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NZDF Soldiers Train Sinai-Bound Us Troops

10 August 2016

NZDF Soldiers Train Sinai-Bound Us Troops

Over 200 US troops are expected to hit the ground in top gear when they are sent to the Sinai Peninsula in coming weeks, thanks to the training provided by four New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) soldiers.

A 10-day course conducted recently by New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) instructors at Fort Bliss in Texas provided US soldiers an overview of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), an independent international organisation with peacekeeping responsibilities in the Sinai Peninsula.

American troops were trained in driving fully armoured vehicles, including an evasive driving course, and tested on safely navigating Egyptian roads. They were also taught how to investigate and report on potential violations of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace, how to conduct patrols, and how to deliver weapons training on the MFO’s ranges.

“The US side is pleased that the majority of their MFO-specific training has been completed and they will now be able to focus on individual handovers and their specific mission from the moment they arrive in the Sinai,” said Captain (CAPT) Robert Paterson, who led the NZDF training team and is a senior instructor in the MFO’s Force Training Team.

“The feedback from the US contingent has been positive and has reinforced the value of the training mission for both the US and the MFO.”

The NZDF training team – which also included senior driving instructor Warrant Officer Class 2 Eric Karena, operations instructor Staff Sergeant Simon Perkins and driving instructor Sergeant Michael Galvin – trained and licensed about 120 US soldiers to drive fully armoured vehicles.

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“I am proud of the professional and high-quality training delivered by the NZDF instructors. They prepared extensively and demonstrated real flexibility in ensuring the training objectives were met,” CAPT Paterson said.

“It has been both interesting and professionally rewarding to work with US personnel. We have all gained some great experience and insight into how another nation prepares their people for an operational deployment.”

NZDF personnel deployed as part of the MFO’s Force Training Team have been training contingents from the various countries that contribute to the MFO for years. Except for the US, all other countries undertake MFO-specific training upon arrival in the Sinai.

The NZDF has been contributing a transport section, a training and advisory team, and a number of key staff positions to the MFO since it was established in 1982. At present, 26 NZDF members form part of a MFO Force comprised of around 1700 personnel from 11 other countries.

On average, the NZDF provides driver training and MFO qualification testing to over 1300 personnel annually.

ENDS


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