Military after your hearts and minds

PUP TENT: Bolt, a military working dog, takes time out during the exercise. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN HBT141637-01

Don't be alarmed to see military convoys and uniformed soldiers scouting the streets, followed by small explosions and airborne drops as rural Hawke's Bay plays host to war games this week.

More than 600 troops are taking part in the three-phased New Zealand Defence Force exercise named Allan Halfa, which started on May 20 at Waiouru Military Camp and finishes on May 25.

Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles, an armoured cavalry regiment, began the training with Phantom Ranger, a live firing attack exercise as the games moved into Hawke's Bay.

Lieutenant Erin Sampson, the commander of a New Zealand Army reserve platoon, said phase two of the exercise was training eight students on their way to becoming Army Captains and company commanders. He said during the first two phases 12 US Marines and eight US Army personnel also took part in the exercise.

"We are in the third phase now, which is asymmetric warfare training ... unlike conventional warfare where two equal apposing armies square off, like World War One or World War Two, asymmetric warfare is a more modern warfare and is insurgent-focused," he said.

Yesterday's training, including an airborne supply drop, took place near Roys Hill near Hastings.

"As a Western modern military, our job is to identify who the enemy are and where they are, while they are trying to hit us where we are weak with things like IEDs (improvised explosive devices). It is similar to what we have experienced in Afghanistan."

Allan Halfa will also use stretches of the Napier Taihape Rd, areas of the Kaweka Forest, Gwavas Forest, SH50 and Central Hawke's Bay townships.

Lieutenant Sampson said today's training would be based on intelligence gathering by talking to residents in the area and demonstrating the tactics of "winning the heart and minds" of the locals.