Central Otago marksman and NZ Army medic trained to operate in combat zones

“I always wanted to be a medic, and that combined with the physicality of being in the Army is the main reason I joined up.”

During her teenage years, Corporal Voice represented Central Otago in hockey, and New Zealand three times as a Western Performance Horse Rider.

After attending Maniototo Area School in Ranfurly, Central Otago, Corporal Voice completed All Arms Recruit Training and joined the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps as a medic. She spent the next two years at Defence Health School (DHS) in Burnham.

“I graduated DHS as a fully qualified medic in 2023 at the age of 20, with a Level 6 Diploma in Paramedic Science, and a Level 7 Graduate Certificate in Health Science. I was posted into 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR), Whiskey Company.

“I was excited to be a medic in a military environment with the potential of being deployed anywhere in the world to care for our soldiers.”

Over the past three years, Corporal Voice has spent three months in the United Kingdom on operations, and deployed on exercise across the Pacific from Australia to Fiji and New Caledonia. 

“Warfighting skills are part of the job of being a medic. I operate alongside infantry soldiers – digging trenches, setting up ambushes and in the middle of the noise and smoke – treating casualties,” she said.

1 RNZIR Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Caleb Berry said medics were a key member of the team.

“At the Company level, they ensure the best possible care for our soldiers as far forward in the combat zone as required. They are key enablers to the infantry and armoured crews, and a valued member of the unit.”

Corporal Voice recently attended Exercise Nui Dat in Waiouru, where soldiers from 1 RNZIR honed their skills across both mounted and unmounted weapon systems. This included high explosive and anti-armour support weapons.

Corporal Voice’s shooting career began well before her military days, with her father teaching her how to shoot on the family farm in Central Otago.

“Learning to shoot at an early age paid off as I qualified last year as a ‘marksman’ and was able to take part in the recent Queen’s Medal competition in Waiouru”.

The Queen’s Medal is open to all units in the NZ Army, and only the best of the best get to compete. Corporal Voice made it into the top 60 shooters, and at only 23 years of age, she’ll have many more opportunities to hit her goal of making the top 10.  

The title of Top Shot was won by Captain Philip Luke, a senior instructor at New Zealand Defence College.