infonews.co.nz
INDEX
DEFENCE

New Zealand Defence Force 'Reservist Of The Year'

Thursday 10 December 2009, 12:23PM

By Heather Roy

634 views

WELLINGTON

Associate Minister of Defence Heather Roy will this weekend announce the inaugural New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Reservist of the Year at a special award ceremony in Wellington.

"This new award is recognition of the contribution made by Reserves to the NZDF," Mrs Roy said.

"Reserves are part-time military personnel who have made important contributions both at home and abroad - having deployed to Timor Leste, Solomon Islands, South Korea, the Middle East, Bosnia, Sinai, Cambodia, Sudan, Bougainville, Iraq and Afghanistan,"


"The Reservist of the Year will be selected following a series of military tasks - including driving, weapons-handling, first aid and physical fitness - at Trentham Military Camp on Saturday afternoon. Candidates are also required to give a speech at Defence House during the evening.

"Reservists are New Zealanders who, in addition to their full-time jobs, volunteer to do their bit for our security and freedom. This new award is fitting recognition of that," Mrs Roy said.

The inaugural NZDF Reservist of the Year Award ceremony will follow a day of military drills and challenges. All media are invited to attend these events at Trentham Military Camp, Upper Hutt; 1pm-4pm, Saturday December 12 2009.