UPDATE 47 NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FEB 07 THREE SERVICES AS ONE FORCE

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1 NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE UPDATE 47 FEB 07 CDF: Personnel safety paramount Driver training enhanced Ordnance experts Lebanon-bound Peace of mind when Defence deploys Improving life for Fororshta Up front: the Air Force hits the mark THREE SERVICES AS ONE FORCE

2 WN Defence driver training under spotlight The New Zealand Defence Force takes its responsibility to provide a safe working environment for all its people very seriously, and sincerely regrets the injuries sustained by a soldier in a Unimog accident last year, says Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae. The Defence Force has pleaded guilty to failing to adequately restrain a soldier in one of its vehicles. The court ordered reparation of $35,000 to be made to the soldier, Gunner Michael Chapman. In last year s accident the Unimog collided with a truck, New Zealand Defence Update provides information about defence policy and people, and the activities of our forces throughout the world, to a wide audience in New Zealand and overseas. Its main stories are available on We welcome your feedback. Editor: Judith Martin, Defence Public Relations Unit, tel , Judith.martin@nzdf.mil.nz Editorial Policy: The opinions expressed in Defence Update are not necessarily those of the New Zealand Defence Force or the Ministry of Defence. The Defence Public Relations Unit also produces individual publications for New Zealand s Navy, Army and Air Force. These are available on request. VISIT OUR WEBSITES: COVER: Petty Officer Miru McLean farewells Leading Diver Joel Ngatuere on the latter s departure for Lebanon. (See New Zealanders join Lebanon ordnance clearing effort). Photo: Sgt Chris Hillock. (MC ) Inset: A soldier with his young daughter prior to departing for Afghanistan. Photo: LAC Brad Hanson. (OH ) rolled and caught fire. The truck driver, Shane Ratahi, died. Gunner Chapman, who was in the back of the Unimog and was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the vehicle and suffered a punctured lung, bleeding around the heart, broken bones, and partial paralysis as a result of brain swelling. Lieutenant General Mateparae said it was not always possible to shield personnel from harm at all times, given the nature of Defence Force activities. "However, this was not one of those occasions and the Defence Force accepts there was no excuse for permitting what happened to Gunner Chapman. I sincerely regret the injuries he suffered as a result of not being adequately restrained. "While the NZDF had policies in place at the time of the accident, these policies and their enforcement have since been improved as a consequence of the accident. Our policies and orders now specify that troops who travel in the back of military vehicles must be seated with seatbelts securely fastened. "Dual purpose vehicles that have removable seating to allow stores and troops to be carried must have the seats re-fitted with seatbelts to enable troops to buckleup." Lieutenant General Mateparae says he offers his deepest sympathy to the family of Mr Ratahi. Gunner Chapman is still working for the New Zealand Army, which is supporting his rehabilitation. The Unimog driver has pleaded not guilty to charges in relation to the accident, and is to appear in court in March. Enhanced training Chief of Army Major General Lou Gardiner (right) says he has "every confidence" in the way the Army trains its drivers. "A review into driver training was initiated in 2005 and the recommendations have been continuously implemented across the organisation. The results indicated the Army was providing a very high level of driver training and that the training is provided in a manner that ensures our soldiers are not exposed to unnecessary risk. "Driving is, by its very nature, dangerous. It is the most significant day to day risk faced by all New Zealanders. We have a duty to prepare our soldiers to do their jobs and do them well. Their jobs involve doing risky and at times dangerous tasks, they deploy overseas, and many will be required to drive military vehicles on what are little more than goat tracks certainly not state highways. "I require the Army to provide robust, realistic and challenging training within safety margins, preparing our soldiers for their important jobs both here and overseas." The Driver Training Review identified specific areas requiring further investigation. Some of the initiatives that are expected to further enhance the Army s training regime require an adjustment to policy and operating procedures, while others will be implemented into courses and training. A provisional Defence Driving Permit is to be introduced to ensure young drivers continue to gain driving experience in a supervised environment at the completion of initial driver licensing and vehicle operators courses. The permit scheme will be introduced initially as a pilot for selected students. Other steps instigated by the Army to improve driver standards include hazard perception training, and insight training which will teach students to make good decisions while driving. More training is to be provided in vehicle dynamics and manoeuvrability. Major General Gardiner said he was confident in the safety of the Army's Mercedes Benz Unimog fleet."the Army has operated a large fleet of Unimogs for over 20 years, and drives 2.8 million kilometres per year in these vehicles. They are very well-serviced and maintained, they meet our operational requirements and continue to serve the Army well." WN

3 Three Services, One Force New Zealanders join Lebanon ordnance clearing effort Ten New Zealand Defence Force personnel are familiarising themselves with the rubble and destruction in Lebanon as they prepare to help clear hundreds of tonnes of cluster bombs and unexploded ordnance. The team, headed by Lieutenant Commander Steve Lenik of the Royal New Zealand Navy, includes three Navy divers and six New Zealand Army field engineers. They left New Zealand for a six-month deployment on Friday, 9 February, and are based in Tyre, the coastal city near areas devastated in the conflict between Lebanon and Israel last year. The team is one of two the NZDF is contributing to the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre in Southern Lebanon (UNMACC-SL). Team members are working together to locate, map and destroy unexploded ordnance. The team is working alongside private sector organisations engaged in similar work under contract to UNMACC-SL, who will also supply logistic and administration support to the New Zealanders. LTCDR Lenik said his team was one of several from throughout the world working in Lebanon as part of UNMACC-SL. Although each team member is experienced in demining, the work involves mostly pinpointing, using specialist equipment, where the ordnance is, and clearing the surrounding area to enable it be disposed of. Some mine detection equipment is being used MC Petty Officer Miru McLean, holding a greenstone taonga, speaks at a powhiri on the Navy marae during the farewell of the Lebanon-bound contingent. to find unexploded cluster bombs covered by vegetation. Much of the destruction work is being done by the Navy divers, whose training involves the detonation of both marine and landbased ordnance. New Zealand Defence Force personnel have a long-standing reputation for their skills in demining, and destroying unexploded ordnance. Over the past 20 years they have used those skills in countries including Cambodia, Mozambique, Afghanistan, Laos, and Angola. Rear Admiral Jack Steer, Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, says the deployment is one where the expertise of New Zealand defence personnel can make a difference. "The New Zealand Defence Force has a robust and well-respected unexploded ordnance disposal capability that has been proven within New Zealand and throughout the world. The team will use its specialist skills in removing unexploded munitions to reclaim areas for civilian occupation." Defence Minister Phil Goff said New Zealand was working to ensure that the lessons learned from Lebanon translated into action to curb the use of cluster munitions. "Their high failure rates coupled with the widespread use in urban areas has had a disastrous impact on civilian populations. "New Zealand is at the forefront of international moves to limit the humanitarian impact of cluster munitions. "This month we will be attending an international meeting hosted by Norway aimed at winning support for putting in place a legally binding instrument on cluster munitions. In recognition of our leadership role in this area and our expertise, Norway has asked New Zealand to co-chair the meeting. "We will be working with likeminded partners to develop new regulations that will address important issues such as high failure of munitions to detonate on impact, banning the use of cluster munitions where civilian populations are concentrated, and banning the use of old cluster munitions. "We are working to try to ensure that the disastrous use of cluster munitions in Lebanon does not happen again elsewhere, Mr Goff said. WN Smoke fills the sky as Lebanon is bombed during the Israel-Lebanon conflict last year.

4 Peace of mind when defence deploys By Judith Martin It s homecoming day, and Carol Voyce s cell phone is running hot. The Christchurch woman has fielded about a dozen calls in the last hour, all from excited parents and partners. She s smiling. "I always do on this day it s one of the happier moments of my job and the end of another rotation. Then we do it all over again." Homecoming day is when 120 or so New Zealand Defence Force personnel arrive back in New Zealand after spending six months in Afghanistan enhancing security and stability in the former war zone. But while there s an air of festivity at the airport as Carol drapes a "welcome home" banner in the arrivals area, the past six months have not always been as happy for the families left behind when their loved ones deployed. "It s not always an easy time for them," she says. "That s why we re here; to offer support, and quality, timely information. But on the positive side for those left behind, it is an opportunity to gain new skills, and enhanced independence." Carol Voyce is a deployment services officer with the Army and is based at 3rd Land Force Group in Burnham, Christchurch. As such she is the "face" of the defence force to the families left behind when personnel deploy. Worry and uncertainty is probably the biggest issue people face when their husband, wife, son or daughter deploys to danger zones like Afghanistan, says Carol. "They worry about safety issues, what their loved one will be doing, and how they will be able to contact them if an emergency arises. Media news is so immediate now, and when incidents happen it can be televised within the hour. That sparks a lot of unnecessary fear and concern. Places such as Afghanistan can be dangerous; we don t try to deny that. "Unfortunately it is often just the disasters and tragedy that feature on television screens, not the many positive things that are happening." To keep the deployments - there have been nine so far to Afghanistan, and several others throughout the rest of the world as stress-free as possible for all concerned, Carol s work begins at least a month before each contingent deploys. Deploying soldiers, too, are briefed as part of their pre-deployment training. "Our team invites partners, parents and families to attend their own predeployment briefing. This gives them a chance to hear first-hand of the role and responsibilities of the mission, the current situation, extensive information on welfare and how to navigate the defence "system". Soldiers who have recently returned from the area and can answer questions give them an Carol Voyce: "We re there to support them when the going gets hard." update. Video clips give an insight and understanding of the deployment location. "They are also given a brief on how to manage deployment-related stress, and strategies on how to cope if things get tough." Things often do get tough for the families left behind when a soldier, sailor, airman or airwoman deploys, says Carol. "Suddenly they are on their own often for the first time, with young children and a home to look after. They can get lonely, the kids can get sick, and managing the day-to-day things alone can, for some, become overwhelming. Our job is about encouraging people to realise they WN WN Flight Lieutenant Jayd Hickey, now serving in Afghanistan, has one last hug with daughter Reagan before leaving New Zealand. WN

5 WN OH Beth Gibbens, 3, waves dad Keryn goodbye as he departs for Afghanistan. Mum Chris holds Emma, six months. can manage if they have the right support in place. We don t expect them to become super-heroes, but we re there to support them if the going gets hard." The Defence Force provides a unit point of contact to each family as additional support. Most people see the Deployment Services Officer as the first point of contact and feel more comfortable contacting someone not directly connected to their partner s workplace. Carol, a registered nurse, has an 0800 number, which she monitors 24 hours a day. "Sometimes people just need a chat, or to be pointed in the right direction for help which the Defence Force provides. When personnel deploy they complete a family support plan, so we are aware if, for example, they have a child with special needs or with a chronic illness such as asthma. We encourage partners and families to build their own support networks Captain Keith Bradley is welcomed home after serving in Solomon Islands. where possible, but remind them we are always here. "We re always here to liaise and provide other support, like the monthly get- togethers we hold, so like people, in like situations can meet, bring the kids, have a meal together and get the latest news and views from deployment locations. A fortnightly newsletter, The Bugle, provides families with a written update of happenings in deployment locations and at home, and offers general information, advice and handy hints. "Communication is vital in keeping relationships alive when people are separated by distance. It s hard at times, but it can be done. Those who are left at home with the children can feel like they have been left on their own to do all the work and make all the decisions while their partner is having fun in an exciting place. I tell them it s about making an extra effort, about being proud of what they are achieving on their own, and of what their partner is doing overseas. It s a short term sacrifice which benefits others less fortunate than ourselves for much, much longer" Her job extends beyond the deployment ending and the contingent returning home. "When people return home it s exciting, but that, too, can be stressful in the short term. Their partner has usually adapted to coping on their own, and everyone must learn to re-establish their role again within the family. Little things can niggle. Reunions can be fraught, and we advise people to try and have a break away on neutral territory to re-establish themselves and their relationships. "We stay in touch with the families for a month after they return home, to answer any questions they may have, or, again, point them in the right direction. Deploying can be hard on everyone concerned. We just try to make the whole journey a little easier for them. " Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Rear Admiral Jack Steer says the role the Defence Force s Deployment Services Officers play is imperative to the well being of personnel. "Over the past year or so we have about 700 to 800 people deployed at any one time. They are working hard, and are often living and working in quite hostile and dangerous environments. They need peace of mind. They need to know their loved ones are being supported, and that when help is needed, it s there. That link between our Deployment Services Officers and the families of deployed personnel is vital." Learning to cope Marie Race describes herself as independent and capable. But when her husband, an Army corporal, deployed to Afghanistan leaving her with two young children in a city she hardly knew, it was "very hard", she says. "I was lonely, I didn t know the ropes, and I had only recently arrived in the South Island. I discovered I was pregnant with my third child the day he deployed. Carol Voyce was my lifeline. She gave me pointers about how to cope, and how to look after myself." Her husband deployed to Timor- Leste some time after returning from Afghanistan. "That was much easier. I knew by then how important the predeployment meetings were, and that I had to establish networks myself, and make an effort to get to know people. It s still hard when, for example, one of the kids got sick in the night I had to gather all three up and take them to the doctor." When her husband was in Timor- Leste Marie became seriously ill and was hospitalised. She has since fully recovered. "I contacted Carol, who set the ball rolling, and they got him home to be here with me and the children. I really needed him, and it was a very efficient system."

6 WN A hand up for Fororshta A four year old girl from a remote Afghanistan village has had her cleft palate repaired, courtesy of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team. Fororshta, from a village in the Yakawlang district in Bamyan province where the NZ PRT is based, had difficulties eating and drinking, and it was expected her cleft palate could be socially limiting as she grew up. A cleft palate is the separation of the upper lip and the roof of the mouth. The PRT s medical officer, Major Phil Misur, says patrol commander Major Steve Johns met Fororshta in Dahane Kaash in west Bamyan. New Zealand personnel at the Regimental Aid Post at Kiwi Base, Bamyan contacted a charitable organisation in Kabul, which operates the Cure Hospital. This facility specialises in the repair of cleft palates, with visiting American surgeons mentoring their Afghan counterparts. They provide the surgery, and accommodation for family members at no cost. The NZ PRT commander, Group Captain Kevin Short agreed to use part of the discretionary fund he has to sponsor Fororshta by paying to transport her and her family to Kabul using a local contractor. Providing transport was not, however, as easy as it first seemed. An ill-timed snow fall which resulted in near white-out conditions meant Major Johns patrol had to abandon A life-changing event: Major Misur with Fororshta, her parents and her baby brother during the family s visit to the PRT on their way home after the operation. Checking: NZ PRT medical officer Major Phil Misur checks the health of Fororshta before her journey to Kabul. its attempt to escort the family to a rendezvous with the transport operator. The marry-up was eventually conducted successfully once the weather had settled. The surgery in Kabul was performed without complication, and after a period of recuperation Fororshta and her family were taken back to Yakawlang. On their journey home the family stopped briefly at the NZ PRT base. Through an interpreter they thanked the Kiwis for the organisation of the surgery, and the financial assistance provided. Major Misur said Fororshta s operation could be seen as being of minor significance, given that the benefit was limited to one family. "It is a life-changing event for Fororshta though, and ensures her a better future. And for locals it is a visible demonstration of the NZ PRT's desire to improve the lives of the Afghan people, complementing the security and reconstruction activities. For all members of the contingent, but particularly for the Kiwi Patrol operating in the western area, it is hard to beat providing assistance for a little girl needing help. It was a real morale booster." WN

7 IN BRIEF Canterbury sold Two years after her decommissioning, the Navy s last Leander Class Frigate, the former HMNZS Canterbury was signed over to her new owners in February. The signing of the sale agreement between the Crown and the Bay of Islands Canterbury Charitable Trust took place at Te Taua Moana Marae. His Excellency the Governor General of New Zealand, the Honourable Anand Satyanand witnessed the signing. Singapore meeting New Zealand Defence Minister Phil Goff has met with Dr Ng Eng Hen, Singapore's Minister for Labour and Second Minister for Defence, for talks on defence cooperation and regional security issues. UP FRONT Hitting the mark "When it comes to dropping humanitarian aid, equipment or troops from an aircraft, it s all about precision and teamwork. Earlier this year about 250 aircrew, maintainers and support personnel took part in an exercise in Hawkes Bay to ensure our low-level flying skills are up to scratch, and loads are delivered exactly where and when they are required. Exercise Skytrain was an RNZAF 40 Squadron exercise focusing on tactical low-level flying. We had support from an Air Force Iroquois and from soldiers from the New Zealand Army. Aircraft from New Dr Ng was in New Zealand to attend Exercise Thunder Warrior an annual artillery exercise held in Waiouru involving 470 Singapore Armed Forces personnel. "Singapore is New Zealand's closest Asian defence partner, said Mr Goff. "We have a long-standing relationship which is today marked by increasing cooperation in training, defence exercises and security dialogue. "Singapore worked closely with New Zealand in its first peacekeeping deployment in Timor Leste and we will be exploring future opportunities to cooperate in this area. "Both countries have a strong interest in contributing to a stable and cooperative regional environment and international order. Caledonia also took part in the exercise. Navigators programme all the aircraft s electronic systems, which include an inertial navigation system, GPS, and computerised map. I direct the aircraft to where it has to be, and where loads are to be dropped. During low-level sorties the navigator calls the time when the load is to be dropped. If all goes to plan the load will land on the drop zone within seconds of the planned time. We pride ourselves on getting it right. Other people are depending on you, and lives could be at stake, so accuracy, timeliness, and crew AK Defence House opens The new Defence headquarters building in Aitken Street, Wellington, is now almost fully occupied, with most tenants moving in throughout February. Defence House provides accommodation for headquarters staff from all three Services, the Ministry of Defence, and the Security Intelligence Service. It was built by Mainzeal, and is leased from Capital Properties. The seven-floor construction is L-shaped, and staff work in an open environment. The majority of visitors to the building are limited to the ground floor, although accompanied visitors can be escorted beyond level one. The building is to be officially opened later this year. Meanwhile, the former defence headquarters in Stout Street was closed in a ceremony on Friday February 23. Pilot Officer James Lawrence coordination are very important. The main attributes the crew requires are map reading skills, accurate time keeping, and precision when it comes to dropping the parachute load. The team includes an engineer, and two loadmasters who rig the load, drop it, and ensure safety procedures are met at the rear of the aircraft. The aircraft travels at 350km per hour, and because everything is happening so quickly the crew must have good situational awareness On exercise we drop a variety of stuff - large drums strapped to a pallet, tractor tyres and old military vehicles. I like the low-level flying the most. It s harder work than what we call strategic tasking, which is flying, for example, from New Zealand to Australia. All flying is great, but lowlevel work is much more challenging and fun. It s a good feeling when you achieve what you set out to do." Pilot Officer James Lawrence, RNZAF navigator. AK E

8 C O A B C D E F G H THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE: MAJOROPERATIONAL MISSIONS & ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD Bosnia H B Kosovo Sinai F Iraq Afghanistan Korea E G J United States Lebanon I Middle East A Sudan L Timor Leste K Solomon Islands N Eastern Australia M Pacific and Antarctic Oceans D Antarctica United Nations Mission in Sudan (3)* Multinational Force and Observers Sinai (26) European Force, Bosnia (11) Operation Antarctica, Scott Base, Antarctica ( 26) Afghanistan: United Nations Assistance Mission (Kabul) (1) International Security Assistance Force (Kabul) (8) New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team, (Bamyan) (107) United Nations Assistance Mission, Iraq (1) United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission, Korea (4) United Nations Mission Kosovo (1) *Personnel deployed. I J K L M N O United Nations Truce Supervisory Organisation, Middle East (8) Operation Enduring Freedom, United States (3) Regional Assistance Mission, Solomon Islands (44) Combined Joint Task Force, Timor Leste (148) RNZAF Pacific patrols/missions Royal New Zealand Navy frigates HMNZ Ships Te Mana and Te Kaha train, Eastern Australia (330) United Nations Mine Action Coordinating Centre, Lebanon (10) For more information on NZDF deployments see Children in Malaita, in Solomon Islands, get to know members of the New Zealand patrol on their island. WN