Waiouru is Bosnia for exercise

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 599, 15 August 1995, Page 7

Waiouru is Bosnia for exercise

By Michelle Monaghan Soldiers earmarked for the third New Zealand contingent to serve in Bosnia last week gathered in Waiouru to practise and refine various skills they may need during their six month tour. The training culminates in a final exercise being held in Waiouru this week before the bulk of the con-

tingent proceed on pre-de-ployment leave. For about 50 soldiers there will be no pre-deploy-mentblock leave. They will instead form the advance party that leaves New Zealand and meets up with other New Zealanders at Santici Camp later this month. Over the last week the contingent has practised radio telephone proce-

dures, laying barbed wire, first aid, driving and recovery techniques and the fittihg of snow chains on various vehicles. When the Bulletin called, the troops were beginning the 'Engineer Sibua' module (survival in built-up areas). SergeantKevinFosterof Waiouru said the soldiers will practise various techniques used for build-

ing sangers (a kind of shelter and observation post) as well as shoring up supporting walls and blast walls using sand bags. Soldiers will also carry out house clearing, check point and observation post procedures as well as chemical defence procedures before moving into the exercise proper today. The bulk of the contingent is made up of infantrymen from the 1st Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment based in Linton Camp. 1RNZIR also provided most of the man-

power for the first contingent that deployed in September of last year. All of the contingents have contained an armoured element with Queen Alexandra' s Mounted Rifles in W aiouru committing Armoured Personnel Carriers along with drivers and crew commanders. QAMR is the only unit in New Zealand capable of supplying an armoured commitment. Two soldiers are reported to be voluntarily serving a second tour in Bosnia when they leave mid-September.