Sahara Desert mission for aide de camp

Flight Lieutenant Lisa McLay.

A former Rotorua Girls' High school student will spend her Christmas on the edge of the Sahara Desert as part of a six-month deployment to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.

Flight Lieutenant Lisa McLay said it was unique opportunities like this that prompted her to enlist in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) back in 2006.

She joined the RNZAF through its university scheme where all her university fees were paid for, including a living allowance.

After completing her degree she underwent officer training and graduated as a human resource officer.

Ms McLay has already had some amazing travel experiences in her career.

"I've been to London with World War II veterans, South Korea, Hawaii and more recently Perth to support the search for the missing flight MH370.

"However, the six months with the Multi-National Force and Observers (MFO) on the Sinai Peninsula will be my first operational tour."

The Sinai Peninsula sits between mainland Egypt and Israel and is right on the edge of the Sahara Desert. The MFO is in charge of observing, verifying and reporting that both Egypt and Israel are abiding by their terms of the Treaty of Peace, which was put in place in 1982.

Ms McLay will be the Aide de Camp to the force commander on the deployment.

The force commander oversees the international military contingent and the Aide de Camp is a member of his personal staff, providing continuous support to his functions.

This involves travelling around with him wherever he goes and providing up to date information when required.