Soldiers practise real life situations in Whanganui

Private Reece Taylor secures a vital piece of Whanganui infrastructure in Exercise Black Diamond. Wanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.

The platoon guarding a former fertiliser factory in Whanganui had nothing more serious to contend with than some "rowdy locals" and revving motorbikes, its leader told commanding officer Lt Col Aidan Shattock.

The group of 30 soldiers from the Ist Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment is among about 160 training in the town and its surroundings for real life situations supporting host countries to return to normal after warfare.

The young men learn from more experienced soldiers how to engage with people, keep themselves and their hosts safe, and deal with the wounded, Shattock said.

Young men with little life experience would be subjected to competing pressures in those situations.

"It's a hard job."

In Whanganui some are playing the role of opposing forces, others are securing infrastructure and others are getting information. They are joined by Whanganui volunteers, playing other roles.

The 30 in Brunswick Rd each had a 25kg pack with everything they needed for their overnight stay, including food and water, a thermal mat and a tent fly as a shelter. They were wearing body armour, and carrying modern assault rifles.

The soldiers will be doing night exercises in the Koitiata/Turakina and Kauangaroa areas until July 6. They will also do some shooting with "simunition" - mini paintballs - in a closed area near Whanganui's port.

Other firing will be using blanks, but it may make a loud noise, Shattock said, and there will be military dogs in some of the exercises.

This exercise is leading up to the more complex Exercise Sari Bair. It will involve about 500 soldiers from across the defence force and take place in the Waiouru Military Training Area in September.