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WHANGAMOMONA, New Zealand -- The Royal New Zealand Air Force supported multinational ground forces by conducting recon and transport operations with UH-1H Hueys and Eurocopter NH-90s during Exercise Kiwi Koru and added additional air power during the final scenario Nov. 14.
Exercise Kiwi Koru is designed to enhance defense relations between the United States and New Zealand, advance interoperability between U.S. and New Zealand forces and increase the readiness of both militaries to respond to regional crises.
Royal New Zealand Air Force Squadron Leader Scott Nicholas, 3rd Squadron detachment commander, explained the Air Forces role during the 20 days of training.
"Our initial tasking for Kiwi Koru revolved mainly around the infil and extraction of recon elements to provide the commander with a better intelligence picture of the enemy we are fighting," Nicholas said. "We're also doing some logistics and supply for the forward operating bases with some under-slung work."
That under-slung work came in the form of a sling load operation with a mission to transport three light gun artillery batteries to an airstrip located deep in the country side of Whangamomona. The artillery was then used by New Zealand Defence Forces, U.S. Army and U.S. Marines on the ground to combat a simulated insurgency threat.
The mission was the first time the Royal New Zealand Air Force flew the Eurocopter NH-90 to transport light gun artillery as part of a sling load operation.
During the exercise Royal New Zealand Air Force airmen involved also learned a lot from their counterparts on the ground. Nicholas said that the training Exercise Kiwi Koru provides is crucial and that the coalition aspect increases the training quality.
"From an air force perspective we're getting to see the U.S. Marines and move them as they are attached to our combat units," Nicholas said. "We're also taking advice from the U.S. Marines in the way we plan, brief and debrief during these exercises."
Nicholas also explained that there were lessons learned when interacting with U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Joseph Lagoski, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit commanding officer.
"Col. Lagoski explained his experiences in overseeing these kinds of operations and we have tried to fit that into our exercise plan," Nicholas said.
Exercise Kiwi Koru is a stepping stone that prepares the New Zealand Defence Force for the exercise Southern Katipo that is scheduled for 2015.
| Date Taken: | 11.14.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.24.2014 14:15 |
| Story ID: | 148679 |
| Location: | WHANGAMOMONA, TKI, NZ |
| Web Views: | 82 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Royal New Zealand Air Force delivers artillery to coalition forces during Exercise Kiwi Koru, by TSgt Christopher Hubenthal, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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