Josh Stephens from Karamu High School and Matthew Hatherell of Hastings Boys High School, who completed the Hawkes Bay School’s Trades Academy Services Preparation programme at EIT | Te Pūkenga last year, are now following their dreams in the New Zealand Army.

Two former Hastings schoolboys who completed the Hawkes Bay School’s Trades Academy Services Preparation programme at EIT | Te Pūkenga last year are now following their dreams in the New Zealand Army.

Josh Stephens from Karamu High School and Matthew Hatherell of Hastings Boys High School took advantage of the programme to prepare for a career in the NZ Army.  The Trades Academy works with secondary schools and EIT | Te Pūkenga to provide year-long trades programmes to help students prepare for a career.

The pair graduated from their Army Basic Training in Waiouru on 9 June and have now commenced their careers. Josh is working as a Maintenance Fitter and Matthew as an Intelligence Operator.

Josh will undergo further training at Woodbourne Air Force base as he commences his apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering with NMIT | Te Pukenga.

“ I liked the idea of completing a trade as well as participating in soldiering activities, hopefully I will deploy overseas upon completion of my apprenticeship,” says Josh.

Matthew is posted to Linton Military Camp where he will spend the next six months training in his role as an Intelligence Operator.

“My favourite part of Basic Training was living out in the field for seven days, it was challenging but awesome, I loved it.”

“The Services Preparation course helped us identify the path we wanted to take in the NZ Army, the tutors were really supportive and provided an awesome introduction to what army life would be like, without their help we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Todd Rogers, the Head of The School of Trades and Technology at EIT | Te Pūkenga, says he is pleased to see Josh and Matthew transition from Trades Academy to a career in the New Zealand Army.

“Our services pathway programmes in the Trades Academy and in Trades and Technology are designed to prepare students for life in the army or the police. We have tutors who are ex-army soldiers themselves who know what is required to be accepted into the military.”

“We wish both Josh and Matthew the best in their careers,” said Todd.