New Trophy
Graduates.
By W/O Tony Johnstone
The graduation of two Communication and Information Systems (CIS) courses, 08-1 CIS Technician and 08-1 CIS Officer, took place on Wednesday 3 September 2008.
WGCDR Steve Alexander, the Air Force’s Director of CIS, reviewed the graduation parade and presented graduation certificates and special awards. Of special significance was the inauguration of the Gary Stratton Memorial Trophy. The new award, provided by Wright Technologies Limited, a supplier of satellite communication services to the NZDF, is to be presented to CIS officers who demonstrate the highest standards of professional development and commitment to furthering the RNZAF’s capability in CIS. The first-ever recipient of the award in 2008 is FLTLT Andy Hill, who has just taken up his new appointment as Staff Officer Aeronautical CIS at Air Staff.
The Gary Stratton Memorial Trophy.
FLTLT Gary Stratton graduated as a CISO in the RNZAF in 2006 having previously served in the Royal Corps of Signals in the United Kingdom. He sadly passed away the following year, but not before he had established a remarkable rapport both personally and professionally with members of the RNZAF CIS team. Mrs Lucy Stratton, daughter Mayra and son Brian (who took special leave from his unit in Aldershot in the United Kingdom), were special guests at the parade. They were joined by Mr Peter Nally of Wright Technologies in meeting FLTLT Hill and other graduates. In his graduation address, WGCDR Alexander highlighted the fact that every aspect of capability development currently being undertaken by the RNZAF creates a significant footprint of responsibility for CIS. He congratulated the graduates on their success, and welcomed them to the challenges of rapidly evolving architectures and capability for the NZDF. For the CISTECHs, the course has taken them to intermediate stages of CCNA qualification through the NZDF CISCO Academy established at GTW early in 2008. They are also instructed on the advanced features of the NZDF’s tactical communications inventory. The CIS Officers visited military and civilian organisations in Australia as well as key NZDF CIS sites in New Zealand. In August, both courses put their new skills to practice on EXERCISE BRIGHTSPARKS in the Tekapo and Pukaki hydro areas in the week leading up to their graduation.