Linton Engineers help in creating Habitat home

 Engineers from Linton’s 25 Engineer Support Squadron have deployed to Nelson to assist with the construction of a Habitat for Humanity home. The team of eleven will spend nine days working with the home owner, and other volunteers, to build an affordable home.

Usually New Zealand Army engineers are seen on reconstruction tasks rebuilding infrastructure in operational environments such as Afghanistan.

Training to be able to achieve this kind of reconstruction is achieved through the Army Engineer Construction Training Program with practical construction tasks in New Zealand. Occasionally, it is possible to incorporate civil aid tasks into the program in order to enhance the experience of the team and meet training competencies that are not offered by other tasks.

“As well as providing valuable construction training, practical tasks at home provide an excellent opportunity for our junior leaders, both officers and soldiers, to plan, coordinate resources, and command soldiers as part of their leadership and professional career development,” says Major Paul Hayward.

Construction of a house in a limited time for Habitat for Humanity, partially replicates the environment that engineers will face when having to rapidly establish facilities to support operationally deployed forces.