Readiness, activation and response – when rehearsal turns into reality

2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment’s (RNZIR) Alpha and Bravo Companies were participating in Exercise Vella La Vella, focusing on the development of its amphibious boating operations and sustained close country skills, when their training suddenly shifted to a live operational posture.

2/1 RNZIR Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Mateparae said it was a testament to the team’s professionalism and operational mindset that they were able to shift quickly from training into preparing for operations, demonstrating their flexibility, adaptability and readiness.

“On receipt of our activation orders, our priorities immediately switched and the unit moved to firstly withdraw the team from the West Coast and then immediately start mobilisation procedures back at Burnham Military Camp,” Lieutenant Colonel Mateparae said.

“The situation was an interesting one, given the team were away from camp training in the bush with reduced communications capability, and without much by way of transport options in the local area to start moving the team back to base.

The unit’s Combat Service Support Company quickly sprang into action, identifying drivers and transport vehicles to move from Burnham to the West Coast to collect the HRPG and return to Burnham so that personnel were ready to undertake their pre-deployment requirements.

“Overall, it was a great effort given the additional complexity to have the team back and ready to deploy within our required response times. It’s been a full unit effort, from our team deploying, through our logistics elements, our mobilisation team and the Battalion Headquarters who started planning as soon as we got the orders.”

Prior to the HRPG’s activation, Exercise Vella La Vella was split into two phases over a two-week period.

With the support of 3^rd Field and Emergency Response Squadron’s 1 Close Support Troop, soldiers completed a littoral (coastal) scenario on the Banks Peninsula where they conducted sea-to-land infiltration techniques with FC530 ZODIAC rigid-hulled inflatable boats.

The company then undertook the close-country phase on the West Coast, which included a 7km route-clearance through complex terrain. Soldiers faced challenging delay and disrupt tactics, but were well supported with reconnaissance, heavy weapons, signals and combat service support elements to enhance their effectiveness, and increase their chances of success for their mission.

Officer Commanding Alpha Company Major Mike Coom said both phases of the exercise reflected realistic mission scenarios in the South West Pacific.

“The close-country phase reflected terrain and threat conditions for soldiers which aligned with potential regional deployments and included full HRPG force element integration.

“This exercise was essential to ensure that the company can operate cohesively as a full Company Group in line with our readiness requirements, which was demonstrated with the live activation of the HRPG just 48-hours into the close-country phase,” Major Coom said.

Exercise Vella La Vella was an important element of Alpha Company’s continuous training and is one of the building blocks towards Exercise Cassino later in the year - an activity for all units within 2/1 RNZIR.

Elements of the HRPG are now positioned in the Middle East ready to assist the New Zealand Government-directed tasks to support the safe evacuation of New Zealand citizens, if required.

Visit nzdf.mil.nz/Middle-East-Support for more on the recent deployment.