NEW BATCH OF NAVAL RESERVES

Ranging in age from 17 to 26, there are nine Maritime Trade Operations ratings and 12 officers in NRCT 23/01. Within the officer cohort, nine are Maritime Trade Operations specialisation and three are Legal officers. Other specialisations available for Reserve Officers are Public Affairs and Medical.

Above: Undertaking survival skills in the Fleet Pool during Exercise Orient, the first residential training session for NRCT 23/01.

Below: Members of NRCT 23/01 during a wreath laying ceremony during the Mururoa Nuclear Veterans 50th reunion.

NRCT 23/01 boasts 21 personnel under training, from an eclectic range of backgrounds.

The training programme, two years in development, was introduced last year to revitalise the Reserve training capability and to strengthen the contribution of the Naval Reserve to the wider NZDF, with a boost in numbers of 100. The course has been designed to ensure Reservists are trained to the same standard as their Regular Force counterparts, but in a way that works around their civilian employment.

While some are new to Defence, there is almost 30 years of past military service within the intake. Six are undertaking university study and two of them want to join the Regular Force when they complete their studies. Also among them are entrepreneurs, legal counsel, political advisers, musicians and small business owners.