INTERVIEW

STU GILBERT – sending out the SOS

From a terrorist attack to a pandemic, unorthodox threats have impacted on ANZAC Day over recent years but we will remember them, regardless of where or how we do so. Recently, JON RAWLINSON caught up with one of New Zealand’s veterans to whom ‘we the many’ owe so much.

It may not appear to be an installation of strategic importance but, located down a quiet street in an average suburban Howick home, is the HQ of SOS Survival Training – an organisation run by RNZAF (Royal New Zealand Air Force) veteran, Stu Gilbert.

Should this year’s Howick ANZAC parade and service go ahead, Stu hopes to honour his fellow servicemen, past and present at Stockade Hill. However, he’s in no rush to join the march.

“ANZAC Day offers the perfect opportunity for people to reflect on how others have risked or given their lives for their country but, as a serviceman, we think about that every day. I’m not stuck on being at the dawn service each year but, if I can make an appearance at a service, I’ll definitely do so,” the former Flight Sergeant says. “I don’t march with the old soldiers, not yet anyway, I’d rather let them have their time in the limelight because, considering what they went through, they bloody well earned it!”

Veterans of the World Wars have definitely earned the right to march; but as their own ‘last posts’ have been played, plenty more veterans have been closing ranks to take their place. In Malaysia to Korea, Vietnam, East Timor and Afghanistan (to name a few), NZDF (New Zealand Defence Force) personnel have served worldwide. In fact, right now, our military is on the frontline of one of the most devastating conflicts in history.

“The [NZDF] wasn’t intended to be deployed in roles at MIQ [Managed Isolation and Quarantine] facilities but it makes sense as the skill-sets are transferable – one of the main roles of any military is to protect assets and especially people,” says Stu. “As shown many times, when personnel have been involved with disasters – such as the Christchurch earthquakes – our military resources are called on in other vital ways.”

Originally from Christchurch, Stu followed his father and brother into the Air Force after leaving school. He worked as a PT (Physical Training) instructor – he laughs at the suggestion that must mean he’s always had a longing to be hated!

In the early 2000’s, Stu served two tours in East Timor as part of New Zealand’s peacekeeping duties. He was awarded commendations for his exemplary service.

“My role over there was ‘behind the wire’ (camp) security and as a PT instructor, ensuring our guys were fighting fit. I didn’t have bullets

“We’ve had a massive increase in enquires – especially from families – since the pandemic began,” he says. “I think it’s made people even more aware of just how reliant we are on other people.”

Stu Gilbert

flying over my head, but it was still a dangerous place to be. [New Zealand Army] Private Manning was killed in an ambush when on patrol just before I arrived there, which was sobering and made it all seem very real.”

Despite being well and truly in his element when out in the elements, Stu sought further training after returning from East Timor, sharpening his survival skills through some of the toughest courses worldwide, including in the USA, Australia and Antarctica.

“I was prepared – PT builds a lot of resilience – while pride, motivation and determination can carry you a long way, these programmes are all designed to test limits,” he says. “I had already learnt my craft but there was a lot of up-skilling involved, learning how to survive in a wider range of environments and in the most severe climates.” then spent the best part of a decade organising and managing survival courses – including the RNZAF’s well-respected Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) programme – for Kiwi soldiers, sailors and airmen, an undertaking which has led to a successful business in civilian life.

SOS SURVIVAL TRAINING – IT PAYS TO PREP’

Although Stu Gilbert retired from the Air Force in 2012, he is still an active reservist – assisting with training approximately 30 days each year. In addition, through his business, SOS Survival Training, he now shares his skills with civilians too.

“Life in the military is so well mapped out that a lot of service people get themselves in the crap by not giving enough thought to what they’ll do when the leave,” he says. “I set up the company shortly before I left the service because I knew I needed a plan and I saw that there weren’t any courses offering the type of skills to civilians that I could provide.”

Unsurprisingly, the pandemic has been somewhat of a boon for SOS.

“We’ve had a massive increase in enquires – especially from families – since the pandemic began. I think it’s made people even more aware of just how reliant we are on others.”

Stu can help experienced outdoors people, from hunters and trampers to boaties, to further hone their skills. However, SOS is especially well organised to assist people of (almost) all ages, levels of fitness and from all walks of life, with a range of courses designed for families and even office teambuilding. “Kiwis tend to love the outdoors so, in case it does all go wrong, it pays to be prepared. The most vulnerable are those heading into the bush for day-walks. They’ll have sunscreen, a cell phone, water and snacks, but they may not have a lot else in case they lose the track, for example. That’s where we can help, teaching the fundamental skills – from lighting a fire to finding food – so people can either get themselves out of trouble or, at least, hold on long enough to be rescued.”

SOS is based in the ‘burbs but courses take place in a much bigger backyard, of course!

“Our main, wilderness training area is near Muriwai, with sea survival at West Wave Centre [Henderson] and in the Hauraki Gulf,” Stu confirms. “We’ve conducted training near Haast in the South Island, Whanganui and, basically, wherever suits best and wherever we’re needed.”