For 20-year-old Private Matchil Du Plessis, life is a balancing act between the digital world and the rugged outdoors — and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Invercargill-based student is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Information Technology at the Southern Institute of Technology.

However when he’s not immersed in coding and coursework, he’s donning camouflage and training with the New Zealand Army Reserve Force.

Serving with the Otago/Southland Company, 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, Private Du Plessis feels the dual path gives him 'the best of both worlds.'

Born in Hamilton, Du Plessis grew up on the move, with his sharemilking family relocating every few years before settling in Southland during his teenage years. Farm life was his first training ground.

“I worked on my parents’ farm and neighbouring farms growing up,” he recalls.

Private Matchil Du Plessis on an open country patrol on Exercise Tauwharenīkau in Waiouru. Photo: NZDF/Supplied

“I enjoyed the work but couldn’t see myself continuing a career in dairy farming.”

Instead, he turned to IT — but soon found himself missing the outdoors and the hard work he was accustomed to on farm.

That’s when he decided to enlist in the Army Reserves.

“It was a challenge. I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m happy I got through,” he says of his basic training.

“I always had high respect for the Army and service in general."

"Being a Reservist, getting outdoors, and serving the country was really big for me.”

Du Plessis recently took part in Exercise Tauwharenīkau in Waiouru — a major annual training event involving more than 300 Army Reservists and 70 Regular Force personnel.

The exercise brought together infantry, engineers, medics, signallers, and other specialists for a week of intensive field training.

“The biggest highlight was flying with the Royal New Zealand Air Force in an NH90 helicopter,” Du Plessis said.

“Second biggest was getting attached as infantry to the Waikato Mounted Rifles."

"Along with the engineers, we assaulted an urban training area out of Pinzgauer 6WD vehicles.”

But it wasn’t all thrills.

“A big challenge I faced was never having been in Waiouru in the middle of winter before. It was cold. Very cold.”

Despite the chill, Du Plessis says the experience was worth it.

“I can’t believe I convinced myself to do it — and I’m thankful I did.”