Military ambitions unite a trio of Makoura College girls who are set to board the Spirit of New Zealand or a Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft.
Lexy Karena and Natasha Smith are to sail on the Spirit of New Zealand and their classmate Tessa Pocock has been accepted to a
holiday programme with the RNZAF.
Each nurses an ambition to enter the defence forces after leaving college. Lexy is keen to join the navy as a cook or combat sailor, Natasha is eying the army for training in outdoor activities, and Tessa is eager to work as a medic in the air force.
Tessa said she is one of only 40 secondary pupils in the lower North Island and South Island to be accepted to the six-day air force course, which runs at Ohakea Air Base from July 18 to 22.
She said she is considering an air force career as a medical officer "that would be the equivalent of a nurse or paramedic".
Lexy, who is lead guitarist with the college band Koia, is to embark on a 10-day Spirit of New Zealand youth development voyage that departs Auckland on Monday.
Natasha said she is attending the 10-day youth development voyage that departs Auckland on August 1, which is a day after she is to be presented in the capital with a Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
