Like father, like son

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Williams has spent more than half his life in Army uniform.

Enlisting as a rifleman with the territorial forces in 1995, he later transferred to the Regular Force and underwent his Officer Cadet School training in 1997. He’d go on to achieve significant accomplishments and overseas deployments including to East Timor, Sinai, Afghanistan and South Sudan in a variety of leadership roles and positions.

Today, he commands The Army Depot (TAD) at Waiouru Military Camp, heading up the Army unit in charge of training New Zealand’s future soldiers.

But Lieutenant Colonel Williams is also, first and foremost, a family man. Husband to wife Caroline ‘Daisy’ Williams – herself a photographer with the Army Reserves - and father to two boys, Angus and Sam. A military family, through and through.

“Becoming a father was a key milestone in my life – it meant a lot of added responsibility for one! But I remember thinking at the time that the next 18 years would be a large part of my life - it is amazing how quickly the time has flown,” Lieutenant Colonel Williams said.

One of his early priorities when juggling military and family life was to take advantage of what an Army career could offer.

“I tried to make sure that my time in the Army was an adventure for the family as well. While posting to different locations as a family means the boys have had to make new friends in each location, we have looked at the opportunities provided nearby in the outdoors as well. For example, while living in Upper Hutt we spent a lot of time tramping in the Tararua Ranges, and since being in Waiouru I have taught the family to ski.”

Part of making sure the family was on board with the adventure included throwing himself into educating his boys and their schoolmates on what he did with the Army. He would often go into the classroom to keep students involved and following his overseas deployments.

“For example, I’d go to the boys’ classes and talk to them about South Sudan before I deployed there. I’d take large maps of South Sudan with me and give them a bit of a presentation. Then later, throughout my deployment I’d regularly send photos and stories back to the boys so that they could share with their classmates and track my deployment on the map.

“Also, it was during that deployment to South Sudan that we used my mid-tour leave as an opportunity for us to meet in Singapore and have our first overseas family holiday!”

Juggling service and family life isn’t always easy, with deployments and time away from family difficult.

“At one point of my career I was posted unaccompanied for four years, and Daisy and I resolved that we would always post as a family after that.

“Becoming a father also changed my perspective when it came to work-life balance. While work is important, family is the most important part of my life. Being able to have the right balance between the two makes for a happy home and satisfying career.”

There’s no greater proof that he’s struck the right balance, than having one of his sons, Angus, follow him into a life of service.

“It didn’t really occur to me, but I must have made Army life look attractive!

“I wanted Angus to be sure that he wanted to join the Army, and that he wasn’t doing it because it is what I’ve done. I suggested that he join as a soldier, and consider Officer Cadet School in a few years’ time, as I feel that having good soldiering skills, and spending time as a soldier will enable him to be a leader that understands his soldiers better down the line, and that’s what he’s doing.”

Trooper Angus Williams graduated from Recruit Regular Force (RRF) Class 416 earlier this year, the first time a soldier has entered service while their father was Commanding Officer at TAD.

“I was very proud to see Angus graduate, and particularly that he was chosen by his instructors as the top recruit for his platoon. It was an interesting one separating my roles as TAD Commanding Officer and being a father, but it was also handy to hear the ground truth from his perspective to balance what I was seeing and hearing in TAD HQ. His time in the Cadet Force had set him up well for joining the Army, but our outdoor pursuits helped with his resilience also.”

Inevitably, with both father and son now in the same service and required to maintain the same fitness requirements, the prospect of some friendly competition is inevitable, even if Dad jokingly plays it down.

“I can’t compete with him! On the recruit land combat fitness test (LCFT) I completed it in a respectable 28 minutes, and Angus was 23 minutes – I had to remind him that I am also 30 years older than he is!”

Their family ties with the military may yet continue too, with Angus’ younger brother Sam recently promoted to Lance Corporal at the Rangitikei Ruapehu Cadet Unit. 

Lieutenant Colonel Williams’ advice to other young parents in the Army, was to lean on the support that is available.

“Individual unit social committees and Messes often arrange family-friendly events that are a great way to build networks for partners. Camps also provide some great support and facilities to young families, including things like pools and school holiday activities, so my advice would be to use everything that’s available.”