Part-time soldier saluted for anti-bomb work

Part-time soldier Simon Strombom, who spent six months in Afghanistan helping keep Nato-led forces safe from bombings, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD) in the Queen's Birthday honours.

Major Strombom, from Porirua, took leave from his Ministry of Health job to travel to Kabul last year as a liaison officer between Nato forces and the Afghan government as part of the New Zealand contribution to the Nato-led International Stabilisation Assistance Force (ISAF).

Major Strombom, who joined the Army in 1995 and then the territorial force in 2000, developed new procedures for ISAF vehicles to counter the threat of improvised explosive devices and trained force soldiers against that threat.

"The job was fantastic but Kabul is a dangerous place and it is exhausting wearing 25kg of personal equipment in 50C heat every day and remaining alert and focused," he said.

"It was easy for me to pack up and deploy because I was very focused on my job in Kabul but it places a great strain on the families who remain behind.

"Knowing I had such strong support in New Zealand was crucial and my family and my employer were phenomenal."

It was the second overseas deployment for Major Strombom, commanding officer of B Company 7th Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawkes Bay Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, based in Trentham.

In addition to his Army reserve service, he is also a member of the Titahi Bay Volunteer Fire Brigade and works with trainee life guards at the Titahi Bay Surf Life Saving Club.

- NZPA