For many years saluting was performed with the hand farthest from the officer saluted. This involved saluting with the left hand when passing an officer on the right hand side. To certain sections of Indian troops, however, saluting with the left hand was an insult and this method was abolished in 1918.

Specialist Training: Preparing for Pre Deployment Training

21st October 2009

Private Rachel Kirk: 4 weeks into training for Deployment to Solomon Islands

Private Rachel Kirk patrolling urban streets (AW-09-1029-25).

Private Rachel Kirk completes street patrol training AW-09-1029-25.  

Having completed four build-up training weekends in preparation for Pre-Deployment Training (PDT) for a four month operational deployment to the Solomon Islands, Private Rachel Kirk is currently attending PDT Training at Burnham Military Camp near Christchurch before deploying in November.

She recounts her experiences on the final two build-up weekends and her recently completed Pinzgauer Light Operational Vehicle (LOV) driving course, here:

Exercise Green Islands was a two-day field exercise that we completed on the West Coast of the South Island in order to practice and revise close-country patrolling and field firing skills using live ammunition.

This began with individual jungle lanes using blank rounds to enable the safety staff to ensure that we were able to carry out the procedures safely, before we graduated onto using live rounds.
We also practised firing and moving as a pair - with one soldier providing covering fire while the other moves forward - and in the evening we practised reaction shooting using night vision equipment.
This was my first opportunity to use the new night vision equipment and it was spectacular to say the least.

On Sunday morning we went through the same sequence, but this time at an assessed level, with the instructors ensuring that we carried out the drills and procedures to the high standard required to progress onto completing further, similar training during the Pre Deployment Training. Then, once we had cleaned up the area, it was back on the trucks and home to Christchurch.

The following month our training was hosted by 4 O South (The 4th Otago and Southland Battalion Group) down in Dunedin. It was a long bus ride south so we went to bed as soon as we arrived, and, in the morning, were awoken in true southern style by the playing of bagpipes.

A local Scout camp provided our base for the weekend and once we had arrived and set our selves up, we began training for a series of scenarios that would take place over the course of the weekend. These included conducting vehicle checkpoints, cordon and search procedures, building and room clearances and detainee handling and processing.

After Saturday's practice, it was time to put our skills into action - commencing at 3:15am on Sunday morning! This involved setting up a checkpoint along a road and detaining persons of interest which were then handed over to other soldiers who were acting as local police, for questioning.

Later that morning, I escorted the unit commanding officer while he conducted a visit of the local area and we took the opportunity to go through counter-vehicle ambush drills and other force protection procedures.

We returned back to Christchurch at 9pm on Sunday night - with all of us glad to be back after a brief but intense period of training, while one soldier, who lives in Greymouth, still had a further three hours to drive to get home, before catching a bit of sleep and heading back to work at his civilian job the following morning.

Next up was my Class Two Drivers Licence Acceleration Course. Or, simply put, the HT or Heavy Trade Vehicle course. The first few days covered basic but vitally important procedures such as fatigue management, load restrictions and log book requirements, before I was finally able to get behind the wheel of a 6x6 Pinzgauer LOV (Light Operational Vehicle) which is a long way from driving my blue Mazda RX 7.

The Pinzie as it's nicknamed has a 2.5 litre, five cylinder, in-line four-stroke diesel with direct fuel injection and is fitted with a turbocharger and intercooler. It’s a lot of fun to drive, but not so fun to be a passenger in the back when off road though.
Our instructor was a Senior NCO (Non Commissioned Officer) from Blenheim who had the prefect temperament for driving instructing, being patient, relaxed and above all, having a wicked sense of humour. The course was run out of Woodbourne Air Force Base near Blenheim and we got heaps of off road experience, including practising getting the LOV stuck and then recovering it again, as well as crossing rivers and other forms of difficult terrain.

It was great to be able to get some excellent off-road driving experience and receive my Class Two full licence over such a short but intense period, and all having been payed for by the Army - including food, accommodation and the licence fees.

Two days after the course finished pre deployment training started and I was able to take up my position as the Driver within my section of nine soldiers.

This page was last reviewed on 28 February 2010, and is current.