“Exciting and rewarding” time for our newest NZ Army recruits

Commanding Officer The Army Depot in Waiouru, Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Williams, says watching recruits develop their skills and grow in resilience and strength during training has been a personal highlight for him.

He said it was an incredible feeling to see the growth and spirit – how far these soldiers had come in 15 short weeks - and it’s a testament to their hard work and to the dedication of their instructors.

“These individuals are combat-focused soldiers capable of operating as section members within the New Zealand Army and are now ready to begin their specialist trade training.”

By the end of the course recruits had become competent in handling weapons such as the Modular Assault Rifle System – Light (MARS-L) rifle, Light Support Weapon machine gun and  Glock G17 Gen 4 pistol.

“They have also learned other soldiering skills such as field craft, pack flotation, digging defensive positions, operating radio equipment and first aid. For some it’s their first introduction into military culture and the way we do things and it can be a steep learning curve,” said Lieutenant Colonel Williams.

The Reviewing Officer, Minister for Defence, Judith Collins, KC, thanked the New Zealand Army instructors and staff at Waiouru and The Army Depot for their commitment and sacrifice in training the next generation of soldiers.

“You’ve taken on the responsibility of shaping civilians into soldiers, and you’ve done so with professionalism, care and commitment. Our training is respected around the world, and that’s because of you. You set the standard, and you uphold it every day,” said Ms Collins.

“The strategic environment is more complex and volatile than it has been in decades. Conflicts are escalating, the rules-based international order is under pressure and great power competition is reshaping the world around us. In this environment, New Zealand’s contribution matters.”

Off the back of recent Government announcements – including the 15-year Defence Capability Plan outlining $12 billion of planned commitments in the next four years - Ms Collins told recruits now was an exciting time to enter service, as they will be among the first generation of soldiers to benefit from these significant investments.

“For the Army, this means more firepower, better communications and new vehicles, weapons and safety gear in the coming years. It means being more agile, more connected and more prepared for the challenges ahead. And it means being proud to represent a country that pulls its weight. We may be small but we’re mighty well respected internationally,” said Ms Collins.

After graduation and time at home with their families, soldiers will move into specialised training to develop their chosen trade and career which includes infantry, signals, combat engineers, armourers, caterers and auto technicians.