Second Bosnia contingent prepares at Waiouru

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 574, 21 February 1995, Page 6

Second Bosnia contingent prepares at Waiouru

By

Michele

MonaghAn

Three months of solid training culminated in a final exercise in Waiouru for soldiers of Kilo Company Two, the contingent that will be replacing the 250 New Zealand soldiers presently in Bosnia. The two-week exercise provided a last chance for soldiers to perfect the skills that will berequired during their six month tour of duty in the former Yugoslavia. Television and other media personnel had a chance to question the soldiers and watch first-hand. the type of training the contingent has been put through. All the soldiers spoken to by the Bulletin were eager to get under way and get on with the job. Company Commander Major Antony Hayward said that the Kiwis have been doing well in Bosnia. "New Zealanders have brought a sense of neutrality to the place," he said. He put this down to Kiwis having no "baggage". "We're ffom a different part of the world. We' ve no religious affiliations, no cultural affiliations, no baggage." There is some speculation that the second contingent will be moving to anTurn to Page 10

Bosnia trip

From Page 6 but this has not been confirmed said an army spokesman. At this stage an advance party made up of 40 soldiers leaves New Zealand on 26 February. The remainder of the contingent is scheduled to fly out on 15 March subject to the availability of a United Nations chartered aircraft. Of the 250 strong contingent, about 50 are from W aiouru . Queen Alexandra' s Mounted Rifles in Waiouru has provided 45 personnel to crew command and drive the M 1 1 3 Armoured Personnel Carriers. QAMR is the only armoured unit in New Zealand and therefore the only unit capable of providing the necessary armoured support for the Bosnia commitment. The infantry commitment for this rotation is being provided by 2/1 RNZIR, Burnham, Christchurch. Members of 1 RNZIR, Linton, Palmerston North are providing the infantry support at the moment and will probably provide it again in the event of a third rotation. Planning is already under way for a third rotation to Bosnia although the original mandate was for 12 months, with a review in nine months. Most soldiers spoken to said they hoped there would be a continued commitment to peacekeeping in Bosnia. Major Hayward said that peacekeeping for the first contingent had had a great effect on the soldiers' maturity. Members of the first contingent . will return to New Zealand on the same aircraft taking the second contingent over and are expected back in New Zealand sometime around 19 March.