Firing up the barbie instead of bullets

Bagram children cozy up to Captain Kate Ricketts. Photo / Supplied

In the spirit of Kiwi Christmas, Captain Kate Ricketts hopes to fire up the barbie in Bagram.

One of a small team of logistics staff at an American base in Afghanistan, the 29-year-old said her job usually involved "organising the boots, bullets and beans" for service personnel.

She is one of 220 Kiwis serving in the war-torn country.

There are 505 NZ Defence Force personnel on 14 operations, United Nations missions and defence exercises in 10 countries around the world.

Tomorrow, Captain Ricketts hopes to kick back - at least for half the day - and throw some rations on the grill.

"We're trying to make it as Kiwi as possible - steaks, mushrooms and onions. The boss will try to give us at least half a day off."

A few "orphans" from the United Kingdom and Australia would probably join in, Captain Ricketts said.

Meanwhile, new husband Hayden will be feasting with family in the North Canterbury town of Cheviot.

"We're the kind of family that destroys a ham in a couple of days," her husband said.

They were married in Queenstown in September - two weeks before Captain Ricketts was deployed to Bagram.

"Yeah, it's not the best way to start your married relationship two weeks out from deployment so we always had that dark cloud hanging over us," he said.

But her husband - who is also a captain in the Army - said that was part and parcel of service life.

His new bride missed his 30th birthday and will probably be away for hers.

Next year, the couple hope to be based together at Trentham Army Camp in Upper Hutt.

Kate Ricketts said that despite missing her husband and family, she loved life in Bagram.

"This place is the most amazing country, it's so beautiful," she said. "It's just crazy for me sometimes. I sit here thinking, 'This beautiful, beautiful country is in the middle of a war zone'."

Captain Ricketts said that of all the bases where Kiwis were deployed, Bagram was probably the most dangerous, and rocket fire was not uncommon at night.

* Where our troops are

Sudan 3
Sinai 26
Middle East 8
Iraq 1
Afghanistan 220
South Korea 3
East Timor 157
Solomon Islands 44
Antarctica 43