New commander for ATG

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 15, 8 September 1987, Page 1

New commander for ATG

Waiouru Army Training Group's new Commander, Colonel Bret Bestic, has travelled extensively around the globe during his 29 years with the military, Born in Whangarei and educated in Auckland, he joined the NZ Army in Waiouru as a regular force cadet at the age of 17. He graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in Canberra with the prestigious Sword of Honour, in 1962. Col. Bestic returned to Waiouru as Company Commander of the Cadet School for two years. He was stationed briefly at Burnham Military Camp before serving with the First Battalion RNZIR in Terendak, Southeast Asia for six months during the 'War of Confrontation' with Indonesia. He then went on to Labuan, a small island off the cost of Brunei. He was responsible for co-ordinat-ing aerial re-supply to Borneo with the Royal Air Force. Col. Bestic returned to Wellington where he took up a staff appointment and was promoted to the rank of Major. In January 1970 he was posted to Vietnam where

he served for 15 months as an operations officer with rank of captain. During this period he was, at various times: in command of a special air services unit of the Australian Infantry; in charge of up-to-the-minute co-or-dination; and attached to the US Army and Marine Corps in Denang. On returning to New Zealand he was promoted back to the rank of Major

and again posted to Waiouru Military Camp - this time as Chief Instructor at the School of Infantry. While in Waiouru, Col. Bestic was co-ordinator of the area's first Desert Fair. At the end of 1972 he was posted to Singapore as Company Commander. In 1974, he attended the Malaysian Armed Forces cont'd on p. 12

New Commander

cont dfromp. 1 Staff College for a period of 11 months. Col. Bestic alternated between New Zealand and Singapore for the next five years, during which time he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He was also responsible for initiating the publicity and marketing plan for the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum in

Waiouru, while he was the Army's Public Relations Officer stationed in Wellington. In 1982, Col. Bestic retired from the Army with no intention of returning and took up a retailing position with appliance traders L.V. Martin and Son in Wellington. This was his first nonmilitary position since leaving school and was a step towards creating a stable home environment

for his wife and young family who had travelled extensively with him. He re-joined the NZ Army as Lt. Col. in 1983 and worked for a time at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Wellington. In 1984, he attended the Joint Services Staff College on an intensive 6month course, looking at the politics and economics of war and took part in a study tour of the southwest Pacific region. On his return to New Zealand he was promoted to Colonel and appointed as Personnel Manager to the Army. In August 1986, the family moved to Canada where Col. Bestic attended the National Defence College in Kingston, Ontario, until his appointment as Commander ATG, Waiouru. His wife Pat is a qualified primary school teacher and very active within the community. Daughter Megan 17, who is just starting at her fifteenth school is an accomplished rower and has represented New Zealand on previous occasions. Son Breton 14, is attending Palmerston North Boy's High School. As Commander of the Army Training Group in Waiouru Col. Bestic is responsible for the welfare of over 2000 soldiers, the military community and the running of the Army Camp, which costs around $20 million every year. He took over command on 25 August from previous commander Col. Graeme Birch who held the position since 1985. Col. Birch has been promoted to Brigadier and is now the Commander of Support Command in Palmerston North.