Tauranga woman Amelia Wilson has found her calling as a physical training instructor in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Tauranga woman Amelia Wilson has found her calling as a physical training instructor in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Tauranga woman Aircraftman Amelia Wilson has found her calling as a physical training instructor in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
The former Aquinas College student is now in charge of the physical training of recruits at RNZAF Base Woodbourne. This week she is pushing 3 Squadron to their limitsat Exercise Blackbird in Blenheim.
"My trade is particularly rewarding, I get paid to learn, up-skill and see the world. It's satisfying to see the recruits and people I train improve and succeed," Miss Wilson said.
She said the qualifications and training she had gained in the two years since joining the RNZAF had fully prepared her for Exercise Blackbird, an annual activity that provided training opportunities for aircrew in high-altitude mountain flying techniques.
"I joined the RNZAF because I wanted a career, the opportunity to travel and to be paid to learn. PTI wasn't my initial trade of choice but I knew wanted to be in Force Protection because of the wide selection of trades such as ground defence, security and investigation, military working dog trainer or PTI."
Miss Wilson said she loved being in charge of the physical training sessions at Exercise Blackbird.
"I couldn't ask for a more picturesque setting for an outdoor gym," she said while surrounded by the mountains of the Marlborough and Kaikoura region.
She was looking forward to October 10-11 when she would oversee the two-day adventure training part of the recruit course, during which she would lead them in tramping, whitewater rafting and in completing a confidence course.
