EXERCISE TANIWHA

By Major Hamish Ellis

J-Hat on, J-Hat off. This paradigm change is a way of life for Army Reservists as they juggle their civilian jobs, their families and their military commitments. For CAPT Sam Carswell, OC of “A Coy” this started at D-14 with the receipt of Battalion orders. A business owner by day, most nights from that point on were filled with planning, briefings and co-ordinating a Coy (-) of Reservists to deploy into the close country on Exercise Taniwha.

Marching in to the assembly area at Whenuapai Air Base on Thursday evening was PTE Alicia Smit. Uplifting her MARS-L and NVE was a welcome change after a week of working as a structural engineer. She ensured her final kit checks were completed as per the warning order and sat down to receive her orders. Her section commander LCPL James Baker gave section orders for an area of operations clearance. His experience as a teacher lends well to the coaching required in his capacity as a JNCO. Orders given, rehearsals began to ensure consistency and familiarity with section SOPs.

As the sections left the DOP and began patrolling, they were quickly reminded of the constant situation changes thrown at them by the environment. Soldiering skills and decision-making processes at the lowest level were tested as soldiers refamiliarised themselves with the environment and adapted tactics, training and procedures to suit. Helping them with this was SGT Reuben Sweeney. An accountant, business owner, father and active reservist he had supported the section from D-7. Now, finally in the bush, cammed up and shadowing the patrol he was able to provide coaching to the soldiers and commanders.

“Contact small arms wait out”. For 2LT Bentley Atkinson and his Platoon Sergeant building their situational awareness was a constant challenge. Purposefully located on a high ground and fighting for comms success rested on being able to receive timely and accurate information from their section patrols. This information enabled them to build up their battle picture and co-ordinate with the Coy to provide support if required.

Concurrent to this, both Pl Comds were conducting an appreciation to back-brief the OC on their next phase of the area of operations (AO) clearance.

Elements of 11/4 battery were able to support the exercise providing a section of OPFOR. After three days of disrupting friendly forces patrols in Riverhead Forest they still had one final trick up their sleeve – contacting a successful ambush on the vehicle convoy enroute to the pick up point (PUP). The Coy, now secure in the PUP grabbed their packs, and rapidly moved to secure an alt PUP… on the other side of the AO.

While the main effort was focussed on section level close country operations, a strong and unofficial effort was placed in the development of sub-unit moustaches. A benchmark was established early by SSGT

Chowdhry with a “desert lizard” appearing around the initial planning conference stage to the envy of the planning team. A few false starts by the Coy 2IC CAPT Edwards proved uninspiring, while the Coy CSM WO2 Taito made an impression largely thanks to some exceptional professional grooming. Coy NCOs brought much needed depth to this line of effort with honourable mention going to SGT Kyle Campbell.

With the enemy successfully cleared, 3/6 RNZIR returned to Whenuapai Air Base where all soldiers got stuck in to cleaning and returning equipment. Having three days to focus on basic soldiering was enjoyed by all with significant progress made. J-Hats off, all soldiers returned to their families and jobs, looking forward to the next three-day activity later this month.