No. 13 (City of Napier) Squadron

No. 13 (City of Napier) Squadron is staffed entirely by volunteers.

SQNLDR Kirsty Faulknor-Murrell, NZCF

SQNLDR Faulknor-Murrell is the Cadet Unit Commander (CUCDR).  She originally joined the NZCF in 1992 as a Cadet of No. 11 (District of Hastings) Squadron.  She went through the ranks, obtaining her commission in 1998.  SQNLDR Faulknor-Murrell transferred to No. 38 (Wigram) Squadron where she served from 2002 to 2004.  She moved back to Hawke’s Bay and became Unit Commander of No. 13 Squadron in June 2004.

It is part of her command philosophy that she is able to provide activities to the youth of today that they would be otherwise unable to experience.  She enjoys watching Cadets self confidence grow through the opportunities that the NZCF provides.

FGOFF Melissa Cooper, NZCF

FGOFF Cooper is the latest addition to the No. 13 Squadron Officer Team.  She has transferred in to our unit from No. 11 (District of Hastings) Squadron and joins the team as Training Officer.

FGOFF Cooper served as a CDT in No. 11 Squadron before gaining her commission in 2005.

FGOFF Bren Faulknor-Murrell, NZCF

FGOFF Faulknor-Murrell is the Adjutant of the unit.  He originally joined the NZCF in 1990 as a Cadet of No. 2 (Petone) Squadron (now No. 2 (Hutt City) Squadron).  He served 3 years there before moving to No. 75 (Arawa) Squadron in Rotorua for six months before leaving ATC.

FGOFF Faulknor-Murrell always felt like he got an awful lot out of being in the Cadet Forces and vowed to come back to the organisation “one day” to give something back.  He came to No. 13 Squadron in 2005 and was commissioned in 2007.

He particularly enjoys instructing Aviation Studies and Weapons Training and gets a real kick out of watching the Cadets progress through from when they first walk in the door to when they leave as confident, skilled young men and women.