Soldiers & wives get ready for UN mission

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 539, 7 June 1994, Page 1

Soldiers & wives get ready for UN mission

By

Michele

Monaghan

Preparations by Waiouru troops nominated for Bosnia are many and varied, covering such diverse areas as armoured personnel carrier track work to checks on wisdom teeth. Soldiers have been nominated for deployment and were to receive confirmation last Friday. The Builetin was informed Waiouru personnel will move to Linton on 13 June for pre-deployment training. Vehicle preparation is under way, although shipping details have not been finalised. The United Nations have not formally accepted New Zealand's offer. Commanding Officer of the Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Neville Reilly said it is expected the New Zealand offer will be accepted. Formal acceptance is a technicality, he said. Personal details are being worked through, details such as life insurance, kit insurance, passports and pay. At this stage financial allowances for deployed soldiers have not been confirmed, said Lt Col Reilly. "Fm sure the allowances will be appropriate. I wouid be surprised if there were financial difficulties (on the part of families) because of the deployment." Soldiers are being given dental and medical checks. Soldiers with a previous history of wisdom teeth problems can expect to have them whipped out. Asked about this requirement, Trish Leabourne said in past conflicts, including the Gulf War, people under stress had problems with their wisdom teeth flaring up. She

said therefore that all soldiers had been screened for potential problems. The army is purchasing cold weather clothing appropriate for the harsh conditions expected. Some soldiers are buying additional warm clothing to combat the -40°C temperatures expected. Calculations are being made by every individual - how much toothpaste and nugget, razor blades and shaving cream do soldiers need for six months? Soldiers at Queen Alexandra' s Mounted Ri-

fles are working all hours to get the work done. Lt Col Reilly said most of the work is being done by soldiers not deploying. "They are doing all the work without the glamour of thetrip," he said. Lt Col Reilly said although he sympathises, he sees this as good training as most of those soldiers will deploy with the next contingent. Those left behind: Wives and partners are planning on how to spend the next six months. Many have said they are intending to move out of Waiouru to stay with family or friends. QAMR women had recently formed a committee to encourage closer communications between wives and girlfriends of unit personnel. One of the committee's aims was to keep an eye on things while husbands were away. Lt Col Reilly acknowledged the fact that the unit was lucky to have had that type of support structure already in place. Wives and partners are encouraged to support the committee and use the support the committee offers. Committee member Prue Woodard said if there is a glaring need that the partner can see before the soldier goes away, they should contact the committee. She said the unit will be at half-strength so wives can't expect too much physical help. It will probably be emotional support only, she said. The committee is organising talks from women who have been through long separations from their husbands. "We want to tell them that if they're feeling a particular way , it' s normal," said Mrs W oodard.