Our new DCA

NEW DCA TAKES THE REINS

By Judith Martin

Brigadier Matt Weston is a proud gunner by trade, and is also proud to be the newly-appointed Deputy Chief of Army.

“My predecessors have done a great job, and I hope to continue along that line. The Army is a very good place to be at the moment. We have most of the people we need and we are getting more, there are some great new capabilities, and the Network Enabled Army and Protected Mobility projects are progressing well.”

While he is confident in the way the Army is tracking, it’s no time, he says, to rest easy. “We now have to think about what comes after 2025. We have to keep pace with technology, and factor in the effects of disruptors such as climate change and increased competition between countries in the Asia Pacific region. We live in a fairly volatile world at the moment, and we have to be prepared for and well positioned to do whatever the government requires of us; and of course Covid-19 is presenting a bunch of new challenges that it is imperative we address professionally.” BRIG Weston joined the New Zealand Army in January 1993, graduating into the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery in December of that year.

He held a range of regimental and command positions in 16 Field Regiment culminating as Commanding Officer in 2012–2013. He then went on to command 1 (NZ) Brigade until he was appointed Deputy Chief of Army.

While he has had deployments to Timor Leste and Afghanistan, it has been the training and mentoring he has done throughout his career he has enjoyed the most.

“The camaraderie the Army provides has always been a big thing for me. I like working with people who I share a set of values with. I value the shared experiences we have in Army – it gives us a point of commonality and trust. I appreciate the challenges the Army provides, and like the fact we have to do many things in our careers. Sometimes the roles we learn the most from aren’t the ones we would have initially chosen, but often prove invaluable in terms of development.” What does he want to achieve in his new role?

“As well as carrying on the good work of my predecessors I want the work and living environments of our soldiers to be as healthy as they can be. We all have a role to play in that – how we treat people, how we coach and mentor. We need a healthy environment that allows people to meet their full potential as they serve their nation”.

“I believe our commanders need to model good behaviour, and their expectations of their people need to be high but reasonable.”

BRIG Weston and his wife have a young daughter. In his spare time he enjoys fly fishing, reading, and spending quality time with his family.

ARMY25 UPDATE

ARMY25 is our change strategy for the period 2020 to 2025. Its objective is to meet Chief of Army’s vision of a modern, agile, highly adaptive, light combat force. The plan is divided into four themes – People, Information, Relationships and Capability Enhancement. Each aims to deliver different parts of the plan. In order to achieve our mission and end-state, approved projects and tasks are run under each theme to produce the change our Army needs. Projects cover a range of new capabilities we are looking to introduce into service such as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS or drones), through to ensuring Army personnel are provided with the learning opportunities to succeed on the future battlefield. The following pages updates you on ARMY25’s progress to produce the change our Army needs.

Modernising Soldier Systems

Modernising soldier systems is an enduring effort to ensure that NZDF service personnel operating in the Land Domain are resourced with the capabilities to prosecute land combat operations in a complex, integrated and austere environment to achieve NZDF missions and tasks with coalition and expeditionary forces.

A soldier system is an integrated system of components worn, carried or consumed by soldiers that enables the soldier capabilities of survivability, sustainability, mobility, lethality and C4I to be optimised for operational effects.

The NZDF Soldier System is defined as: • Survivability •

The Soldier System’s interaction with soldier protection systems ranging from ballistic protection through to the ability to block, disrupt or deceive the threats • target acquisition systems in the visual, optical, IR and radar spectrum in any geographical or environmental setting. •

Sustainability

The Soldier System’s ability to operate on the battlefield without maintenance support or resupply of food, water and munitions.

Mobility

The Soldier System’s ability to march and fight in direct relationship to the soldier’s load

Lethality

The Soldier System’s interaction with, and operation of, a number of weapon systems. Lethality is also defined as gaining the cognitive edge.

C4I

Definition of the Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence/ Information. The Soldier System’s interaction with information displays, weapons interface, vehicle information systems, hands-free operations, and enhancement of all situational awareness and all tactical command and control sub-systems. The means to apply lethal and less-lethal effects with weapons.

Modernising what you wear – Uniforms and Soldier Systems

As part of the ARMY25 Strategic Plan of modernising Army’s capabilities, the NZ Army is rolling out the new NZ Multi Terrain Pattern (NZMTP) uniform. Capability Branch continues to investigate options for new combat helmets, communications headsets and body armour.

NZMTP has already been issued to a large number of soldiers, with a parallel evaluation taking place to make sure the new uniform is the right fit, form and function for our soldiers and the range of jobs they do.

The preliminary results from the NZMTP evaluation are largely positive with some minor issues raised around sizing and fit. This feedback has already resulted in adjustments in the design of the uniform to offer a better fit and these refinements will be

Integrated Communications Headset

An integrated headset is now in-service. Additional in service integrated headsets have been procured for the first tranche of NEA. A Capability Branch project is about to begin to deliver enhanced general issue integrated communications headsets in alignment with NEA delivery milestones.

Light Infantry Pack

The Special Reconnaissance (SR) Pack is in-service and available for selected elements within combat units through the normal demand process. It will be issued to the unit for loan to the soldier.

Body Armour

An Urgent Operational Requirement was progressed for body armour to meet the demands of current NZDF deployments and as a result a limited number of sets have been issued to high readiness elements. A Capability Branch project is about to begin which will identify the future general issue body armour.

MARS-L individual assault rifle

In-service. The Capability Branch NVE Program continues the process of delivering an inline weapon sight to complement the now in-service night aiming device (PEQ-15).

Combat Gloves

In-service. Available through SRM/ normal demand process.

Radio Communications

Under action within the NEA Programme.

NZ Multi-Terrain Pattern (NZMTP)

In-service. Will be issued be units and formations in tranches as it becomes available.

Night-vision Goggles

Capability Branch is in the process of supporting the redistribution of and key enablers.

Immediate Assault Pack

Available with some of the UOR

Combat Helmet

Helmets have been purchased to meet current NZDF demands and satisfy the immediate deficiency in helmet fleet numbers. A solution is being sought to enable in-service and enablers. A Capability Branch project is underway to identify the future general issue combat helmet.

Mini N-Seas (Dual mount) Night-vision Goggles

Immediate Assault Pack

evident in uniforms scheduled for production from 2021. Additionally, an alternate shirt design is planned for development and evaluation over the coming twelve months.

We are able to continue to evolve the uniform in ways not previously available, because NZMTP is our own uniform design and not an off-the-shelf product, and because the NZDF purchases small quantities through our contract with Workwear Group. The aim is to continue to improve the uniform to ensure it remains relevant as an integral part of the modern NZ soldier system.

As a complete system, NZ Army will move the other elements of operational uniform to NZMTP or Multicam in the near future, with some items already in service (e.g. wet weather gear).

The Under Body Armour (UBA) shirt has gone in to Business as Usual (BAU) production.

The interim Combat Jacket and Liner are already being issued at TAD and as replacement items as part of the loss and damages process. While an interim option, this has proven compatible with NZMTP and an enduring solution will still be considered once other priority uniform pieces are addressed.

Wet Weathers will transition to the Goretex Gen III which have been issued to snipers for the last few years. The transition of these items will be managed as BAU replacement as MCU items wear out.

Load Carriage/Webbing

now issued has a Multicam colour scheme, which is the only difference to the Coyote Tan system previously issued and still

Future Soldier System

There are a number of projects currently underway in Capability Branch to bring new soldier systems in to service to improve comfort, wearability and operational effectiveness across a range of systems. The following is an update on the status of components of the soldier system.

Mini N-Seas (Dual mount)

Mini N-Seas and conversion to dual mounts for selected combat units

body armour solutions.

NVE to be fitted, ahead of issue to selected High Readiness units

Body Armour

MARS-L individual assault rifle

Combat Gloves

NZ Multi-Terrain Pattern (NZMTP)

currently in service.

Combat helmet

Integrated Communications Headset

Light Infantry Pack

Radio

NEW NZMTP AND MODERN PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS

Communications