42 MP Pl - Brisbane

With ADF operational commitments heading into overdrive during 2006, 42 MP Pl has been poised to respond to calls for service, near and far. This year we have welcomed various new ARes members, from new recruits to re-lists and transfers from the ARA, Standby Reserves and other Corps.

Whilst still addressing battalion training requirements, 42 Pl began the year preparing and deploying in support to OP ACOLYTE in Melbourne. OP ACOLYTE allowed our trained military police to attend to core MP functions in an environment far less temperate than our usual haunts of Brisbane, Rockhampton and ShoalwaterBay. The opportunity to work with MPs from around Australia reinforced to attending members that we are a small family in ADF terms and that working together is one of our key strengths. Working with external security agencies also provided for a steep, but valuable, learning curve.

With an extremely high tempo within the ARA component of 4 MP Coy, 42 Pls ability to assist with day to day functions and taskings became a key focus. Whether it be Ex Vital Launch or the Company patrol program, 42 Pl and other reserve assets were on hand to provide manning assistance, often at short notice.

Within our own dynamic and evolving training program, 42 Pl conquered the field phase component of training at local training areas and the bitterly cold training area at Jondaryan, inland from Oakey, and now moved onto continuing ASA duty training. With the ARA numbers being thin on the ground, 42 Pl's involvement in the patrol program was vital. Our Reservists are now looking forward to working in partnership with the US and other Australian troops during the biennial Exercise Talisman Sabre 2007 throughout Central Queensland

Whilst 2006 has provided challenges to the platoon at the HQ level as well as each individual, 2007 will see a new PLCOMD, new qualified members and a re-focus of Reserve training. The introduction of the High Readiness Reserve seems tailored to a small and operationally exhausted Corps such as ours and will surely be a test of the current Reserve capability and training. Of which I am sure 42 Pl members are up to the challenge.

Photo Gallery

42 MP Pl Training Weekend at Jondaryn outside of Oakey