SOLDIERING SKILLS HONED BY BRAVO WHA

Soldiers from Bravo Company 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment in Burnham operated in both close country and urban environments while on Exercise Bravo Wha recently.

They tested skills similar to what they may encounter on deployments using a fictitious scenario to immerse themselves in a complex situation in order to ensure they are prepared for any eventuality thrown at them.

The exercise started with them trying to locate and destroy an enemy which wanted to observe but not be found. It then transitioned into them attacking an enemy command and control node with the assistance from Recon and Surveillance Platoon also from 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.

The scenario had them using live ammunition, finally destroying the illusive enemy, but then subsequently seeing the enemy get immediate revenge by shelling our soldiers. Post this scenario, soldiers then moved to interacting with the local populace in Castle Hill and operating in and around the village attempting to take control of the environment away from another enemy group. The exercise culminated in a platoon urban attack at an alpine village which the enemy had commandeered from the locals. The exercise forced soldiers to solve complex problems in an austere environment against a tricky enemy.

During adverse weather events shelter is becoming an increasing need in Tonga and recently personnel from 2nd Engineer Regiment were welcomed as part of Exercise Tropic Twilight.

The exercise is an annual Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) series of activities conducted in the South Pacific, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Seventeen 2nd Engineer Regiment personnel, along with five support personnel, worked alongside His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) personnel to complete construction and maintenance tasks around the main island of Tongatapu, where ash still clogs some guttering, roofs and pipes

Captain Dan Blake said they worked on three community halls. All received new toilets, hand basins and doors while two halls were fitted with wooden protective covers over the windows to protect the glass during storms.

Carpenters constructed partition walls and lockable storage boxes to provide families with a secure and private area to shelter in.

“This will support Tonga in addressing the safety and protection of women and children during a natural disaster,” Captain Blake said.

That aligned with Tonga’s commitment to meet elements of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security, he said.

At Ahau Community Hall, the veranda roof was replaced, spouting added and fans and lights installed.