A digger from 2/14LHR takes a spin in the French ERC Sagaie during Exercise Porpoise in Shoalwater Bay. Photo by Cpl Jonathan Garland, 1JPAU(P)

SAPPERS in Shoalwater Bay breached a new obstacle on the recent Exercise Porpoise - they crossed the language barrier.

Brisbane-based cavalry, mortar and engineer units hosted a contingent of French soldiers from New Caledonia during a week aimed at a better mutual understanding of each Armys' weapons and operations.

Commander 13 Tp, 2CER, Lt Toby Sutton said Ex Porpoise was a bilateral exercise rising from experiences in East Timor.

"After East Timor it was realised that we and the French don't work together too often, so this exercise was conceived so they could see how we work and vice versa," he said.

"I believe this is the first realisation of that combined training - I haven't worked with the French before and I haven't heard of any previous combined exercises."

The 2CER engineers spent a few days with their French counterparts, each learning the other's practices and training procedures.

"This is a skill-sharing exercise for us - they spent a day showing us their methods of demolition, equipment and training."

"Then it was turn about and we showed them how we do things, right down to the soldier level."

Lt Sutton said that, while there were differences in equipment, much of the practice was the same from army to army.

"Techniques are very similar, because the principals of demolition are primarily the same."

The Australian demonstration included some things not within the French repertoire, such as the support engineers give to training activities by simulating certain enemy actions.

Lt Sutton said the activity benefited the Australians by giving them an insight into the way other armies managed their demolitions.

"They see how other countries operate and that their methods are fairly similar, which gives them the knowledge and confidence to operate with other forces."

By Cpl Jonathan Garland