Waipukurau hosts NZ Army urban warfare exercise for Officer Cadets

Designed to be as realistic as possible, the 100-strong Exercise Santici was carried out in the Hawke’s Bay town late last month and featured enemy ambushes, improvised explosive devices, meeting with key leaders, aid distribution, and convoy protection for key people.

Forty cadets were assessed on their ability to command and lead sections and platoons that included infantry, engineers, caterers, signals, intelligence and Light Armoured Vehicles.

“Carrying out urban stability and support operations is very different from the close and open country fighting they had done up until now,” says Lead Planner Captain Finlay Dick.

Urban security and stability operations require finesse, especially when working with key community leaders and the local community, where you rely on their goodwill and cooperation to achieve your mission, he said.

Cadets were required to conduct platoon tasks both as an independent platoon and as part of a larger company manoeuvre. 

“Part of the exercise involved feedback from the platoon soldiers, who were able to report back on the effectiveness of their orders and plan of attack which is invaluable learning for cadets about to become officers,” Captain Dick said.

Officer Cadets who successfully pass the NZ Army Commissioning Course will graduate in December before heading off to different sections of the NZ Army.

Exercise Santici was also held in Waipukurau last year.