Awards presented

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 413, 19 November 1991, Page 5

Awards presented

BY

JO

HOWIE

Two platoons of Regular Force Infantry soldiers received their Red Diamonds on parade in recognition of successfully completing their Corps training course last week. The course has been conducted by the School of Infantry since June 1990, and before this infantry men did their Corps training in Burnham Camp. The course is a very

demanding ten weeks which concentrates on the individual skills to enable a soldier to be effective in a rifle section. Weapon handling and shooting, physical fitness with endurance testing, field craft and battle craft skills are the prime subjects for the course. The second half of the course is the field exercise phase which incorporates the phases of war. The reviewing officer

for the recent passing out parade was Major Jerry Mateparae, who takes over command of lst Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1RNZIR) in December. When he addressed the parade he reminded all present of the proud reputation the NZ Infantry has earned itself on active service. He urged the new soldiers to prove that they are good enough to maintain RNZIR'S reputation. Present at the parade was Mr George Brown, a World War II veteran, and a former infantry soldier with 20 Battalion. He was wounded and captured on Crete in 1941, and was eventually repatriated from Germany in 1943. Also on parade last Thursday was Mr Brown's grandson, Private Palmer. This recent group of corps-trained infantry soldiers have been split equally amongst 1 RNZIR and 2/1 RNZIR. l