COMD 1 BDE, BRIG Ryan visits the 2015 RAE Corps Dive Concentration.
EXERCISE NORTHERN SHIELD
The Australian Defence Force’s highest readiness soldiers conducted a mass, short notice deployment from Brisbane to Exmouth in Western Australian overnight to join the fight on Exercise Northern Shield. The Ready Combat Team (RCT), currently comprising 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) soldiers, responded to a simulated enemy threat in remote North West Australia by moving from Amberley to Learmonth in several Air Force C-17 Globemaster, C-130J Hercules and KC-30 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft. The RCT is operating under a Joint Task Force, supported by a significant array of capabilities including a Brisbane-based Deployable Joint Force Headquarters (DJFHQ) element, Air Force fast jets and P3 Orion surveillance aircraft, Army long range reconnaissance teams and Tiger helicopters.
ADFA Fitness Excellence Challenge 2015
Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) Year Three officer cadets and midshipmen participated in a Fitness Excellence Challenge, on the Academy grounds, over the period of 14-16 September 2015.
This activity combined a number of elements including running with 27% of their body weight in packs and webbing, tyre lifts, jerry can carry, leopard crawling, swimming and an obstacle course. The challenge encourages competition between the officer cadets and midshipmen and is an individual test of fitness.
ADFA is a tri-service military Academy that provides military and tertiary academic education for junior officers of the Australian Defence Force in the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force.
“The Wise Old Fox, 1 CER Regimental Sergeant Major (E0F), out and about on Ex GOANNA CANTER at Mount Bundey.”
EXERCISE NORTHERN SHIELD - Brisbane based soldiers from the Ready Combat Team have been bolstered by significant aviation support during Exercise Northern Shield.
Hawk 127 jets and Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH) have been providing notional combat and close air support against a simulated enemy threat in Exmouth, Western Australia. During one exercise scenario, soldiers and local police secured a suspect King Air aircraft notionally carrying prohibited cargo.
The aircraft was inspected, secured and the persons of interest were arrested at RAAF Learmonth. The Brisbane based soldiers arrived in Exmouth via Air Force C-17 Globemaster, C-130J Hercules and KC-30 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft on Sunday and Monday. Exercise Northern Shield is being run from 19th – 24thof September and involves over 1000 troops from the Army and Air Force.
OPERATION OKRA (Iraq): ADELAIDE born and raised, Australian Army Signaller Natasha Miller has hung up her dancing shoes and replaced them with military boots.
To top it off, she now finds herself in Iraq helping to maintain communications systems for the 400 Australian and New Zealand troops providing training to Iraqi soldiers.
“I always danced as I grew up, but I decided to join the Army to really challenge myself,” Signaller Miller said.
“Normally I am a radio operator, however on this deployment we are employed in a range of roles.
“Now I manage communication equipment and material.”
As a Communications Systems Operator, Signaller Miller is responsible for ensuring commanders can communicate with their trainers using both satellite terminals and radios which can be used for mounted and dismounted tasks.
“We have a small team over here,” she said.
“Our primary role is manning the radio 24/7 and the management of the systems.
“We basically work with radios and an array of communication systems over different types of netwrks to ensure we can talk to each other and to other Coalition forces in Iraq.
“The priority of communications is to enable the passage of information from the trainers to the commander.” Graduating from Para Hills High in 2009 in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, Signaller Miller admits she misses her family and friends. “Back home my friends take the opportunity to come and see me when they can which is good,” she said.
“On the other hand, the Army has given me an independent lifestyle where I could learn about myself.”
Signaller Miller joined the Army in 2012 and this is her first deployment.
“It was what I expected in some aspects, but there are also so many unknowns, especially as we are the first rotation into Iraq.
“It’s an achievement because it is not something that all 23-year old females do.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity because you join to do your job on deployment.”
Signaller Miller said her parents, who still reside in Adelaide, are proud she is in the Army.
“My mum and dad are very supportive and always excited to hear what I have been up to,” she said.
“When they found out I was deploying to Iraq, they were shocked at first but they understand my role and knew it was what I wanted.
“From their point of view, they just want to make sure I am safe.”
Signaller Miller will return back to Australia towards the end of the year when she plans to spend Christmas at home in Adelaide.
Lithgow Arms F90
Backed by 100 years of experience and manufacturing of weapons for Australian soldiers since WWI to the battlefields of today, and evolved from the Austeyr family, the F90 builds on this battle proven platform to meet the needs of today’s military forces. Its bullpup design for longer barrel length and optimum muzzle velocity delivers superior stopping power in a compact package. The F90 is one of the lightest assault rifles on the market at 3.25 kg, enabling fast reaction times and rapid target acquisition, a clear advantage in close quarters combat. NATO standard rails and NATO ammunition interoperability provide adaptability for a wide range of mission profiles. Packing a punch, the F90 includes an integrated side loading 40 mm grenade launcher that can be attached in just a few seconds by the soldier – a potentially decisive capability providing flexibility on operations. The grenade launcher itself is equipped with a lightweight robust quadrant sight that ensures rapid target acquisition, can be used at night, and is compatible with night vision goggles.
Australian Army soldiers and U.S. Marine Corps, assigned to Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, work together during an amphibious assault exercise during Talisman Sabre 2015 at Fog Bay, Australia, July 11, 2015. Talisman Sabre is a biennial exercise that provides an invaluable opportunity for nearly 30,000 U.S. and Australian Defence Force personnel to conduct operations in a combined, joint and interagency environment.
PTE S. Saward, serving in Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper, on patrol through a corn field in the Tangy Valley, southern Afghanistan.
Photo; AB J.Dilorenzo
Afghan National Army EOD Advisers.
There are three Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) Advisers embedded within Headquarters Resolute Support providing specialist, logistical and training support to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. The three advisers are part of the 400 Australian Defence Force personnel deployed across Afghanistan in a variety of roles as part of Operation Highroad, supporting the NATO-led Resolute Support mission.
