THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

STROMBOM, Simon John Caulfield

B998568, Major, Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps (Territorial Force)

CITATION

Distinguished Service Decoration

Queen's Birthday Honours List 2009

Major STROMBOM joined the Territorial Force of the New Zealand Army in 2000 and since then has temporarily transferred to the Regular Force on two occasions to undertake operational deployments; the second being from April to October 2008 when he served as a Liaison Officer in the Civil Military Co-operation Branch of the International Stabilisation Assistance Force (ISAF) Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan. He worked tirelessly throughout his tour to meet the many challenges presented, applying himself with great energy and focus, earning the confidence and respect of all he worked with. He was proactive and effective in the way he established and maintained relationships with Ministers of the Afghani government. He also implemented changes to meet the prevailing high Improvised Explosive Device (IED) threat environment, developing special utility vehicle armoured standard operating procedures, which became a bench mark of best practice for the entire ISAF Headquarters. He also extended these efforts to include counter IED training for all in theatre personnel, including those attached to the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan Province In addition to his daily liaison duties in the Civil Military Co-operation Branch, he also stepped up to conduct a wide range of New Zealand mission tasks over an exceptionally busy summer rotation. These additional tasks often required considerable time-consuming planning given the threat environment. In the conduct of his duties, he displayed the highest standard of leadership and duty of care responsibility, inspiring those around him to similar standards.

KNOWN AWARDS

Distinguished Service Decoration

New Zealand Operational Service Medal

New Zealand General Service Medal (non warlike)