Training at Philomel
Gives Part Time Soldiers An Insight Into Navy Life
10 March 2009
Members of the ship’s company of HMNZS Philomel could be forgiven for thinking their base had been taken over by the Army in February when fifty-five soldiers descended on Devonport.
The soldiers were members of the 3rd Auckland Northland Battalion (3 Auck North), Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, a Territorial Force (TF) unit based in Grey Lynn, Auckland.
In 2009, 3 Auck North officers and senior non-commissioned officers marched into Philomel for eight days of instruction on the newly introduced Army Leadership Framework and to complete physical competency tests.
3 Auck North Commanding Officer, LTCOL Chris Powell said Philomel provided an ideal location for the battalion’s training activities.
“Philomel’s messing, accommodation and classroom facilities gave us an ideal location close to our headquarters and easy to travel to for our personnel.
“The added advantage of a large military establishment like Philomel is that TF personnel snap straight into a regimental mind-set when they march in.
“That meant that with only eight days we could fit as much training as we wanted to into that time and we knew the team would be motivated and focused from day one,” said LTCOL Powell.
While the classroom-based activities at Philomel kept the Battalion’s command element busy, they also took time out of their training schedule to take a guided tour of HMNZS Canterbury.
The training finished on Saturday 14 February with a Battle Efficiency Test which saw the soldiers march 12 kilometres carrying full equipment and undertake a series of physical tests before marking the conclusion of the AFE with a BBQ.
“AFE was a resounding success and the hospitality we received from Philomel’s company went a long way to making it the success it was.
“Living at Philomel enabled Battalion members to get an insight into Navy life and culture and this was the first time many of the Battalions personnel had experience of the Navy.
“Exposure to the Navy in this way has had an extremely positive impact and increased the understanding and awareness of the RNZN amongst all attendees,” said LTCOL Powell.