Corporal recognised for his role in producing NZ Army leaders

The Palmerston North-born soldier received the 2024 top awards for junior leadership within the New Zealand Army recruit training unit, The Army Depot. 

He was awarded the Bombardier Alex MacDonald Trophy for Top Instructor for a single course, the Army Training Group Junior Leader of the Year Award and the Cairns Trophy Award to recognise the highest standards of discipline, teamwork, skills and values demanded of a non-commissioned officer in The Army Depot 2024.

Based at Waiouru Military Camp, he has had the opportunity to have a direct influence on the trained state of soldiers in the army. 

The 27-year-old says his father and grandfather would tell him “if you’re going to teach someone a skill you need to do it yourself, learn to lead by example.”  

Corporal Dewes has carried this with him into all aspects of his life including his time as a soldier and section commander at the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. 

He enjoys being part of the development of future soldiers.

“It’s a real highlight of my job to watch the individuals grow and succeed,” and he goes on to say each soldier needs to be treated slightly differently depending on their upbringing and outlook.

Corporal Dewes likes to set the tone on day one, a fair and encouraging soldier who admits he cares about every one of the recruits in his section“You need to read the recruits and treat each one differently.  We don’t know what their life is like at home and some turn up from pretty rugged backgrounds.”

Recruits learn a range of foundational soldier skills including navigation, living in field conditions, firing different weapon systems by day and night and living in close proximity to their peers. Building resilience through learning to become comfortable in an uncomfortable environment is a big part of the training which sets them up for a successful army career.

Although he’s clocked up a few Regular Force Basics in his first 12 months, the Reserve Force recruits of Recruit Territorial Force 169 are the first Corporal Dewes has instructed.

“They’re motivated and keen to succeed and they feed off each other’s drive,” he said. 

Recruit Territorial Force 169 soldiers say Corporal Dewes led by example and put the recruits first. One recruit had even written down some of Corporal Dewes’ quotes.

Section member and Reserve Force recruit Sapper William Boaz says it felt like Corporal Dewes genuinely cared about them. 

“He’s passionate about his soldiering skills and made the lessons that could have been boring really interesting.  He’d even say in the field to wake him if we were unsure of anything, especially on sentry.”

Corporal Dewes says he’s learnt from the good leaders and tries to mold all the good things they do into the example he sets.  He does his best to inspire recruits to become good soldiers and reminds them to always aspire to be better and to keep learning.

“A soldier also has to have heart. If they have heart they are going to be courageous; if they are honest they are going to build trust. 

“When you join the Army, regular or part-time, you’re no longer an individual.  Everything we do now is as a team right down to your battle buddy.

“You’re never going to be a lone wolf.”