Leading Aircraftman Nikara Ross, a former Wairoa College pupil from Kotemāori, has visited 10 countries in her short Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) career.
But while travel was the big attraction in joining the services, little matched the experience of marshalling a massive Australian C-17 military transport plane in the heat of Honiara, giving her another reason to love her job.
“Everyone has a different career,” she told Defence Force media. “And I bloody love mine.”
Her primary role as a logistics specialist in air movements is to help with the movement of people and goods, put to good use in the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara this week as the New Zealand Defence Force supported the Pacific Games.