Salute - NZLAV Commander, Lance Corporal Tony Houben salutes to parade reviewing officer Brigadier Paul Southwell. Vehicle also crewed by Trooper Drew Crawford (gunner) and Trooper Darryl Hourigan (driver).

First NZ Light Armoured Vehicle Platoon Rolls Out

The first NZLAV platoon has now completed its extensive training and officially rolled out in a mounted parade at 1330 hours in Waiouru today.

The 45 crewmen, including drivers, gunners and commanders, trained with the Transition Training Team (TTT) for 17 weeks in Waiouru.

Major Mike Duncan of the TTT said, "I am very pleased with the way in that all the soldiers assimilated all the training and I'm very happy with the high standard of the crews."

The roll out brings an end to the individual component of the NZLAV crews training where they learnt all they needed to effectively operate the state-of-the-art vehicles.

In July the crewmen will deploy to Australia to take part in the combined exercise with the Australian Army, Exercise Predators Gallop. It will be their first collective training experience.

18 NZLAVs have already been deployed via sea to Australia in preparation for the exercise.

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