SSGT Sean Cassidy 4 OSTH
It sounds so complicated, teaching soldiering skills to personal that have 12 different languages, 12 different weapon systems and 12 different skills sets but they should present no problem for a secondary school teacher used to teaching classes containing many different language groups.
SSGT Sean Cassidy (AW-10-0301-1).
In fact it “Should be a lot of fun” admits SSGT Sean Cassidy (34), a teacher at Kings High School in Dunedin, when asked about his upcoming six month deployment to the Sinai with the MFO.
“My job as a physical/outdoors education teacher at Kings and the roles have I undertaken in the army have been very similar but at times they have also been very different. The big difference is here when I ask for something to be done it happens, but in the classroom you have to motivate the students to do it, so I’m expecting a range of challenges in the Sinai.”
As one of the operations instructors SSgt Cassidy can expect to be involved in the training of over 300 students and also assist with the organisation of biannual Force Skill at Arms competitions the MFO conducts in the region.
This is continuing the good work done by the New Zealand Training and Advisory Team (NZTAT) which has been involved in the Sinai since 1981 to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace.
From their northern base in El Gorah, Northern Sinai, the kiwi soldiers attached to the MFO work closely with the other 11 contingents to ensure the security provisions are adhered to and any violations are reported.
The North Camp, where most of the New Zealanders are based, provides logistical and operational support for the force, members of which work from about 30 remote outposts split between three battalions and scattered along the length of the Sinai Peninsula next to the Israeli border and the Gulf of Aqaba.
El Gorah is just 40 km from the turbulent Gaza Strip.
SSgt Cassidy joined the 4th Otago Southland Battalion RNZIR as an infantryman in 1990 whilst on a gap year.
“My job at the time was in rabbit control in Central Otago so I thought I would give the Army a whirl for something different. I have always enjoyed the outdoors life and the shooting, and the Army has offered me so many new experiences over the years.”
“I’ve taken a year’s leave from Kings and am quite looking forward to this trip”, said SSgt Cassidy who has been working hard since Christmas to prepare for the six month deployment.
This is the third overseas operational deployment for SSgt Cassidy who has previously served in East Timor and the Solomon’s.
ENDS.