Papua New Guinean and New Zealand personnel receive IED training

Papua New Guinean engineers from Engineer Battalion and sappers with 2 Field Squadron Royal Engineers based out of Linton Military Camp, New Zealand, have completed explosive device identification training as part of exercise Southern Katipo 2013 (SK13), aboard Waiouru Military Camp, New Zealand.

During the training, three Marine instructors taught variety of classes focusing on the most important tool to identify IEDs to the Papua New Guinean and New Zealander personnel.

1st Combat Engineer Battalion combat engineer officer captain Phillip Vanderweit said, "Exercises like this are great because they teach us how to adapt to each other and get the mission done quicker and more effectively."

Designed to boost coalition relationships and confidence through a variety of training, SK13 aims to strengthen the interoperability skills as well as further develop the New Zealand Defence Force’s amphibious capabilities.

1st Combat Engineer Battalion combat engineer sergeant Patrique Fearon said the training is a basic package which allows soldiers to know what to expect when they get out there in Afghanistan.

"Knowing how to work [with others] puts you ahead of the power curve which lessens the growing pains," Vanderweit further added.

The month-long exercise involves nine allied partnered nations including New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Kingdom of Tonga, France, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Australia and the US.

Image: A New Zealand personnel during improvised explosive devices training aboard Waiouru Military Camp, New Zealand. Photo: Photo by Cpl. Scott Reel.