TRAINING

Although based at the Banksmeadow depot, Trg Coy is responsible for all recruits within the Battalion. The Coy manages recruits from the day they enlist at Defence Force Recruiting Centres (ECN 500) until completion of recruit training at Kapooka (ECN 510). Recruits are then qualified as Private Trainees and are posted to their respective Corps companies.

Trg Coy's role is to ensure recruits "don't slip through the cracks" and can actively participate in company activities as soon as possible. Recruits are given their dates to attend Kapooka and complete the Reserve Recruit Training Course (RRTC) consisting of navigation and senior first aid.

Whilst waiting to attend Kapooka, recruits are encouraged to participate in all facets of the Battalion, as well as introducing them to military life.

TRANSPORT

3 Transport Squadron is located in three seperate geographical locations accross NSW being:

• Holsworthy
• Canberra
• Wagga Wagga

Members of Transport Squadron are trained to drive all varieties of vehicles ranging from 600cc motorcycles to Heavy Combination Mack Tucks.

Transport squadron consists of:

• Headquarters
• Alpha Troop
• Bravo Troop

HEALTH

Health companies provide support to the Army for the conservation of manpower, both in war and in peace. Health Coy within a CSSB represents level two-health support with a whole spectrum of health services available.

Health Coy is responsible for the rapid collection, evacuation and treatment of casualties as well as providing advice to commanders on issues relating to disease prevention and health promotion. Another important role of the Health Coy is the systematic and continual assessment of personnel against fitness standards for future deployments.

Stretcher

The medical and dental equipment used in Health Coy is similar to that used in civilian health facilities but may have been modified so that it can be stored and transported into the field. Health Coy will also use military equipment such as weapons (F88 Austeyr rifle and F89 machine gun), transport vehicles (ambulances, land rovers and Unimog truck), night vision goggles, navigation equipment and RTF 100 radios.

Health Coy within a CSSB consists of:

• HQ: the command element with limited clerical support. The OC does not have to be a medical officer.
• Three treatment sections: each section capable of providing two resuscitation bays and a holding area for twenty-five patients. Treatment sections include a medical officer (MO), nursing officer (NO), two medics and an orderly.
  • Evacuation section: consisting of six ambulances. Each ambulance with a driver, medical assistant and the capacity to hold four lying or six sitting casualties.
  • Preventive Med section: provides advice on the preventive health issues and can undertake or supervise eradication and control programs for disease carrying pests.
  • Dental team: a dental officer and dental assistant. Their role is to prevent the unnecessary evacuation of those in need of dental treatment in the field and to assist the medical services in emergencies.

WORKSHOP

103 Workshop Company (103 Wksp Coy), is responsible for the maintenance of 5 Bde's fighting equipment. Drawn primarily from members of the Corps of Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME - pronounced 'ray-me'), the Wksp Coy is structured to reflect the trade skills of its members.

Many corps gives a unique title to their Private equivalent ranked soldiers to reflect the nature of their job. In RAEME, the soldiers are called 'Craftsmen', as acknowledgement of their specialist trade skills.

So what trade skills are represented within RAEME, one might ask? Well, there are vehicle echanics, whose role is to repair and service the predominantly diesel-powered vehicles of the brigade. Within 103 Wksp Coy, most vehicle mechanics are in the Automotive Engineering (AE) Platoon.

Workshop

Recovery Platoon consists of recovery mechanics (reccie-mechs), who are skilled at using special vehicles equipped with winches and chains to recover immobile vehicles. EIR Platoon (Electrical, Instruments and Radios) is the home to the electricians and electronics technicians, affectionately known as 'boffins'. As the name suggests, their job is to service the entire brigade's electrical, electronic and communications equipment.
General Engineering (GE) Platoon comprises two major trades:

• Fitter/Armament: service and repair the brigade's weapon systems - everything from the F88 Austeyr Assault Rifle up to the 105mm Hamel Guns of 23 Field Regiment.
• Metalsmiths are the modern-day incarnation of the medieval blacksmith. The tools of this rade range from angle grinders and oxy-acetylene torches through to electric arc welders.

They do all sorts of tasks involving the fabrication and repair of metal objects. Most of the members of 103 Wksp Coy are reservists, including the Officer Commanding (OC), Major Richard Legge.
MAJ Legge, himself a former 'boffin', works as a technical consultant to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in his civilian job. The other officers in the company, including the Second-in-Command (2IC) and all the platoon commanders, are professional engineers in their civilian occupations.

There is also a small core of full-time members, who are based at the company's new workshop at Holsworthy Barracks. Led by Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael (Mick) Kerr, the full time members keep the workshop running during the week while the reserve members are fulfilling their civilian employment obligations.