Napier Reserve Force soldier builds on milestone competition win and readies for the world stage

It’s been a busy year for Napier-based Reserve Force Corporal Karlyn Butcher, who has taken his platoon from a prestigious infantry competition win, to the dynamics of open-country conflict scenarios near Whanganui this month.

30 April, 2026

Corporal Butcher, a platoon sergeant in 5^th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (5/7 RNZIR), has been taking part in Exercise Italy, which emulates a mid-intensity conflict in the South West Pacific.

The exercise develops platoon commanders in battle handling lessons and engaging in quick attacks in open country. It is part of a training build-up towards the Army Reserve’s largest annual exercise, Exercise Tauwharenīkau, in Gore in July.

The battalion enjoyed a significant milestone this year when Corporal Butcher led a ten-person team to victory at the fiercely contested 1st (NZ) Brigade Skill at Arms competition, held at Waiouru Military Training Area. It is the first time a team of reservists have won the competition.

Corporal Butcher says the Skill at Arms competition tests the core fundamentals and competencies of being a soldier and has set them up well for the challenges and pressures during Exercise Italy and beyond.

“I’m hoping the win will open the door to other Reserve Force teams in the future,” he says.

Soldiers prepare for a dawn scenario-based attack in Exercise Italy’s open-country conflict scenarios near Whanganui this month

Corporal Butcher previously served in the Regular Force, spending a large part of his 10-year career in Reconnaissance Platoon with 1RNZIR.

“My Regular Force experience definitely assisted; however, Reserve Force soldiers come from a wide range of civilian backgrounds and professions so are different to manage from a Regular Force soldier.”

As the Technical and Continuous Improvements Manager at Turners and Growers, he says his civilian employment directly assisted with his leadership.

“My civilian job has helped me learn to celebrate success in terms of people and it’s given me a different outlook on how to bring people along for the journey.

“It’s cool to watch our personnel take ownership of themselves, and we get some real standout moments from individuals.”

The capture of a prisoner who has surrendered, an open-country conflict scenario during Exercise Italy near Whanganui this month

None of this would be possible without family support, he says.

“My wife goes above and beyond while also caring for our two young children, so I can put in the time needed for training.”

The Skill at Arms win means 5/7 RNZIR will represent New Zealand at the Cambrian Patrol in the United Kingdom this October.

Cambrian Patrol is an Army competition, drawing teams from militaries around the world. This will the first time a NZ Army Reserve unit team has competed on the global stage.