KOBERSTEIN, Michael William

Lieutenant, New Zealand Intelligence Corps

CITATION

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration

Queens Birthday Honours List 2010

Lieutenant KOBERSTEIN (in the rank of Acting Captain), deployed to Afghanistan from April to October 2009 as Intelligence Officer for the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team based in Bamiyan. During this tour, the contingent were faced with the highest operational tempo and largest insurgent threat experienced by a deployment to Bamiyan to date. Against this background, he strove to improve intelligence collection plans, data bases and operational security procedures. He formed a highly productive professional relationship with key members of the Afghan Security Forces and obtained information that was crucial in saving the lives of both New Zealanders and Afghan nationals. He also developed accurate and detailed information databases. These proved valuable in the collation of evidence against suspected insurgents. His initial collection of information played a critical part in establishing the prosecution case against another person suspected of carrying out acts of insurgency in the province.

KNOWN AWARDS

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration

New Zealand Operational Service Medal

New Zealand General Service Medal (Afghan Primary)

NOTES

Born

Died

THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT