A Decade In Afghanistan Remembered
More than 3,500 Defence Force personnel have deployed to Afghanistan since late 2001, with the majority serving in Bamyan Province, assisted by the National Support Element in Bagram and Dubai. There have also been four separate NZSAS deployments, and contributions to ISAF headquarters and the UN mission in Afghanistan.
The mission in Bamyan has been a major commitment and a significant milestone for the Defence Force. It has also been a key commitment for NZ Police and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade personnel.
New Zealand’s contribution to Afghanistan has made a significant difference to the lives of Afghans, says Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General (LTGEN) Rhys Jones.
“New Zealand is leaving a lasting legacy. Bamyan remains one of the more secure Provinces in Afghanistan. The Defence Force’s active engagement with the local population and our strong relationship with key leaders, coupled with development projects and community involvement, has helped to minimise influence from insurgents.”
“New Zealand should be very proud of the work that our Defence Force men and women have achieved in Afghanistan, particularly in Bamyan Province. It has however come at a price, and ten of our soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in the service of others.
“We will always remember them, and our thoughts remain with their families and friends as they continue to mourn their loved ones.
“New Zealanders have done a great job in Afghanistan over the past decade, and made a significant contribution to the future of the country, and to the lives of the Afghan people.”
Crown Copyright 2013 NZ Defence Force
Army Training Goes Off With A Bang
Combat Engineers from 1 Troop, 2 Field Squadron of 2nd Engineer Regiment conducted search and demolition training at the Kaipara Bombing Range in Auckland today. Combat Engineers are 'jacks of all trades' and master a wide range of expedient engineering skill-sets to support modern operations including underwater search, small boat operations and the construction of military bridges. - Crown Copyright 2013 NZ Defence Force
New Caledonia
New Zealand Defence Force Personnel taking part in a Joint Medical Evacuation Exercise with French Forces on New Caledonia – October 2012
New Caledonia
New Zealand Defence Force Personnel taking part in a Joint Medical Evacuation Exercise with French Forces on New Caledonia – October 2012
Going off with a bang
Combat engineers from 1 Troop, 2 Field Squadron recently spent an action-packed fortnight in the upper North Island conducting military engineer training. In what was a high tempo two weeks the sappers developed and tested their skills in dismounted mobility support in urban environments.The first week consisted of engineer search training with the aim of developing skills to tackle the contemporary IED threat within occupied and unoccupied structures. To kick things off the troop received a brief from the sappers in the Specialist Search Team at Papakura. This provided a valuable insight into high risk engineer search operations. With this as a basis the troop then worked through four days of training which included an unoccupied building search at Kauri Point and a rapid offensive search through a tunnel system at Whangaparaoa Naval Range.The newly arrived explosive detection dogs were put to work and proved a valuable tool in the detection of concealed explosives. The search phase culminated with an overnight battle handling exercise where the troop executed a strike and rapid search task on Kaipara domestic lines.
Crown Copyright 2012, NZ Defence Force
Exercise Alam Halfa
The New Zealand Army and Royal NZ Air Force are in the thick of Exercise Alam Halfa, a multi lateral exercise with the United States Army and Marine Corps. Members of the Canadian and British forces are also taking part. The exercise is a continuance of the increasing training opportunities the NZDF is sharing with its defence counterparts.The exercise consists of a live firing component in Waiouru where soldiers and LAV will conduct live fire attacks. This will be followed by a "free play" exercise in the Wairarapa next week
Crown Copyright 2013, NZ Defence Force
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