It’s hard to get any more “Masterton” than Peter Gibson.

He attended Wairarapa College, met his wife in Masterton, acted at Harlequin Theatre and plays football for the Masterton Presidents team. His two kids attend his old school while he commutes on the train to Trentham and back.

But after 22 years in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, his family know that a “commute” could also involve a mission with one of 5 Squadron’s P-3K2 Orions, tasked with keeping not only our interests secure, but other countries interests as well.

Wing Commander Gibson, an air warfare specialist, has just returned from a three-month posting in Bahrain with the Combined Maritime Force (CMF), representing New Zealand as its Senior National Officer in Bahrain, but also responsible for coordinating and planning 5 Squadron’s duties with their Orion aircraft over the Arabian Sea.

It was the longest stint in his latest job, managing the Defence Forces’ training and exercise programme – a role that has seen him go overseas 20 times in 20 months.

The CMF is a 30-nation coalition tasked with maritime security, counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and counter-narcotics duties.

Mr Gibson was given two weeks’ notice he was off to “hunt pirates”. He said his wife, Annette, was great, being used to “how things happen in the military”, but his kids were a bit surprised – and it meant being away over Christmas.

“My family don’t worry,” he said.

“We’re pretty lucky in the Defence Force generally.

“We have suffered casualties, but for 5 Squadron, we don’t go in for those sorts of deployments.”

He said in Bahrain, his greatest risk would be a traffic accident.

On TV shows, much is made of family communication from a military style laptop from a tent while wearing fatigues.

“Nope, I’m sitting in an apartment with my own personal laptop, skyping.”

Mr Gibson’s job was to coordinate the hunt in the Indian Ocean for pirates and drug boats, part of a wider CMF brief to ensure safety for ships in what is a dangerous part of the world.

“Back in 2009, 10, 11, there was a massive surge of piracy incidents.

“A coalition, CMF, with 30 nations, signed up to provide support.”

Their mission is three-fold: anti-piracy, “which is very effective”; anti-narcotics, and general maritime security.

“Narcotics is seen as a funding source for terrorist groups, and there’s two very well-known smuggling routes across the Indian Ocean.

“My job involved working with planners from other nations who have aircraft and ships in the Middle East region to put together a plan that will direct the aircraft and vessels in the region on to missions.”

The results can be spectacular, including a spotting of a ship which turned out to be carrying six tonnes of heroin.

It’s a side to the P-3 Orions the public doesn’t see, but their more publicised roles, of search and rescue, involves exactly the same skill set.

“The anti-piracy, the anti-drug, that’s really bread and butter for the crews.

“At the end of the day, what they do, is a very natural extension of what they do at home, every week.”

He said it’s very satisfying work for 5 Squadron.

“These guys are doing their job, covering a large area, and for some of them, it’s their first deployment.

“They’re going to the Arab Gulf, flying around for four months.”

It’s an impressive effort for the P-3 Orion, which will celebrate 50 years of service in New Zealand next year.

This year, the RNZAF’s C130 Hercules turned 50.

“We were the first country to buy the P-3 outside the United States,” he said.

“We got them in 1966, and they have been around the traps for a while. They have really served us brilliantly.”

Upgrades have meant the Orions can keep going for another 10 years – which is just as well.

“We look after them really well – we can’t afford new ones.”

Having been in the Air Force since 1993, he said it would be hard to compare it to another line of work.

He likes achieving tangible results on a daily basis, plus the variety that comes with military life.

“I’ve always felt you have to be a bit careful that it doesn’t all become too normal otherwise you stop appreciating the job you have, which is far more varied and exciting than most other jobs.”

“I guess, if I was going to try and explain the Defence Force, people might think it’s old-fashioned and traditional, but it’s the most dynamic, innovative organisation – it challenges itself to keep itself relevant.”

He said it’s an organisation that reflects New Zealand, and as society changes, the service changes.

“The core values, I guess, don’t change, but we have made large efforts to keep ourselves modern.

“We’re not a museum piece.

“You want excitement, travel? That hasn’t changed. The Defence Force will give it to you. You’ll see the world, it’s really exciting stuff.

“Discipline, self-motivation, sure.

“But you’re not locked into 20 years.”

He says the Defence Force is the largest training organisation in the country, with NZQA-recognised qualifications to be gained.

Pay rates have gone up, he said.

“You don’t join the military to get rich, but it’s pretty good.”

When he joined, he trained as an air warfare specialist, and became commissioned two years in.

“I had always been interested in the military and aircraft in particular.

“I didn’t have any great hopes when I applied but it went better than I had hoped and now here I am 22 years later.

“It just shows, if you have got initiative, a few smarts, you will be recognised.”

For him, Masterton has always felt like home, and he decided to move his family there after shifting from Auckland to his Wellington job.

“It felt quite strange driving back into town with my family 32 years after having done the same as a kid with my parents and sister.”

His wife’s parents have always lived in Masterton, and are still in the same house they built 50 years ago.

“It meant that we never lost that connection to Masterton or Wairarapa and so coming back felt very natural.”

He said the RNZAF is full of people who come from small towns.

“I think it’s an opportunity to get out, explore new horizons.

“Maybe it is just the reality of employment opportunities in rural New Zealand, but what it does mean is that the RNZAF has been significantly influenced by those members who come from smaller communities.

“When you consider what an outstanding organisation the RNZAF is, to me that shows the positive effect those members have had in terms of work ethic, professionalism and comradeship.”
Source: Wairarapa Times-Age