Op Farad

KIWIS WINNING IN SINAI

The Kiwis, mid-march.

By Corporal Brooke Stirling

Kiwis were the winners when a March and Shoot and Driver competition (MAS-DC) for the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) was held in South Camp, Sinai recently.

The MAS-DC was conceived by the Training Warrant Officer as a way to test concepts for the Force Skills Competition which is an annual competition conducted in February. The MAS-DC allowed contingents on six monthly rotations to practise their soldiering skills in a competitive environment. SSGT Timothy Watt was in charge of the Mads stand and SGT Bridget Johnson the DC stand.

The MAS-DC consisted of 10 six person contingent teams. The New Zealand contingent identified its keen personnel early leaving plenty of time to train; however, multiple injuries and MFO work commitments meant the team was forever changing. The final team was decided three days out from competition and included PTE Coby Devery, SGT Iain LathamProkopowicz, CAPT Matthew Horn, MAJ Peter Bowyer and MAJ Michael Spicer. In addition, the team had the support of our PTI SGT Marshell Oldehaver.

The events:

A timed 500m stretcher carrier at 100kgs,

A timed 2.5 km run with rifles and webbing/body armour (contingent battle rig) and

A time and accuracy-based short-range shoot from 20m and 10m in supported and unsupported firing positions.

Four stands as part of the driving competition which involved: garage driving, moving in a forward direction, a three-point turn, continuing through a slalom, a diminishing corner and stopping on an A3 piece of paper. From there competitors conducted this in reverse. Each activity had many penalties up for grabs, it just depended on whether time or accuracy was going to cost the team less. Unfortunately, the team did not know what each penalty would cost, and it became a guessing game. Starting positions were dictated by a lucky dip, with most teams hoping to begin second or third for the day. The later your team started the hotter it would get with temperatures still averaging mid 30s (although this was a lot cooler than what we had experienced earlier in the tour). Over the two days five teams would compete starting from 0545 with half hour spacings. The New Zealanders competed on day one stepping off third.

After a short safety and shooter’s brief from SSGT Watt, the team stepped off on the stretcher carry which had varying terrain and a slight hill climb. From there it was a quick transition into the 2.5 km run, with the team’s combined time coming in at 18.26 and being the fastest overall for that portion of the MAS.

The driving competition was up next, with SGT Johnson taking the team through a brief, explaining the route. The decision again needed to be made on whether to focus on time or accuracy. Overall, the MAS-DC components combined provided a robust test of teamwork, leadership, marksmanship, fitness, and resilience. Although it was thought having New Zealand contingent members as stand IC’s would give us an unfair advantage, it appeared to be the opposite with harsh penalties coming the team’s way in both stands.