Ex Mountain Warrior

OPEN COUNTRY SKILLS ON MOUNTAIN WARRIOR

By Charlene Williamson

Mastering the skills required of every combat soldier have been tested for our newest infantry and armoured soldiers on Exercise Mountain Warrior in Waiouru.

This exercise is a culmination of 16-weeks of training for Combat Corps trainees and provided an opportunity for them to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to perform as a member of a rifle section within combat units.

Officer Commanding Major (MAJ) Josh Ritchie, PV-M Squadron, Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles said throughout the exercise trainees demonstrated that they could not only survive, but also thrive in adverse and unpredictable conditions.

“The exercise was designed to simulate real world combat operations as close as possible.

“Students completed a series of complex and arduous battlefield tasks, by both day and night, and in a range of conditions,” he said.

Trainees were exposed to a variety of tasks and were tested on a number of abilities, including attacking simulated enemy forces, digging defensive positions, gathering information on enemy forces, and defending terrain from attacks.

“We train to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to succeed on operations.

“This training ensures that when soldiers do find themselves in potentially dangerous situations, either domestically or overseas, they will be equipped with the experience and training needed to succeed,” MAJ Ritchie said.

Soldiers were tested on a number of skills including navigation, radio procedures, weapons knowledge, casualty care, fieldcraft, tactical movement, and understanding open country tactics. The exercise concluded with a section live field firing element, where rifles, machine guns and grenades were used to destroy a simulated defending enemy force. In support of the exercise NZLAV and Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopters were also used.

MAJ Richie said this exercise was three months in the making, both in terms of exercise preparation and teaching.

“Considerable effort was placed into ensuring that the training was conducted safely, and the battlefield conditions were replicated to be as realistic as possible.

“All the skills used on this exercise are considered the very basics required to operate as a member of a rifle section within a combat unit. Every combat soldier is expected to master and refresh their knowledge of these areas throughout their career.”

Having completed this exercise our newest Combat Corps soldiers have demonstrated what is required obtain the converted red diamond qualification badge, worn on the Army ceremonial dress uniform.

“It is an accomplishment that they should all be justifiably proud of.”