New Zealand Defence Force

Four-star on deck 🤝 HMNZS Aotearoa, Commander Rob Welford and the ship’s company welcomed the US Navy Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Lisa Franchetti to the ship last week during Exercise RIMPAC. Admiral Franchetti spent 90 minutes meeting our sailors, touring the ship and seeing first-hand its capabilities and the important sustainment role it is playing during the exercise. Franchetti is a four-star Admiral, the first female CNO and the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. #Force4NZ #NZNavy

It was a special day at Base Woodbourne on Friday as we celebrated the achievements of 21 graduating officer cadets from the 24/01 Royal New Zealand Air Force Officer Commissioning Course. The reviewing officer for the parade was the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Commodore Shaun Sexton. Congratulations to all. Welcome to Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa. 📸 LAC A Jenkins #Force4NZ #NZAirForce

READ 📖 Navy Today is the magazine covering Royal New Zealand Navy's recent news and the July edition is out now. In this edition, we showcase the regeneration of frigate HMNZS Te Kaha as it builds up for its 2025 overseas deployments. HMNZS Matataua works with NZ Customs to intercept a drugs shipment attached to a ship's hull, while HMNZS Manawanui helps clear explosive remnants of war from a harbour in Vanuatu. HMNZS Taupo works with MPI to inspect fishing vessels in the South Islands and a team from HMNZS Ngapona travel to Ireland to help them kick-start their Inshore Patrol Vessels. ➡️ nzdf.mil.nz/navy-today #Force4NZ #NZNavy

STORY📰 Former Army gunner switches to Navy blues with warfare officer role. Sub Lieutenant Te Mihinga Rose Brock stood out as a wahine trained in a combat trade role, and thrived while showcasing the our Defence Force over a series of recruitment webinars. When considering the shift to Navy, she liked the multi-tasking roles of Navy officers. “There’s that balance of combat training but being very involved on a ship’s bridge, having that position of authority. Someone suggested being a warfare officer, and I could always pursue a career as a pilot at a later stage.” ~ Sub Lieutenant Te Mihinga Rose Brock Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gX_XUAZH #NZNavy #Force4NZ

STORY📰 HMNZS Manawanui is back home after eight weeks in Australia and the South West Pacific for Operation Calypso. Working alongside Royal Australian Navy forces on the east coast of Australia, disposing of Second World War bombs in Vanuatu, marching in a street parade in Tonga and surveying areas of the sea floor in Ha’apai has kept the Royal New Zealand Navy Littoral Warfare Force very busy. As the ship’s crew prepares for their short break before their next task, Commander Yvonne Gray reflects on the moment that made her proudest during this operation. “During the celebrations for King Tupou VI’s birthday and the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Tongan Navy I watched the Ship’s Company interacting with sailors from other navies. They struck just the right balance of professionalism, having fun and being awesome defence diplomats.” Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g3_72KPa #Force4NZ #NZNavy

Sailing out of Pearl Harbor ⚓️ This morning HMNZS Aotearoa departed Pearl Harbor to commence the sea phase of Exercise RIMPAC – the world’s largest maritime exercise.   Aotearoa will integrate into the Carrier Strike Group, providing crucial refuelling services to participating naval vessels and helicopters.   While at sea, Aotearoa will take on fuel from a commercial US tanker, ensuring a sustained operational capability to resupply other participants throughout the entire sea phase.   RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity for fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among naval partners critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. 📸 CPL M Butcher   #Force4NZ #NZNavy

Geophysicist wins Army Innovation Challenge🏆🧠 A proposal to hunt mines using uncrewed aerial technology has earned Sergeant Rick Henderson the Army Innovation Challenge 2023, Future Sight Category. His entry, selected from 35 submissions earlier this year, provided background and justification to use geophysical remote sensing techniques for the detection of unexploded ordinance, land mines, improvised explosive devices and other explosive and pyrotechnic hazards utilising an uncrewed aerial vehicle and geophysical tools for detection. “Sergeant Henderson’s idea holds significant merit and is extremely current given the challenges with de-mining, both historical and current, with mines in many parts of Africa, Cambodia, Afghanistan, and most recently in the Ukraine.” ~ Captain James Firestone, Army Innovation Manager Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gf5Vzyiy #Force4NZ #NZArmy

Air Forces agreement builds on bonds with Australia 🤝 The close Defence relationship between New Zealand and Australia has been further strengthened with the signing of a Joint Guidance Statement by the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. The two Chiefs of Air Force, New Zealand’s Air Vice-Marshal Darryn Webb and Australia’s Air Marshal Robert Chipman, signed the agreement in Canberra recently. Air Vice-Marshal Webb said the agreement reinforces and enhances the two countries’ enduring commitment and co-operation with each other in military aviation. “The agreement reflects the deep history and bond we have shared over generations,” he said. “Australia is New Zealand’s only formal ally and this statement reinforces the important ongoing collaboration between our two Air Forces and seeks to maximise our combined effectiveness. This is especially important as the global environment becomes increasingly complex and uncertain.” #Force4NZ #NZAirForce

3 days, 9 schools 🚁👋 From Oamaru to Southland, our Defence Recruiting team has been busy visiting schools around the South Island last week, making 9 stops over 3 days. Our Royal New Zealand Air Force's No. 3 Squadron touched down with an NH90 Helicopter, where soldiers from our New Zealand Army's 2/4 Battalion RNZIR joined them on the ground. The team talked to over 2000 students in total, giving behind the scenes knowledge of what life is like serving in our ranks. Ngā mihi for having us, see you next time! #Force4NZ

Happy Kiribati Language Week 🇰🇮🙌 Hear from Ashley, an Able Communications Warfare Specialist in our Royal New Zealand Navy, as she describes her passion for representing her I-Kiribati side and educating people on her country. “I’m I-Kiribati and New Zealand European. Being a mix creates a lot of confusion as I do not look I-Kiribati at all. But I still love to represent my I-Kiribati side and educating people on my country as it’s still quite unheard of to most people. "I-Kiribati people are very compassionate, friendly and extremely hard-working people who love to have a laugh. I have a really strong appreciation for our language and culture – especially the dancing! As a child it was something I enjoyed the most.” Read more ➡️ nzdf.mil.nz/kiribati-lw-24 #Force4NZ // Ministry for Pacific Peoples