Sigs in the South

SIG SKILLS HONED IN SOUTH ISLAND SCENARIO

The technical competency and leadership abilities of soldiers and NCOs within 4 Signals Squadron was tested during Exercise Nestor Notabilis in the South Island recently.

An additional focus of the exercise was improving technical skills that had faded during the Covid-19 lockdown. It was held in Burnham Military Camp, and in outlying areas such as West Melton Rifle Range, West Melton Domain, Hororata, Darfield, Glentunnel and The Port Hills being used as remote station locations.

About 50 officers and soldiers from 4 Signals Squadron, a small element from 2/1 Regimental Signals and a small team from 3 Signals Squadron using it as a training opportunity. An exercise spokesman said one of the key challenges was planning the activity during the Covid-19 lockdown and changing times and locations that could be used. “The inclusion of elements from other units tested the detachments’ commanders’ ability to incorporate external personnel and revise standard operating procedures to suit.”

The exercise scenario was based on humanitarian and disaster relief in the Canterbury region, and as such participants were given little warning and preparation time. The NEA Delivered GATR and the FA 240 were both deployed to test soldiers’ competencies associated with these. The exercise used various C2 LOV’s as its primary vehicle.