ammunition weighing around 19kgs added to each of the team’s overall pack weight in the field, strength and endurance training is also important.

Looking ahead, Corporal Van der Griend is focused on developing the next generation of infantry soldiers and Fire Support Group leaders.

"We're always developing people and passing on what we've learned. Seeing young soldiers grow in confidence and capability is one of the most rewarding parts of the job."

Reflecting on his first decade of service, he has no doubts about the career path he chose. 

"The Army has given me opportunities that most people never get to experience. I've worked with great people, travelled overseas and been part of something bigger than myself."