Thu, 4 Nov 2004

New Zealand Defence Force

Air Force Exercises in Samoa

Twenty Air Force personnel leave for Samoa tomorrow, to take part in a two-week exercise. Exercise Tunex Astra runs from 5-19 November and is designed to practice the Air Force's Communications Operators and Technicians in using long-range communications.

Personnel will be split in to three teams for the exercise and will rotate around various locations on Upolu and Savaii Island's.

Samoan Police will also assist in the exercise, acting as liaisons between local villagers and the Air Force contingent.

Officer in charge of the Exercise, Flight Lieutenant Gary Oram is looking forward to the exercise. "Being in Samoa will give us an excellent opportunity to train in an unfamiliar, tropical environment. It is going to be a great two weeks," he said.

ENDS

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